Aretha Franklin in hospice care

Musician and ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin is reportedly in hospice care at her home in Detroit.

“She has a great family, she’s surrounded by love, and the world is sending prayers,” Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman told CNN.

“All further announcements will be made by her family. We just want to send love and prayers.”

Aretha Franklin is 'gravely ill' in hospital, Aretha Franklin age, How old is Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin is ‘gravely ill’ according to reports. Source: Getty

Earlier Showbiz 411 had reported the 76-year-old was ‘gravely ill’ and ‘surrounded by family and people close to her’.

The star has battled medical issues in the past few years.

Back in March the musician was forced to cancel some concerts, including a show in New Orleans, under ‘doctor’s orders’.

Aretha Franklin has been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months,” read a statement from her management at the time.

“She is extremely disappointed she cannot perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as she had expected and hoped to.”

Aretha Franklin is 'gravely ill' in hospital, Aretha Franklin age, How old is Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul
The musician pictured performing in April last year. Source: Getty

Meanwhile last year she hinted she’d be retiring sooner rather than later.

“I am retiring this year,” she told a Detroit news outlet in February in 2017, reports Rolling Stone.

“I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it.”

In 2011 star was forced to deny she had pancreatic cancer after reading a report in a newspaper.

“I don’t know where pancreatic cancer came from,” she told Access Hollywood at the time.

“I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that,” she added. “No one in my family ever said that to anybody.”

Aretha Franklin is 'gravely ill' in hospital, Aretha Franklin age, How old is Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul
The Queen of Soul is said to be surrounded by close family. Source: Getty

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