Singer Gladys Knight Clarifies Aretha Franklin Cancer Comments

The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, is clarifying some recent remarks.

On Friday evening, Aug. 31, 2018, the "Midnight Train to Georgia" singer released a statement after previously hinting that she had pancreatic cancer, the same disease that led to late Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin's untimely passing in mid-August.

"I'd like to clarify that Aretha and I discussed both of us having cancer, mine was stage 1 breast cancer and hers was pancreatic," Knight began her statement (via Entertainment Tonight). "Due to early detection, I am cancer-free and grateful for that. It is unfortunate that on a day we should be celebrating Aretha's life and massive contribution to our world, a reporter who did not relay accurate information has missed the message."

She added, "I send my love to the entire Franklin family and my gratitude to them for sharing such an extraordinary person with us." 

As Nicki Swift previously reported, Knight, 74, made headlines early Friday when she opened up about her last interaction with Franklin during an interview with the Detroit TV station, WDIV-TV. "The last time I talked to her, we were at the same hotel and we didn't know it. But I know her crew and family, she knows my crew and family," she said at the time (via Us Weekly). "Aretha said, 'Get down here,' so I went down. ...We just got to talking, and at that time we shared the fact that we had the same disease."

Multiple media outlets soon reported that the "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" singer had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. However, Knight's rep quickly responded to the speculation, telling the Detroit Free Press, "She's healthy. Someone must have misinterpreted."

A number of fans and celebrities have taken to social media over the last two weeks to mourn the loss of Franklin, who died at the age of 76 on Aug. 16, 2018. Several of the music icon's loved ones and fellow entertainers attended her Detroit, Mich. funeral on Friday, where Knight performed two songs, "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," in honor of her late friend.