Sunday 12 December 2010

Aretha Franklin to Be Discharged from Hospital After Surgery.
Aretha Franklin has been told she's “doing better than doctors expected” and has vowed to start touring again next spring in the wake of her surgery.

The 68-year-old star was reportedly told she had less than a year to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but people around her are optimistic.

Her cousin Brenda Corbett has dismissed the claims, telling the Detroit Free Press newspaper: “Aretha is doing better than doctors expected. She has a long life in front of her and will be back in concert, on stage, late spring or early summer.”

The singer’s sister-in-law Earline Franklin added: “Aretha is doing absolutely wonderful. All the prayers and well wishes have supported her, and she’s doing well.”

Last month, Aretha cancelled all her scheduled concerts until May for "medical reasons."

Until late October she had been recording and touring, and last week released a statement saying she had undergone "highly successful" surgery but didn’t disclose it was for cancer until this week.

She is now said to be looking forward to getting back on the road.

Aretha was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 and grew up in Michigan where she started singing in her local church as a young girl.

The soul legend whose hits include "I Say A Little Prayer" -- has won 20 Grammy Awards and had 20 number one hits in the Billboard top 100 music chart.

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