Aretha Franklin Enlists Babyface, Andre 3000 for New Album
Babyface and Andre 3000 will contribute to Aretha Franklin's new album, the singing legend revealed in an interview from her birthday party over the weekend.
Franklin, who turns 72 Tuesday (March 25), said Babyface "is working on the tracks" for the forthcoming LP and will complete them just as soon as he finishes up a stint on Broadway with Toni Braxton. The 54-year-old wraps up his run in After Midnight March 30.
After that's done, he and Three Stacks are ready to get to work on Franklin's project, she said. "I'm just waiting for him to finish that so he can finish my tracks please. And I think Andre 2000 — is it two or three?," she joked. "3000 is going to be doing some of the tracks with him."
It is unclear what percentage of the record will include work from the Outkast member or if he will perform on any of the music. Besides working with the Queen of Soul, he and Big Boi are heading out on a 40-date international tour in celebration of their 20th anniversary as a rap duo.
With a new album in the works, Franklin can look forward to a busy schedule. This weekend was particularly eventful for the "Respect" singer. Her intimate birthday soirée was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York City Saturday (March 22). Denzel Washington, Judge Mathis and record label veteran Clive Davis were among the attendees.
TMZ caught up with Franklin after the party and asked her what she wants for her birthday. "I'm looking for a record deal for my granddaughter Victorie, and my son Kecalf and Jordan," she replied. Victorie performed a tribute song to her grandmother at the BET Honors ceremony last month and Franklin plans to let Davis hear some of Jordan's things, she said.
Franklin announced her new album last year, following a bout with undisclosed health ailments that sidelined her from doing public appearances for a while.
No release date has been revealed for the new album.
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(Photos: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images; Larry French/BET/Getty Images for BET)