Performing at the world famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an honor in and of itself but for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, performing at this year's event means so much more.

The leading lady of funk has not played a show since May, when she found out that she had cancer of the bile duct and pancreas. Sharon will continue to undergo chemotherapy for the rest of 2013, but being a part of one of America's most heralded traditions was not something she was going to pass up.

"It's a great opportunity," exclaimed Sharon. "Out of 57 years in New York I've never gone to the Thanksgiving Day Parade."

Though the venerable singer has been looking forward to performing on the big (moving) stage, she admitted that the chemo might make it hard to keep up that energy that DK fans have become accustomed to over the years, but is adamant about not shying away from the public eye.

"I want my fans to see what I'm going through. I don't wanna hide and stay out of commission and then when they see me again I don't look like I was ever sick," Sharon added. "I'm going through this. This is a change in my life and I really thought I was gonna die, they told me it was a simple cancer in the bile duct and it ended up being pancreatic cancer stage 2." 

Sharon and the Dap Kings plan on making the first performance back extra special by debuting a new song titled "Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects." The group will also perform their latest single, "Stranger to My Happiness," and "100 Days, 100 Nights."

The float is called "Wonderland" and is sponsored by Delta. 

"My main concern is spending four hours on that float just waving," noted Sharon. "My arms get tired and my legs, but I had to accept that gig because it's such an experience, just sitting on that float, riding and waving. I won't be at 110 percent, but I'll try to give that 100 percent."

Next up, Sharon and the Dap Kings will hit the road in 2014 in support of their new album, Give the People What They Want, which comes out in January.

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(Photo: WENN.com)