# Aretha Frankin gravely ill in hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537 "2018-08-13T18:21:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/1 "2018-08-13T18:21:42Z")
[So say reports.](https://abc7chicago.com/health/aretha-franklin-gravely-ill-in-detroit/3945161/) She’s not dead yet so let’s [say a little prayer.](https://youtu.be/KtBbyglq37E) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/2 "2018-08-13T18:43:52Z")
Yeah. Doesn’t sound good. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/3 "2018-08-13T19:40:44Z")
Detroit Free Press noted that [after a concert in June 2017, she ended by saying “please keep my in your prayers.”](https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/08/13/aretha-franklin-gravely-sick/974630002/) Maybe she knew something back then? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/4 "2018-08-13T20:11:35Z")
[TMZ is reporting cancer.](http://www.tmz.com/2018/08/13/aretha-franklin-gravely-ill-dying/) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/5 "2018-08-13T21:20:29Z")
In recent years she canceled 3 or so local concerts for no reason and then finally showed up for one a few years back. I’ve noticed with celebs it’s common for the “gravely ill” statement to come out a day before they die. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/6 "2018-08-13T21:26:21Z")
I’m sorry to hear about it. Aretha is one of a kind and we won’t see her equal. Wasn’t it pancreatic cancer she beat several years ago? If so, her surviving several years is quite an accomplishment. For most people, that’s an automatic death sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/7 "2018-08-13T22:01:34Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Wasn’t it pancreatic cancer she beat several years ago? She’s never confirmed what that surgery was for. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/8 "2018-08-13T22:56:14Z")
_Hey nineteen That’s 'Retha Franklin She don’t remember the Queen of Soul It’s hard times befallen The sole survivors She thinks I’m crazy But I’m just growing old_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/9 "2018-08-13T23:42:02Z")
One of the true greats who could blow most divas off the stage. I remember when she first hit the scene and the tremendous power of that voice just mesmerized everyone. And then I heard [Ain’t No Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzRA9UzuU8c), with Cissy Houston providing that ethereal background singing and I was lost forever. All these years later, that song nearly brings me to tears. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/10 "2018-08-13T23:44:24Z")
[Aretha Sing One For Me.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjhmwzf_mh0) ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/11 "2018-08-14T01:07:45Z")
Radio report today says she is down to \< 90 pounds. Dammit. ☹ Only 76 years old. Feels like she’s been around forever. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/12 "2018-08-14T01:16:03Z")
> [@LLCoolL](#): > > Radio report today says she is down to \< 90 pounds. Dammit. ☹ > > Only 76 years old. Feels like she’s been around forever. No. No way! She’s my boob hero. I’m not even joking. She loved those massive, floppy things and loved showing them off. Made me wish I was more in love with my similar matronly pair. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/13 "2018-08-14T13:17:42Z")
Shocking news. Thanks Aretha for all you gave to the world. You better think, think about what you’re trying to do to me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/14 "2018-08-14T15:25:44Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > _Hey nineteen > That’s 'Retha Franklin > She don’t remember the Queen of Soul > It’s hard times befallen > The sole survivors > She thinks I’m crazy > But I’m just growing old_ Hey nineteen! > [@](#): > > The Cuervo Gold > The fine Colombian 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/15 "2018-08-14T15:43:56Z")
I always admire a celeb who does something outside their bailiwick. Aretha in a Snickers commercial was a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-frankin-gravely-ill-in-hospital/819537/16 "2018-08-14T23:49:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > No. No way! She’s my boob hero. I’m not even joking. She loved those massive, floppy things and loved showing them off. Made me wish I was more in love with my similar matronly pair. As much as I love Aretha, I was still a adolescent when I learned that, yes, there is such a thing as two much boobage. One of my favorites; [A Rose is Still a Rose](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtMUQbnT_Lo).