Aretha Franklin is gravely ill, according to several reports. The "Queen of Soul" last year announced she planned to retire from touring, and in March she had to cancel shows on doctor's orders.
The Associated Press, citing a person close to the singer who was "not allowed to talk publicly about the topic," reported Monday that the 76-year-old singer was "seriously ill."
Longtime entertainment reporter Roger Friedman wrote on Showbiz 411 that she "is gravely ill in Detroit. The family is asking for prayers and privacy." The morning anchor of Detroit station WDIV, Evrod Cassimy, tweeted that he had spoken with her family members on Monday morning and she is "gravely ill.