What's Aretha Franklin's Mystery Ailment?

Iconic hitmaker has been ordered by her doctors to stay off the road and get some rest

By Josh Grossberg Nov 05, 2010 2:55 PMTags
Aretha FranklinAP Photo/Ron Edmonds

Something is ailing Aretha Franklin, but her people are keeping her health condition on lockdown.

The Queen of Soul has scrapped six months' worth of concerts and personal appearances on doctors' orders after she was briefly hospitalized in her hometown of Detroit over the weekend for a mystery illness.

Her publicist, Tracey Jordan, declined to specify Franklin's Malady, but said the 68-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is now "resting comfortably" at home.

Aretha is "very anxious to get back on the road to perform for her fans," the rep said in a statement. "The award-winning songstress sends her sincerest apologies to her loyal followers and colleagues for the cancelled shows."

It hasn't been the best year health-wise for Franklin. In August, the 20-time Grammy winner was forced to nix two shows in New York after breaking her ribs in a fall.

This latest round of cancellations includes a Christmas gig that was supposed to take place in Motor City's' Fox Theatre on Dec. 9 as well as a pair of concerts at New York's Radio City Music Hall in February.

Here's hoping she's back to fighting form soon.