Aretha Franklin: 'Keep Me In Your Prayers Until I'm 100%'

Although Aretha Franklin, 71, is on the sidelines recovering from a mysterious illness, she’s ready to get back to work.

The Associated Press spoke with Franklin about her health recently and she had a message for fans, “…All prayer is good, and keep me in your prayers until I am 100%, not 85, and back on stage.”

The legendary singer recently pulled the plug on a number of performances around the country—including a Major League Baseball event, at which she was scheduled to be honored with the Beacon Award.

When pressed about her illness, Franklin remained tight lipped but said it was common to women. “I just had to deal with it,” she said. The “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” singer did reveal her current condition stems from an illness that sidelined her three years ago.

While recuperating at home, Franklin’s spends much of her time resting and eating healthy—all of which has helped decrease her blood pressure. “The most important thing is my comfort and going back at my pace,” said Franklin about potentially returning to the stage soon. “Nothing is more important than my health.”

And though she’s stuck at home for a while, Franklin’s most upset she won’t be able to wear her new outfit to the U.S. Open in New York next week. “I had really got this hot, hot, hot three-piece Escada short set to wear… with some fine platforms but doggone it, I’m just not up to traveling quite as far as New York.”