The 74-year-old previously said that she had the same disease with the late Aretha Franklin.
- September 3, 2018
AceShowbiz - Gladys Knight has clarified her comments about having the "same disease" as the late Aretha Franklin.
The 74-year-old opened up to U.S. local news station WDIV at the memorial service for the Queen of Soul on Friday, August 31, telling the reporter about the last moment she shared with "my sister" Aretha.
"The last time I talked to her, we were at the same hotel and we didn't know it," Gladys said, explaining that afterwards they "got to talking and everything and at that time we shared the fact that we had the same disease."
Many took that to be an admission that the "Midnight Train to Georgia" singer was also suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Her publicist, Jay Schwartz, was quick to shoot down the reports, and told the Detroit News: "She is fine. She does not have pancreatic cancer."
Gladys later released her own statement on Friday, in an effort to clear up the confusion surrounding her health.
"I'd like to clarify that Aretha and I discussed both of us having cancer, mine was stage 1 breast cancer and hers was pancreatic," the statement read.
"Due to early detection, I am cancer-free and grateful for that. It is unfortunate that on a day we should be celebrating Aretha's life and massive contribution to our world, a reporter who did not relay accurate information has missed the message. I send my love to the entire Franklin family and my gratitude to them for sharing such an extraordinary person with us," it added.
Aretha was honoured with a star-studded Celebration of Life at Detroit's Greater Grace Temple on Friday, after passing away last month from advanced pancreatic cancer, aged 76.
