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NEW YORK — Fans and friends, including Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott, offered prayers and well wishes to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who is seriously ill.
A person close to Franklin told the Associated Press on Monday that the singer is seriously ill. No more details were provided.
Carey, who considers Franklin one of her biggest influences, wrote on Twitter that she is “praying for the Queen of Soul.” Missy Elliott said that the public has to celebrate iconic artists before they die.
Mark Frost, Andy Cohen and Ciara also posted about Franklin, who is considered one of the greatest singers of all-time and is known for hits like “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Franklin, who had battled undisclosed health issues in recent years, canceled planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up.
She was originally scheduled to perform on her 76th birthday in March in Newark, N.J., and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April.
Last year, the icon announced her plans to retire, saying she would perform at “some select things.” One of those events was a gala for Elton John's 25th anniversary of his AIDS foundation in November in New York City, where Franklin closed the event with a collection of songs.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — An Ohio art museum has announced a new exhibition of paintings by rocker John Mellencamp, known for his expressionistic oil portraits and other works.“John Mellencamp: Expressionist” opens Sept. 20 at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown and runs through Nov. 18. It will include portraits and mixed-media pieces.The show is Mellencamp's second with the Butler after his 2013-14 exhibition at the museum's Trumbull Branch in suburban Howland.Mellencamp is known for rock classics including “Small Town,” “Jack and Diane” and “Pink Houses.”The Butler Institute has a reputation for exhibiting artwork by famous actors and musicians, with recent displays by Bob Dylan, Peter Falk, Tony Bennett, Jessica Lange, Ronnie Wood and Kim Novak.
