American singer Chaka Khan has given her hot take on Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Singer of All Time” list, even going on to blast some fellow entries.
In a recent interview, the “Queen of Funk,” as she’s popularly referred to, didn’t agree with some of the placements on the list and minced no words as she called the magazine editors “blind b*tches” after learning that longtime frenemy, Mary J. Blige, ranked higher than her.
Although Khan was unaware of the list before now, she gave Rolling Stone their flowers where they deserved it in her eyes – pitching Aretha Franklin as number one.
Read on for more details.
Chaka Khan Was Not Aware Of The ‘Greatest Singers’ List
In a recent interview with Andrew Goldman on his podcast The Originals for Los Angeles magazine, the “Do you Love What You Feel” singer didn’t completely agree with Rolling Stone’s ranking of the greatest singers of all time, as she newly learned there was something like that.
Khan placed at number 29, ahead of singers like Aaliyah (40), Ariana Grande (43), and Toni Braxton (48), but some names ahead of hers on the list didn’t sit well with her.
Khan was congratulated for her inclusion on the list by the podcast host, Goldman, but it quickly became clear that she had no idea what he meant.
“I didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about, so obviously this doesn’t mean a great deal to me,” she said. “These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way.”
Chaka Khan Doesn’t Agree With The List
Having learned of some entrees on the list, the singer expressed her thoughts on them as she disagreed with some and commended others where she thought they deserved it.
When she learned about Mariah Carey making it at No. 5, she suspected some sort of foul play, saying, “That must be payola or some sh*t like that,” per L.A. Magazine.
“Set Fire To The Rain” singer Adele was placed at No. 22, but Khan seemed to not be in support, as she threw her hands up and exclaimed, “Okay, I quit!”
According to the news outlet, the straw that broke the camel’s back was when she was told that her longtime frenemy, Mary J. Blige, came in at No. 25.
“These are blind b*tches! They are blind as a motherf**king bat! They need hearing aids. These must be the children of Helen Keller!” she blasted Rolling Stone’s editors.
According to L.A. Magazine, Khan referred to a 1975 song, “Sweet Thing” by her funk band, Rufus, as “the song Mary J. Blige f**ked up” after she had a version of it on her 1992 debut album, “What’s The 411?”
The pair seemed to have eased their strained relationship after Blige sang on Khan’s 2007 song “Funk This,” but Rolling Stone’s rankings seem to have revived their feud.
She Agrees With Aretha Franklin And Whitney Houston’s Ranks
The Grammy Award-winning singer acknowledged some entries on the list and gave the editors their flowers where she felt they deserved it.
When Khan learned that Aretha Franklin had taken the No. 1 spot, the “I’m Every Woman” singer quipped, “As she f**king should be. Thank you! There’s justice somewhere!”
According to Page Six, Khan also considered Whitney Houston debuting at No.2 as apt, saying, “Great. I’m the one who introduced her to music mogul Clive Davis.”
“And I introduced her to the business,” she continued. “I made her mother bring her down to the studio and sing background with me, her, and Luther Vandross. They both sang background for me on my albums.”
“I don’t have anything to say about Beyoncé,” she said about her ranking at No. 8. “She’s a great singer, she’s got the chops. She does.”
Chaka Khan Shares Her Biggest Life Lesson
Ahead of her landmark 70th birthday celebration, Khan recently reflected on her decades-long career’s wealth of accomplishments.
In a chat with Entertainment Tonight, the singer divulged that she has an upcoming project with Joni Mitchell and also shared some valuable advice for folks who want to be like her.
“I’ve done everything but kick myself in the back of the head. The only thing left to do, I mean, really, I feel like I’ve done a great deal. I’m wondering, you know, what’s next?” She reflected on her long and fruitful career.
Khan continued, “I’ve got five generations in any given audience. Five generations of people, and I think that’s significant.”
The singer also shared some valuable life lessons. “I keep telling these kids, they want to know what should they do if they have a calling or a dream,” she noted. “The thing is, if you have a calling or a dream, you’re either going to realize it or you’re going to crash and burn; kill yourself or kill somebody else or something, you know?”
She added, “You’re gonna have to do it, it has to be done. Or you have to pick something else. Because the calling is just the calling. It’s that simple. It’s bigger than you. So, you have to do it. And if you don’t, the post office is always hiring.”
