Aretha Franklin is still a soul sister after 60 years

The last thing I wanted to do with a legend like Aretha Franklin was turn up unprepared.

She’s a world-class talent for a reason and I guessed she could probably eat me for breakfast if I didn’t do my research.

I wanted to show her the proper, ahem, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., so asking a silly question was out of the question.

“So, do you sing in the shower?” was one of my queries. “What kind of a question is that?” she said. Not quite the response I had been hoping for!

Still, the 72-year-old Queen of Soul is too much of a professional. She may have thought the question was daft but it didn’t faze her.

She’s currently promoting her album Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Soul Diva Classics, which includes tracks from Diana Ross and Adele. You would think during her career, which started all the way back in 1952, she’d achieved it all.

“I haven’t,” she said. “Definitely. There’s a lot left to do. I want to bring something refreshing and inspiring and to keep on trying to capture the essence of the music. Music is what I do. I’m right on top of whoever is doing whatever.”

Being introduced to gospel music from a young age, you can’t imagine her doing anything else. I wonder if she felt she was always going to be a singer.

“At one point I was studying to be a prima ballerina,” she said. “I was studying in the East Side of New York.

“I took classes in Los Angeles. I could have easily become a ballerina. I could also have been a registered nurse, my mother was a nurse. I could have been a Florence Nightingale!”

I suggested Aretha could have been a singing nightingale in Berkley Square.

I shouldn’t have doubted Aretha would get the reference she immediately launched into a few bars of the famous standard. She was fantastic!

It’s her wonderful voice she uses on this album to great effect. I was happy to see British soul star Adele’s track on there too.

“I had seen one of her videos where there were loads of schoolkids singing her song Rolling In The Deep,” explained Aretha.

“They were having a great time. I love the song, I like that hook. I thought it was a great choice.”

Before we parted, I wanted to ask how Aretha was away from the stage.

“I’m happy on and off stage,” she added. “I’m an optimistic person. I have four sons and I’m very family orientated. I like to cook.

“My specialty is baked chicken in dressing. I have a wonderful spaghetti and parmesan and I do a nice smokin’ chilli too. I love doing peach cobblers.”