CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

The New York Times reports:

An ailing Aretha Franklin was visited on Tuesday at her home in Detroit by Stevie Wonder, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and her ex-husband Glynn Turman, as tributes to the Queen of Soul poured in from around the world.

A spokeswoman for the Franklin family confirmed the visits and said in a statement that Ms. Franklin, 76, is “seriously ill and surrounded by family members who appreciate the outpouring of love and support they have received.”

According to two people who were in touch with the family but were not authorized to discuss Ms. Franklin’s condition, the singer of “Respect” and “Natural Woman,” who is universally hailed as one of America’s greatest voices, has been receiving hospice care at home.

Billboard Magazine reports:

An all-star tribute to Aretha Franklin is in the works for November in New York, Billboard has confirmed. As Showbiz411 first reported, the concert is being spearheaded by one of the Queen of Soul’s longest supports, Sony Music Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis.

The event, a celebration of the 76 year-old singer’s six decades in music, is reportedly slated to take place at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14 under the banner “Clive Davis Presents: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin.”

While the lineup for the Live Nation-produced gig has not yet been announced, at press time, it seems unlikely that Franklin will attend in light of reports from a source close to the singer that she is seriously ill. A spokesperson for Franklin could not be reached for further details on her condition at press time.

Like people all around the world, Hillary and I are thinking about Aretha Franklin tonight & listening to her music that has been such an important part of our lives the last 50 years. We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 14, 2018