Patti LaBelle Addresses Aretha Franklin Feud Rumors

Patti LaBelle is giving fans a new take on her relationship with Aretha Franklin.

For years, speculation swirled about a rumored rift between the two R&B icons. Now, LaBelle is setting the record straight — and putting some r-e-s-p-e-c-t on her history with Franklin.

“What were your conversations like with Aretha Franklin? What did you two bond over, talk about?” Andy Cohen asked during a Sunday episode of his show “Watch What Happens Live.”

Not surprisingly, given LaBelle’s well-known love for cooking, she shared that the two connected over food. She also mentioned they shared a deep appreciation for their “voices” and revealed that Franklin had even expressed interest in collaborating. Sadly, those plans never came to fruition due to Franklin’s death in 2018 at age 76.

“We just talked about life,” LaBelle told Cohen. “A lot of people think that we didn’t get along, but we did.”

“It is unclear from Ms. Franklin’s face what she is really thinking of your performance,” he remarked.

The “On My Own” singer simply replied, “She loved it.”

LaBelle, who appeared on the show alongside Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills to promote their upcoming The Queens tour, affirmed that Franklin approved of her tribute. Khan chimed in, noting that Franklin was known for her “poker face.”

After Franklin’s death, LaBelle publicly expressed that she was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the Queen of Soul.