Aretha Franklin Tells Tamron Hall She’s Calling On Motown Family to Help During Flint Water Crisis

Aretha Franklin and Tamron Hall

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is calling on the Motown family to help Flint, Michigan residents during the manmade water crisis.

Flint's water supply became contaminated with lead and other pollutants when the city switched its drinking water source from Detroit's water supply to the Flint River.

"It's lovely that Cher and Eminem and Puffy (Sean Combs) coming into the city bringing water," said Franklin during a phone interview with MSNBC Anchor Tamron Hall Thursday morning.

"It's my position that… Detroiters have got to help Detroiters in Flint. It's so close to Detroit, I think it's just regarded as being a part of Detroit," she said.

Ms. Franklin said she is donating hotel rooms for 25-50 families as well as free food and drinks at the nearby Coney Island restaurant.

"They really have good food... I go in there a lot," she laughed.

The soul legend said she's also making calls to Motown Records founder Berry Gordy and R&B icons Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson to see what they can do to help.

Franklin said she's looking for volunteers who can "responsibly and professionally" pre-screen Flint residents at her father’s church, New Bethel Baptist Church, at a date to be determined.

In an earlier interview with Evrod Cassimy, Morning Anchor of Local 4 News, Franklin said she is launching her own line of food products to compete with Patti LaBelle's famous sweet potato pies.

  • kco0l;s ChocolateBox

    Aretha is starting to get humble in her twilight years. Very impressed with her Natalie Cole tribute also. Whose funeral I attended earlier this month.

    She slayed it!!

    Also her performance at the Kennedy Center Honors last month of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman left me speechless!

  • Too Many Colors

    Again, thanks for stepping up mama Ree.

    You shouldnt have to call anybody tho for them to help. They got TV's and access to news. People make time and accommodations for things that are important to them. *files nails*

  • AnonymousRose

    been going on for 2 years....AND_______________

  • Let Your Soul Glow

    As much talent as Berry Gordy scooped up from Detroit, he should have been in the front of the line with her! But I'm glad ReRe is leading the pack. Hopefully, she can get some more folks with her.

  • PettyEyezPrime

    This is how you know the industry people at the top all about coins in THEIR pockets. If it don't produce dollars to them, it don't make sense. Selfish bastards. You go Auntie Ree!

  • Too Many Colors

    Its THEIR hometown too. I mean she was born in TN, but she reps Detroit since she been there since a kid. Its where her daddy ministry was. Shame on them for having to be called. Motown founder and royalty to help.

    And here is a tidbit, she never eem RECORDED for them. As much as she is synonymous with Detroit, as THEY are...they never had biz dealings.

  • Finding Forever…

    Wonderful job @ the Kennedy Center, DROPPED that coat like WOAH & gave the BIZNESSSS--brought the Mr. Obama & others to tears...True Talent.

  • 1/8

    Is Aretha concerned about the people of Flint or is she promoting her slop?

  • Let Your Soul Glow

    You know I forget that. I just think of her and Detroit and Motown simultaneously. And I watched some documentary about the 2 white guys who gave her her breakout hits recorded in a small town in Alabama I believe. Don't even remember what label she was on, but yeah, I always think of her and Detroit together.

  • Too Many Colors

    Muscle Shoals Alabama. YASSSS.

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    “They really have good food… I go in there a lot,” she laughed

    Yes, Auntie Ree Ree it's obvious since you gained most of the weight you had lost back.

    And please don't wear any sleeveless dresses (at least not in public).

  • Hot Caddy Girl

    Why is Aretha just speaking out about this? This shit has been in the news for awhile so all of Motown knows what is going on. Where is your donation Ms. Franklin? She is probably broke as hell and can't even pay her own damn water bill.

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    She even made POTUS shed a tear or two.

    She had the white girl who wrote testifying.

    I thought they were going to have to call an usher to fan her.

    Ha,ha,ha!

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    You would be an a$$ today, wouldn't you?

  • PettyEyezPrime

    Its sad that I feel guilty I can't do more to help. I'll continue to donate though. If a lot of us on this here blog can manage to donate, these miliionaires and billionaires surely can. They will even use it as a tax write off if possible . At least mine is from the heart. You get what you give and Karma comes in many forms.

  • Pamela

    Eminem is from Detroit.

  • 1/8

    Aretha Franklin had no right to mention that she has contacted Smokey and Stevie. That was extremely shady.

  • Smartypants

    You can donate to the Genessee County United Way via its Flint Water Fund. Donations go to water filters, bottled water, and bottled water delivery (and prob. more). Any leftover money, per the UW website, will go to a fund for health outcomes.

    You can also help out undocumented immigrants who may need water but afraid to answer the door and may/may not speak English well via the Gennessee Hispanic/Latino Collaborative.

    Give what you can.

  • Too Many Colors

    +1. I wanted to ask so bad the ones hollering this person hasnt helped, or that person hasnt...but what have YOU done. But I was hushing.

    "Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

    An old Indian man named Mahatma Ghandi.

  • Smartypants

    8 mile! I just read an article that said all of Michigan's lead levels are high (not necessarily as toxic as Flint's) but high.

  • Let Your Soul Glow

    So I'm reading that Puffy & Patti Labelle will be mentors on the next season of the Voice. Puffy for Pharell William's team and Patti for Christine Aguilera's team. I might tune in to see what those 2 have to say this season.

  • Smartypants

    Yes! I wish I could do more. I feel guilty knowing that my drinking water is ok.

    Here's to having a good heart, lady!

  • JerseyMom

    LOL at the last paragraph shade, Miss Sandra. We are cut from the same cloth when it comes to going in on folks. Nicely and respectfully, of course. LOL

  • 1/8

    Timing is everything!

    Detroit has been on life support for years and I don't recall Aretha Franklin making a fuss.

    But now that she's got prepackaged mush for sale, she's suddenly an activist?!

  • Oh Tommie

    That reporters face has me weak for some reason! Looks like a future meme!

  • Oh Tommie

    Population control?

  • PettyEyezPrime

    I believe had this been in California, donations would have poured in. It would have been broadcasted everywhere. It's truly fugg those people, they don't matter.

  • My Thoughts

    Just because you are Just seeing this post does not mean that she has not previously made donations towards this cause. The media share news at there leisure and purpose.

  • PettyEyezPrime

    ??

  • kco0l;s ChocolateBox

    The white girls name is Carole King & she co-wrote (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman..

  • Let Your Soul Glow

    Agreed!

  • 1/8

    Obama wasn't crying.

  • jeniefrumdabloc™

    Come through Retha ... ?

  • TheRealLee

    Motown family? What is that. She needs to appeal to Bill Gates and others like him.

  • ?Patty Kakes?

    Motown family!?!?! half of them are dead
    The other half is like her. Getting over diabetes gout high blood pressure or something like that.

  • 1/8

    It's hard to take Aretha's activism seriously, when she's walking around with dead animals on her back.

  • 1/8

    Flint already has 80 million of my tax dollars. They don't need anymore financial help. However, Detroit's schools, which have been ignored by the media and Aretha Franklin, are in serious trouble.

  • Luv Pitties

    I wonder if Diana Ross will join or hit ignore.?

  • Luv Pitties

    No! She didn't gain it all back for real? Is it possible to get repeat gastric bypasses?

  • Fendi

    Thank you, Auntie ReRe. This is why you are an icon. This is also why we love you.

  • Fendi

    YES!!! (re: her Kennedy Center Honors appearance)

  • Fendi

    Go home, Roger. By home, I mean back to Hades, with your miserable ass.

  • Meme81

    Well, good for her. At least she's doing something, self promoting or not.

  • Rhyme and Reason

    I thought the same thing, Aretha's being humble, better late than never! Good for her and the results she can generate!

  • Rhyme and Reason

    This is outstanding because I was concerned about true results and damages being concealed. The Queen of Soul is acting like a true Queen, love it!

  • Meme81

    His loot could help half the city.

  • Rhyme and Reason

    Not really, how many names would top the Motown list? These are also long-time friends of hers, they really know each other!

  • Rhyme and Reason

    Aretha could promote her food line in a million different ways using causes like women's shelters, educational scholarships, a talent search, cooking segments on all the talk shows and the food channel, etc, heck Shonda Rhimes will probably write this into a story-line (hope so). And, Ms. Franklin can call just about anybody in the business to lend support. I think her remaining in Michigan says a whole lot about how she feels about her city and state, like Anita Baker. How about kids possibly being damaged for life, generations of disability being an agenda!

  • Rhyme and Reason

    Indeed! Just like they did every waking moment in 2015 with a Bill Cosby story, they could have done the same for Flint Michigan, while people were protesting about Ferguson, the Attorney General should have been pressured into coming to Flint Michigan. The media lightly reported this story, and most people don't listen to talk radio where these kinds of topics are presented.This is so third-world, right in the U.S., and the media sat on it!

  • Li

    I agree. She's mellowed. She's coming out more. But I'll believe that Hotel offer when I see it. She has a lot of irons in the fire that she's supposed to have gotten off the ground and hasn't. And when is the Aretha movie going to start shooting? LOL.

  • Li

    NO! Flint is NOT their hometown, Detroit is.

  • Readytochokemothernatureonout

    Good we are donating too.

  • 88

    She got minks, chinchillas, bear fur the whole 9.

  • 88

    Retha it's more than obvious you go to Coney Island restaurant alot. Thx 4 donating.

  • 88

    If the water is poison in Flint isn't it logical to assume Genessee County water is poison as well?

  • 1/8

    Bear fur! LOL!

  • Unita Lucinda “Lucy” Freebush

    Her activism may not include animals. Go figure.

  • Unita Lucinda “Lucy” Freebush

    Maybe. I'm not sure what Puffy can sell me. Between walking for cheesecake and Bad Boy...

  • Unita Lucinda “Lucy” Freebush

    It has been reported Miss Franklin pays her bills when she pays them. Still love her music.

  • 1/8

    I don't care how close they are, you should never make some feel obligated to participate in a charitable event by blabbing their name to the press.

  • 1/8

    I doubt her activism includes anything that doesn't serve her own agenda.

  • Let Your Soul Glow

    Hey, Puffy can make hits. No denying that. And since he's their musical mentor and not their label head signing them to crappy deals, he could be a real asset.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    He damn sure wasn't. Narcissists don't express emotions and feelings like normal human beings.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    Thanks hun. No shade; just stating facts.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    That reporter is friend of the blog, Tamron Hall. She was emotional and about to shed a tear.

  • Low E. {CIRCA 1908}

    TAMRON COULD PLAY A YOUNG RETHA WHEN THE TIME COMES!

  • Low E. {CIRCA 1908}

    -SNICKERS- AND CAMBODIAN BREAST MILK

  • Unita Lucinda “Lucy” Freebush

    You need a whoopin.

  • MzFutureLCSW

    Anyone that worked for Motown do not have money, unless they are still touring.

  • Blue

    "Prepackaged mush" hahahaha. wow

  • Low E. {CIRCA 1908}

    TOURING FOR 50+ YEARS...SMH

  • Low E. {CIRCA 1908}

    I LOST MY CHILL FOR THE DAY

  • Smartypants

    What? Did you not read where it said filters, BOTTLED water, and bottled water delivery? Reading comprehension. It's imperative to use it often.

  • 88

    Genessee County BOTTLED water most certainly comes from the tap, the same tap the residents in Flint, Michigan claim is poisoned. Reading is not the only skill you need to comprehend you need Intelligence, Common Sense, Logical and Critical Thinking Skills all what you apparently lack get it together.

  • Smartypants

    TROLL alert! Sandy, please remove this excrement of a person who refuses to put two and two together. I would break it down for "it" but I don't teach anymore.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    I can't ban someone for having an opinion. If that was the case I would be forced to ban myself.

  • 1/8

    Obama probably doesn't even remember what song Aretha sang! LOL

  • BLACK *I*C*E*

    I just don't understand.
    Flint Michigan is in a state of emergency.
    There should be lawsuits everywhere!!
    There is LED in the water. And the Governor is brushing it off.

  • LibraGirlonly

    Smokey and RiRi bout the only ones. Oh yeah Michael Jackson but we all no Joe Jackson wasn't havin none of that funny stuff with Berry Gordy.

  • LibraGirlonly

    She helping black folk that are human so I think I can take her seriously.

  • 1/8

    I'm glad you're impressed with her, but I'm not convinced Aretha actually cares about the people of Flint. I think she's using this opportunity to promote her prepackaged mush.

  • Evillene

    Uhhh...Lionel Richie is a multi-millionaire. Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross are pretty well-off too.

  • Rhyme and Reason

    You know you're talking about Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder, no chumps in the least bit, but you are entitled to your view. If you see he call to action as blabber and making someone like Berry Gordy obligated, then be it! Most important, the message has gone viral, and people are talking about it, and the screening is what's most important, so for this reason alone, I hope more are involved, so Flint Michigan residents won't end up like Haiti!

  • MzFutureLCSW

    Out of all the artist they had, that is a pitiful number.

  • IMRightNURNot

    Uneducated MORON ALERT ~~~ ^