Aretha Franklin attends the 10th Annual TV Land Awards at the Lexington Avenue Armory on April 14, 2012 in New York City
*Aretha Franklin has fired back against Kathie Lee Gifford and her “Today” fourth hour co-host Hoda Hotb for their remarks regarding her offer to judge “American Idol” next season.
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Gifford suggested that “Idol” viewers have no idea who she is, or know anything about her musical legacy.
“If they are looking for a younger demographic, there are a lot of kids out there (who) actually don’t know who Aretha Franklin is. It’s sad, but they don’t,” Gifford said.
Adding fuel to the fire, E! correspondent Jason Kennedy noted that the 70-year-old Queen of Soul doesn’t like to fly and may not make it to auditions.
Franklin promptly sent an e-mail to CNN in her defense.
“While I enjoy Kathie Lee and Hoda daily, her assessment is totally wrong!” wrote the 18-time-Grammy winner. “I’ve been to California from Detroit four times this year and Florida. I go wherever I choose to go comfortably on my custom bus.”
Hoda Kotb (L) and Kathie Lee Gifford of the “Today” show
Franklin especially took offense that she is too old for the ‘Idol’ audience, and insists her fans are multi-generational.
“My audience and fans span the age of eight to 90! And are multi-ethnic, and I am very well known to young adults, tweens and teens. Their parents play my music and I take care of my business whenever I sign on the dotted line,” she said. “I’m surprised Kathie Lee did not research my worldwide celebrity audience! She’s usually right on top of things with a great sense of humor, but she’s totally wrong this time. She should research me before she speaks about me. I’m sure she thought she was right; still enjoy Hoda and Kathie Lee!”
Franklin reiterated that she is serious about her intentions to judge the show and suggested her presence will invigorate the process for more than one season.
“I could enjoy being a judge for a season or two. Let’s kick it up a few notches and have a slammin’, jammin’ season,” she wrote.
lol! Kathie Lee always finds a way ot get herself in trouble, she does have a point about the younger demographic but you know Aretha was going to speak her mind regardless. AI has worn out it’s welcome IMO!
Y’all do know steven tyler is 64 or does it not matter because he’s an OLD white man?
OMG, Aretha Franklin sounds stupid begging to be on American Idol. Sounds like she needs a check. The fact she doesn’t fly is reason enough they probably would pass on her. Let it go Aretha and plus AI is past it’s product life cycle!!!!!
I knew age would be the main factor.
I actually think Aretha would be an excellent judge because unlike the judges before, she has REAL talent but its not AI is really looking for real talent…
If they were looking for ‘real’ talent…J-Lo would never have been hired. Actually, Paula really was talented either. It’s about ‘image’ and nothing more.
That’s the main issue. AI was never about talent. Only about image & having a tolerable voice for the masses. Never understood the hiring of either Abdul or Lopez. And it’s funny they say that Aretha is too old. What about Paula? Paula hasn’t done a record in almost 20 years. I mean, I understand that Aretha is several generations behind but how many idol contestants have buthered ‘Respect’ or ‘Natural Woman’? You would have thought that Kathie Lee would have learned after the Martin Short debacle but I guess not!
I don’t know why the younger people wouldn’t know Aretha Franklin especiall the white ones because they are always trying to sing Respect on damn near every singing show they are on and no one does it like Aretha.
We all sing songs but don’t know who actually was to first to sing the song. When Andy Griffin died the younger generation had no idea who he was. Ask me how I know?
AI and X-Factor panders to what the music indutry promotes and that is image/sex appeal etc and very little if any actual talent/good vocal skills, that formula is not holding up because a lot of the AI winners and runner ups as of he last 6 seasons their CD’s have flopped. I think the public is getting wiser now and they are looking at artists that have real talent and are not manufactured pop tarts.
I tend to agree that Re Re is to old and I don’t think she has the personality for TV. As someone upline stated this media is all about “Optics” and I don’t think that Aretha fits. She is not going to draw an audience, at least not the audience they are targeting.
Aretha is a very sensitive person and goes off the deep end when she feels offended. LOL! Actually she would be overqualified. AI is based on image and less talent.