Aretha Franklin's representative has confirmed the legendary singer is alive and well after she became the latest victim of an internet death hoax. The Queen of Soul underwent surgery at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan earlier this month to treat an undisclosed ailment, with subsequent reports suggesting she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Her ailing health led to incorrect online reports stating she had passed away over the festive period, but her spokesperson has slammed the claims, telling GossipCop.com, "Aretha is fine."
Franklin is the latest star who has had to respond to a death hoax - actor Charlie Sheen was incorrectly reported to have died in a snowboarding accident on Sunday, December 26 and singer Aaron Carter also denied reports he had passed away last week.