The fellas love Aretha Franklin: Denzel Washington helped the Queen of Soul celebrate her 72nd
birthday in style, and Andre 3000 and Babyface are working on new music for the icon. Franklin
held an exclusive and small party in New York City for her birthday. Washington entered the Ritz-Carlton
Hotel quietly, though the crowd got excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a baseball cap.
Franklin thanked the actor for attending. Just hours earlier, she saw him onstage in the Broadway play,
"A Raisin In the Sun." Her longtime musical collaborator, Clive Davis, also attended. The singer was all
smiles at the event. She said in an interview that she's working on new music with rapper Andre 3000
and singer-songwriter Babyface.
He's also guest starring with Toni Braxton in the Broadway musical "After Midnight," which celebrates Duke
Ellington's years at the Cotton Club nightclub in Harlem. "So, I'm just waiting for him to finish that so he can
finish my tracks please," Franklin said.
"And I think Andre 2000 - is it two or three? 3000 is going to be doing some of the tracks with him." When
asked what she wants for her birthday, Franklin said. "I'm looking for a record deal for my granddaughter
Victorie, and my son Kecalf." They both performed recently at the BET Honors special, which paid tribute
to Franklin.
Earlier this month, Franklin performed at the White House alongside Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and other soul
singers. "What a shoutin' good time we had," she exclaimed. "The White House is still rocking right now!"
Source: Billboard