Aretha Franklin continued her 74th birthday celebration at the Ritz Carlton in New York City on Thursday, where PEOPLE asked her about who she considers the new school of music royalty. “There’s a lot of great singers out here,” the reigning Queen of Soul says.
When asked who she would pass the torch to, Aretha answers, “I’m here!” she said with a smile. “I’m not going anywhere. This is what I do.”
No shade to the new school, but Motha Franklin doesn’t plan on passing the mic to anybody. I know that’s right!
“I’m doing very well,” she says. “I’m going to be around. I’ll be like Perry Coma [was], somewhere on a couch laying down with a microphone, still singing.”
Clive Davis agrees, saying that very few artists today will be studied centuries from now. He even notes that Aretha Franklin brought President Obama to tears when she performed for him last year. “Whatever Aretha Franklin does is history,” says Davis.
Aretha also revealed that she’s working on her biopic. “I’ve talked to the person that is going to play me,” she says of giving her hard won stamp of approval to a young actress for the still untitled project. “I’m not going to say who I chose, but I’ve talked to her and she’s ready and I’m happy with her.”
Will you be checking out Aretha’s movie?
