Clive Davis is putting on a concert in honor of Aretha Franklin titled “Aretha: A Grammy Celebration for The Queen of Soul,” but not everyone is thrilled with the artists chosen to perform.
Some of the first people announced were SZA, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, as well as Patti LaBelle, and Lil Mo is one of those who took exception.
The late Aretha Franklin (left) will be honored in a tribute concert by performers in a lineup that has been announced to include (from first from left) SZA, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys. (photos: Wikimedia Commons/YouTube/Instagram)
“I just have one question and a half,” wrote Mo on Instagram. “Who did the picking? And Dorinda and Karen of the Clark Sisters, Faith Evans-Jordan, Fantasia and Jasmin Sullivan needed to be added, so some real …. never mind. Some [of] the lineup [is] missing I hope. They doing this and saving the best names for last, right?”
Many agreed with the R&B-singer-turned-radio-host and said others should’ve been picked to honor the “Respect” singer. They also said Franklin wouldn’t have liked any of those choices.
“They’re about to make Aretha come out her casket and pick her own damn singers,” one person wrote.
“Ummmm, has the selection panel not never ever seen Ms. Aretha interviewed?” another questioned. “And have they not heard or seen what she’s said about who she thinks are good singers?”
But others said SZA and the rest were fine singers, and Mo is simply jealous.
“She gotta ‘lot to say lately for someone that’s doing ‘Love & Hip Hop’ to get back in the industry,” wrote one Instagram user.
“She hating from outside of the line, and she can’t even get in,” wrote someone else.
The Aretha Franklin concert special will take place on Jan. 13 at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and will air on CBS sometime in 2019. Other artists set to perform include Janelle Monae, Yolanda Adams, John Legend, Shirley Caesar, BeBe Winans, and Common.
