Aretha Franklin resting and recovering at home as her family remains hopeful after the singer's recent health scare
Aretha Franklin's stay in the hospital and her health concerns had caused a lot of worry to family and fans with reports of her being "gravely ill" doing the rounds. However, we now have some good news as the singer is back home with her family members after that health scare. "She’s alert, laughing, teasing, able to recognize people,” Aretha’s nephew Tim Franklin said. Tim noted that the family members are spending time with her and making sure that the singer stays away from fake news on the social media about her being dead. They are all praying for her recovery. “Family is there with her,” he said. “She’s home.” He also noted that he recently met her and the two spoke for a long time. “I saw her a week ago Friday and we talked for about 45 minutes to an hour. My brother was there on Saturday and she was alert, talking, laughing, joking,” Tim said.
“She’s watching TV, so god forbid she sees all of this ‘Aretha’s dead,’ so I don’t want to dampen her spirits on that," he further added in a conversation with People. Meanwhile, a friend of the singer noted that Aretha had been "ill for a long time” and her loved ones have been warned her “death is imminent.” Despite this, her family is remaining hopeful and trying their best to make her feel loved.
Tim said that while the singer “is sick,” her family is “trying to keep her spirits up and go from there.” "We believe she’ll pull through it, she believes she’ll pull through it, and that’s the important thing,” he further added. The news about Aretha getting admitted into a hospital was reported on Monday (August 13).
Detroit news anchor Evrod Cassimy was in touch with the singer's family when the news came out. “I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill. I spoke with her family members this morning. She is asking for your prayers at this time. I’ll have more details as I’m allowed to release,” he wrote on Twitter. Previously, Aretha's health problems also led to the cancellation of some of her performances.
In March, she decided to cancel her concert after the doctor advised her to do so. “I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it,” Aretha said at that time. However, she returned to the stage in August 2017 for a performance at the Mann Center in Philadelphia. Even though concerns about her health grew, Aretha was tight-lipped about it. In April 2011, she spoke to the People magazine after she was hospitalized for an operation.
The singer explained that she was feeling "fabulous". The singer thanked people for their support. “And I’m so thankful to all of the people who said a little prayer for me,” she further added. “People at the check out line in the market were telling me that they prayed for me. It’s amazing how beautiful people can be.”