Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Chaka Khan Apologizes For Ripping Fellow Artists Who Ranked Above Her On 'Greatest Singers' List

Chaka Khan
Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Khan drew backlash after criticizing 'Rolling Stone' for ranking Adele, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige ahead of her.

Singer Chaka Khan issued a formal apology after she criticized fellow singers who placed higher than her on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The Greatest 200 Singers of All Time."

The singer rose to prominence in the 1970s as a lead vocalist for the funk band Rufus, and later became the first R&B artist to have a crossover hit featuring a rapper with her 1984 hit single "I Feel for You."


The 10-time Grammy winner ranked at number 29 on Rolling Stone's list that was published on New Year's Day, and the "Queen of Funk" was none too pleased about it.

During an episode of Los Angeles Magazine's podcast The Originals, Khan harshly critiqued fellow artists who ranked above her as revealed to her by host Andrew Goldman.

In response to Mariah Carey being ranked at 5, a displeased Khan remarked that it must be "payola or some sh*t like that"—suggesting radio stations were bribed to promote the "Always Be My Baby" singer.

Upon hearing the magazine placed Mary J. Blige at number 25, Khan fumed and ranted:

"These b*tches are deaf. These b*tches must be the children of Helen Keller."

And when the podcast host disclosed Adele was at 22, Khan quipped:

“OK, I quit."

You can hear her unfiltered thoughts about other artists in the clip below.

After her unsupportive comments caused backlash, the 69-year-old soul singer attempted to do some damage control on social media with an apologetic Instagram post.

"Recently, I was asked about a list of the 'greatest singers of all time,' and instead of questioning the need for such a list, I was pitted against other artists and I took the bait," she wrote on Monday.


She continued:

"As artists, we are unfairly put into ‘boxes’, ‘categories’ or on ‘lists.’ Being an artist or musician is not a competition. It’s a gift, for which I am truly grateful."
"It was not my intention to cause pain or upset anyone. To anyone that felt this way, I sincerely apologize."

"Thank you for all the love everyone has shown me, unconditionally. I have always been about empowering others and I started a foundation for that very purpose," Khan wrote, adding that an announcement was coming soon.

She concluded her post saying:

"Empowering all artists is most important because we truly are the architects of change...and change begins within the heart."
"I love you all and God bless - Chaka"

Her devoted fans stood by their idol and shared encouraging words in response to her post.

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

@chakakhan/Instagram

Rolling Stone faced scrutiny for the list that failed to include some singers many believe to be iconic artists.

Among those who didn't make the cut were legendary stars like Tony Bennett and Judy Garland.

Even contemporary greats like P!nk and Céline Dion were notably excluded from the category.

Diehard fans of the latter even traveled from Montreal, Canada—Dion's birthplace—to protest outside the magazine's headquarters in New York City for snubbing their beloved singer.

The magazine had apparently braced itself for such pushback and informed readers of the credentials they were looking for when compiling the list.

They clarified they were looking for the “greatest singers,” not the “greatest voices," adding:

“In all cases, what mattered most to us was originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy."
"...in the end, the singers behind it are here for one reason: They can remake the world just by opening their mouths."

More from Entertainment/celebrities

Screenshot of Stephen Colbert
CBS

Stephen Colbert Makes Somber Plea To Americans In Wake Of Charlie Kirk's Death

Late-night host Stephen Colbert had a somber message for Americans as he addressed the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, stressing that "political violence only leads to more political violence."

Kirk died after an unidentified gunman shot him in the neck as he—ironically enough—mocked victims of gun violence at an event in Utah Valley State University. Kirk's murder has galvanized the far-right, with President Donald Trump and his surrogates claiming without evidence that rhetoric from Democrats is responsible for Kirk's death.

Keep ReadingShow less
a woman sunbathing on rocks.
a person sitting on a towel on a beach
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

People Share The Weirdest Flexes They Heard Someone Say With A Straight Face

It is never attractive to gloat.

Even so, some people can't help but brag, or "flex" as it is sometimes known, about certain accomplishments or attributes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @thedowntheredoc's TikTok video
@thedowntheredoc/TikTok

TikToker Hilariously Calls Out Target After Champion Pants Feature Awkwardly-Placed Front Pleat

Sometimes you can just tell when something was designed *for* women, but was not actually designed *by* women.

Take, for instance, the new pleated pants available at Target from the Champion clothing line. While there's nothing wrong with pleated pants and they certainly have a suitable spot in the workplace, the latest rendition of Champion pleated pants are, shall we say, NSFW.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @kaicutch's Instagram video
@kaicutch/Instagram

Woman Flips Her Car After Belting Out Ironic Britney Spears Lyric In Wild Viral Video

Whether we want to admit it or not, we've all had our fair share of carpool karaoke and maybe even imagined our car as our own personal recording studio.

But TikToker and Instagrammer Kaitlynn McCutcheon may have gotten too into her performance of Britney Spears' classic, "Hit Me Baby, One More Time," when the road and her car both said, "Bet."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from ​@lynnshazeen's TikTok video
@lynnshazeen/TikTok

Woman Goes Viral After Revealing How Her Obsession With Matcha Landed Her In The Hospital

Let's be honest: Too much of anything isn't good for us. It's all about the balance!

But the media and social media trends have taught us that certain things are really good for us, encouraging us to be like the "very mindful and very demure" girls and take care of ourselves. One such example is drinking more matcha, especially if you really like coffee or think you have a caffeine addiction.

Keep ReadingShow less