/ 17 October 2013

Aretha Franklin ‘glad to be back’ after undisclosed illness

Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, 2012. (Reuters)

The 71-year-old singer sat at a piano Wednesday inside a Westin hotel in the Detroit suburb of Southfield and spoke about her treatment for an undisclosed condition.

She sang Etta James' At Last and told reporters she's "glad to be back in it" – a reference to her music.

The Detroit News reports she's starting on a new album with producers Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Don Was.

Franklin says she and Edmonds were supposed to team up in July, but couldn't because of her medical treatments.

She says it was music executive Clive Davis who suggested she collaborate with Was, known for his work with the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson.

Franklin cancelled several concerts earlier this year for health reasons. – Sapa-AP