While people were surprised with Aretha Franklin’s disdain for Beyonce calling Tina Turner the Queen at the 2008 Grammy Awards, those who are all too familiar with the Queen of Soul know Aretha is Aretha’s favorite singer.
In 2001, Franklin appeared on VH1's Divas Live Special, when asked who her favorite singer was the Queen of Soul responded “I am”. Therefore in 2008 it should come as no surprise that the Queen is...well, the Queen and no one else is worthy of that title.
The three way diva showdown kicked off at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in February where Beyonce paid tribute to several divas during an introductory that would be followed by Tina Turner.
Celebrating Turner’s big comeback this year, which included a well attended tour in the fall, Beyonce made the mistake of calling Tina Turner a Queen and Aretha Franklin, not at all enthused, demanded some R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Quoted after the show, Franklin accused Beyonce and the Grammy writers of courting controversy: “I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce, however I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy. In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love to Beyonce anyway.”
According to a statement released through CelebTV, Beyonce’s father Matthew Knowles wasn’t feeling that. Knowles rang the alarm and said: “As a manager I am not taking something this ridiculous to Beyonce. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as a queen. Not a queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England.”
In other words go somewhere with that Aretha! Knowles went on to say “I consider my wife a queen and sometimes call her that. Does Aretha have a problem with that ?”
Just when we thought the Grammy flap was over Tina Turner went for round 2, stating Aretha’s always been like that. “Aretha has always been like that. We've always accepted that from her. She's the queen of soul and I'm the queen of rock n' roll. Her ego must be so big to think she was the only one."
Hearing about Tina’s title, Aretha issued the ultimate and final blow “I have always appreciated what Tina Turner has to offer and had quietly cheered her on after Ike and her subsequent success. However, with respect to her statement concerning my ego clearly she was talking about herself as she described herself as the ‘Queen of Rock’ and saying ‘that’s what Queens do’ - particularly since she does not have a clue as to who I am in view of the fact that we have never met."
"I never figured her to resort to tacky press just to sell a few tickets. I understand and I know that the concert market is down where ticket sales are concerned. I really had put her in a different class - higher than that."
"Finally, no one has been more gracious or complimentary to their peers than I have and I am confident and secure enough to do so, unlike some others. I wish Ms. Turner all the best, as I always have. Perhaps one day we will meet.”
That was the end, at least hopefully it is.
While we have covered the ‘Grammy Queen Flap’ in somewhat of a light way, each of the aforementioned divas have a special place in music, title or not, they are leading women in the industry regardless of what has been said and done in 2008.
It is however, quite odd that Aretha and Tina have not ‘met’ ...
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Hey. Craig Wilson Jr here. My sister is retarded and shes a b****! I'll be the first to admit that. Me personally. I LOVE TINA!!! Don't know anything by Aretha. Not my kind of music. My sister also likes the BACKSTREET BOYS, JONAS BROTHERS, WHITNEY HOUSTON, and PARIS HILTON. Nonetheless, she only likes Aretha she admitted because Kevin Richardson From the Backstreet Boys was singing with her. LMFAO!!! She has no idea in hell what she sings. I love Tina cause the people my sister likes aren't in that category. LOL. DAVID BOWIE, SEAL, PRINCE, 3 DOORS DOWN, and TINA TURNER. My kind of music. JESS... SHUT THE HELL UP!!! Shes just a horrible 26 year old idiot. Can't belive I'm younger. LOL
Uh. I know you not talking to me, Michael Isidoro. Aretha is the QUEEN. She has every right to be arrogant!!! Tina Turner... Not MUSIC. So what if Tina has been on both sides of the tracks. Shes just a bimbo from the south. Don't mess with this DIVA. It's like messing with Lady Aretha. Don't try getting up in my mix. ALL HAIL QUEEN ARETHA!!!
Sorry about that last comment. That Jessicca person pissed me off. Anyways, Aretha Franklin, i dont think anyone can ever top her high strong voice. I like her music too!!!And Tina Turner, no one can top her voice and her strength!!!They both are queens!!Aretha!The Queen of Soul Music and Tina! The Queen of Rock & Roll.
TO JESSICA WILSON!!
DON'T EVER FUCK WITH TINA TURNER!!!DONT EVER CALLED HER THOSE BAD THINGS!
BTICH YOU CANT EVEN SING!!!
I THINK ARETHA FRANKLIN AND TINA TURNER SHOULD GET ALONG BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE FAVOR THEM AND THE OTHER OLD SCHOOL SINGERS LIKE MODANNA,DONNA SUMMERS OR NATALIE COLE..ETC....SO YEAH DONT BE RUNNING YOUR MOUTH OFF AND DONT PUT TINA TURNER'S NAME IN YOUR UNWORTHY LIPS TO SAY THEM YOU BITCH!
love tina turner
YES! Tina has like 20 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. She's fourth to Elvis, Michael Jackson, and The Beetles. She's come along way, 50 years. And she still looks awesome! According to Billboard Magazine, Aretha has only 6 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. No matter what though, I love them both. I just know Tina's music by-far better is all. 'Stay Awhile' is my favorite song of Tina's. In fact, it was my sisters wedding song in 2001. 'Chain of Fools'; 'Respect'; and 'Freeway Of Love' are the only two songs that I know by Aretha. I like them though. Love you both. GREETINGS FROM PENSACOLA!
I love both artists very much. I do kind of like Tina more though. maybe because I hear more of her music and I like rock more. No matter what, Tina is SIMPLY THE BEST! Always remember, RESPECT deserves RESPECT!
u r wonderful tina. we all luv and support ur title. the queen uv rok;) liv on grrl!
i want to have tina's legs so bad lol. she is the queen of rock and roll. no one else will ever be.
I LUV YOU TINA! QUEEN OK ROCK!
Aretha's Chart:
Chain Of Fools #1 | Respect #1 | Think #1 | Freeway Of Love #1 | I KNew You Waiting For Me (With George Michael) #1 | Willing To Firgive #1........... Yeah, Tina has more #1's than Aretha. But, that doesn't make her better nor worse. They both are just two different people. No matter what, I love both singers. Aretha has a great soul voice and Tina is almost all rock and roll. Although Tina has more #1's, Aretha has won more grammy awards than Tina. That still don't make her better nor worse. Tina has more #1 albums; still don't make her better than Aretha. I pray that the two queens can bring this to an end and move on. I personally think it would be kinda cool for them to do a duet! I love Tina's rock and roll and Aretha's soul and R&B music. Just because Tina has more hits than Aretha doesn't mean that she's better. Just because Aretha has won more grammy awards doesn't mean she's better. I love both of you. Beyonce is a great singer and beautiful girl too!
Tina's Chart:
What's Love Got To Do With It? #1 | Private Dancer #1 | Better Be Good To Me #1 | It's Only Love (with Bryan Adams) #1 | We Don't Need Another Hero #1 | One Of The Living #1 | Back Where You Started #1 | Typical Male #1 | What You Get Is What You See #1 | Simply The Best #1 | Love Thing #1 | I Don't Wanna Fight #1 | Stay Awhile #1 | Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? #1 | Whatever You Want #1 | Silent Wings #1 | Something Beautiful Remains #1 | When The Heartache Is Over #1 | Whatever You Need #1 | Go Ahead #1...........
I know you just didn't diss the queen of rock and Roll! (SNAP!) And youre right, Aretha hasn't sold no where as many albums as Tina (aka QUEEN OF ROCK!!!). AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL! Tina is older and looks awesome!!!! Aretha is JUST the queen of soul! Tina could end up as THE QUEEN OF MUSIC! She's got the power honey!!! She's: SIMPLY THE BEST! BETTER THAN ALL THE REST. BETTER THAN ANYONE. ANYONE I'VE EVER MET!
I luv you aretha! You tell that Tina Turner woman who the real queen is. So what you never sold as many albums, sold as many concert tickets, sold as many singles, or have her big #1 singles, that aren't all that great! You are and ALWAYS WILL BE THE QUEEN! I'm glad youre not up there with Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, or Madonna. Tina actually has sold more than 200 million ablums world wide MONICA. I heard that on TV about four months ago. You're such a fan yet, you don't even know that! That makes me laugh. LMAO!!!! People just better remember, Aretha is THE QUEEN! Rock is not music. I like to call it... Tina Turner noise!!!
i think that both aretha and whitney are jealous of tina. shes lived through the worst of everything and still keeps bringing great concerts to us. i grew up on tina and at age 20, i still love her music. there will never be another tina turner.
Hey Jana,
Thanks for telling me about this site!!! I have strong opinions about this mess. Let's just start out by saying. "Aretha is not what she used to be!" And I'm also gonna speak on be-half of Miss Turner too; Aretha needs to stop putting so many damn songs on her albums from others and only adding a few new ones. Did she ever think that's why no body really buys her music? Did she ever think that she has only a handful of fans under the age of seventy? Has she ever asked herself why she hasn't sold more than 170 million albums, like Tina, all over the world when she's hardly sold 50 million (courtesy of Billboard Magazine). I think Aretha is still the queen of soul. Nonetheless, she'll never be TINA! To me, she's the one looking for damn controversy. Tina is really SIMPLY THE BEST!!! I luv you Miss Turner!
WOW! So many people have commented on this page in one night! LOL
There is one thing that I can say about Tina that I will NEVER say about Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton, or Whitney Houston.
Tina did it all without having Babyface making her career for her! And yes, Aretha has songs she sings written by Babyface.
I love you so much Tina! You have been my inspiration since I was 10 and you realeased your album What's Love Got To Do With It back in 1993. You are sooo my idol. Thank you for being... YOU! LOL.
To be quite honest, I think Aretha's kind of arrogant. Tina IS the Queen of Rock N Roll, Aretha!!! You're just pissed off that she can be gone for years and comeback like she never left. LONG LIVE TINA TURNER!!! THE QUEEN OF ROCK N ROLL!!!
You look super fine TINA!
Without a doubt, Tina has more than earned the title, Queen of Rock-n-Roll. She can dance and put on one hell of a show. She's sold more concert tickets than any other solo artist. In the words of Janet Jackson "In every sense - the woman has got LEGS!"
Aretha is continuing to carry on about this, and for what? Tina has moved on and so has Beyonce. It makes you wonder who really has a problem with this ordeal. When Beyonce said queen, I have every reason to believe that she meant "The Queen Of Rock", in which Tina is. I have never heard anyone refer to Tina as "The Queen Of Soul". Aretha must remember that Tina and her are in two different genre's of music. Aretha (Soul); and Tina (Mostly Rock). I feel that Tina has earned the title "Queen of Rock". What if someone was to call Tina "The Queen Of Music"? I bet she really would have a problem with that. Plain and simple, I think it's time to let the matter rest as most of the world don't care. And I agree with TK, Why is this a story again??? I like both artists. However, I's rather listen to Tina. Just my opinion. I wish the best of luck to both artists and hope that the next years will be good for them.
i can care less if aretha franklin likes wat beyonce said because she thinks tina turner is a queen alot of people do and they are intitled to their opinon
You know it's unfortunate for Aretha that by continously going on and on about the situation that she brought more attention to her problems with her weight, infamous wardrobe and her fear of flying! Music lovers already knew about those issues, but she more than tripled the public's scrutiny by continously responding! Bloggers of all generations ripped her namesake apart, despite her having one of the best catalogs in music history! She was recently voted music's best singer and no one is focusing on it, because of this spat! She still thinks that by not touring and recording new material like her rivals that she deserves modern day accolades! We watched 2 golden divas in a war or words and we wonder why Black divas of now and then can never get along, while the pop and country divas keep it hush, hush! It was an error on the grammy writer's part, but Aretha's camp should've had second thoughts about how this made her queendom look in '08! Best of luck to the "Queen of Soul! in '09"