A week after Aretha Franklin had surgery for an undisclosed reason, family members of the queen of soul confirmed Wednesday that Franklin is battling pancreatic cancer. According to the New York Daily News, relatives confirmed the news on the Detroit Fox News affiliate.
Franklin, 68, checked into a Detroit hospital last Thursday to have surgery. The purpose of the procedure was not revealed at the time of it completed.
The queen of soul released a statement following the surgery, but was hush about the reason for the hospitalization.
“The surgery was highly successful,” she told The Associated Press. “God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country. God bless you all for your prayers!”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Franklin in the hospital last week; he said she was making an impressive recovery.
“She’s doing very well,” Jackson told The Detroit News. “She’s very prayerful. She’s a woman of deep religious faith.”
Speculation about Franklin’s poor health have been news since November, when the singer canceled all of her upcoming concerts due to “medical reasons.”
