Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin Try To Remain Relevant with Catfight

If we told you that two big old queens were in the middle of a bitchy catfight, you'd probably assume we were talking about Elton John and Boy George, but this time you'd be wrong. It's Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner getting all up in each other's grills, as the young'ns were so fond of saying five years ago. When Beyoncé introduced Tina as "the queen" at last year's Grammys, Aretha was not happy, saying:

I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy.

And Tina shot back:

Aretha has always been like that. We’ve always accepted that from her. She’s the queen of soul, and I’m the queen of rock ‘n’ roll. There were so many kings and queens there that night. Her ego must be so big to think she was the only one. That’s how queens are!

And now Aretha is all, "Oh no she di'int!" with this statement:

I have always appreciated what Tina Turner has to offer and had quietly cheered her on after Ike and her subsequent success. However, with respect to her statement concerning my ego (in saying, ‘Her ego must be so big to think she was the only one … that’s how queens are’) clearly she was talking about herself as she described herself as the ‘Queen of Rock’ and saying ‘that’s what Queens do’ — particularly since she does not have a clue as to who I am in view of the fact that we have never met.

I never figured her to resort to tacky press just to sell a few tickets. I understand and I know that the concert market is down where ticket sales are concerned. I really had put her in a different class — higher than that.

Finally, no one has been more gracious or complimentary to their peers than I have and I am confident and secure enough to do so, unlike some others. I wish Ms. Turner all the best, as I always have. Perhaps one day we will meet.

We know that Tina is notoriously fit for her age and seems full of boundless energy, but there's not really any way that she's going to win this one. It would probably take Aretha all of twelve seconds to snatch off Tina's wig, throw her to the ground, and smother her with those Chesty Morgan-level boobs. And millions of male fantasies may claim differently, but to us that doesn't sound like the most pleasant way to go.