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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Aretha Franklin being honored

Bill Keveney USA Today

Aretha Franklin doesn’t have to worry about what to do with her spare time on her current trip to California visit. She doesn’t have any.

The Queen of Soul will perform at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Sandwiched around that, she’s receiving two major honors: MusiCares Person of the Year (from the Recording Academy’s fundraising group of the same name) tonight, and the Vanguard Award at the NAACP Image Awards next Thursday.

She’ll also squeeze in two concerts in downtown Los Angeles.

Franklin, 65, whose R&B has enthralled listeners over five decades, will be honored at tonight’s MusiCares gala for both her musical achievements and her philanthropic efforts in her hometown of Detroit.

The NAACP’s Vanguard Award has gone to just three others: Prince, Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kramer.

“I’m thrilled to get it. To be one of the fish in a pond is good, but to be the fish is even better,” says Franklin, whose other honors include 17 Grammys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She doesn’t cite an album, concert or one of her many trophies as her greatest achievement.

“Let’s see, I think it’s mostly my civic involvement, giving to churches and food banks in Detroit and various other organizations like Easter Seals and UNICEF.”

One of her undeniable accomplishments: influencing the vocal style of countless Aretha wannabes.

“I love it,” she says. “They say that is one of the truest compliments, when a person is influenced by you, when you show up in their vocals.”

Many hear that influence in such performers as Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige and Fantasia. Franklin sees parts of herself in Natalie Cole.

She has a direct influence through duets with such singers as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey (“one of my new best friends”) on her current album, “Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen.”

Her duet with Mary J. Blige, “Never Gonna Break My Faith,” from the movie “Bobby,” is up for a best gospel performance Grammy. Franklin will sing it at Sunday’s show with BeBe Winans.

Franklin has gotten “a big kick” out of “American Idol,” in which every other singer seems to perform her hits or mimic her style.

“Some of the younger singers singing my songs have done a good job,” she says. “Some others were, ‘Whoa!’ “

After the Grammys, she plans another new album, “Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love,” a Christmas album and a collection of operatic arias.

Franklin is also planning to make a film of her 1999 autobiography, “Aretha: From These Roots.”

One deal already fell apart over the issue of creative control.

“They wanted to say who would play me, and I said, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t deal with that,’ ” she says.

“I think I’m uniquely qualified to say who would play me best.”