Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and more Inducted into R&B Hall of Fame

The official opening of the R&B Hall of Fame Museum was announced last week. They plan to honor artists, producers, and others who have contributed to the genre's success. The legendary Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin are among the 23 inductees for the Class of 2013. Check out who else made the list after the break!

Aretha Franklin Celebrates Her 70th Birthday & Reunites with Clive Davis

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, 70, celebrated her birthday this past weekend and announced that she's reuniting with former mentor, record executive Clive Davis.

During the soul star's party at the luxurious Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in New York on Saturday night, Franklin announced in a brief interview that she had signed a new contract with Sony Music Entertainment, where Davis serves as Chief Creative Officer. Davis signed Franklin to Arista Records during her career slump in the Eighties, a move that reinvigorated her career and helped to define his.

"I have re-signed with Clive Davis, so I’m recording with Clive again," she explained, continuing that the pair would meet within the next month to decide what material they would include. Source

Aretha Franklin made headlines last year with her engagement announcement and renouncement to Willie Wilkerson. The couple still seems to be on good terms although there seems to be no wedding in sight.

I'm pretty sure Chaka Khan and others are somewhere shaking their heads at this very moment in light of this recent news. Chaka was very outspoken against Clive Davis for continuing the Grammy party this year despite Whitney Houston's dead body still upstairs in the same hotel. She was also a no-show at the televised funeral.

Aretha Franklin Calls Off Engagement To Willie Wilkerson!

Looks like the Queen of Soul won't be getting hitched any time soon after all. After recently announcing her engagement to longtime friend Willie Wilkerson, she released a statement Monday that she is indeed no longer engaged.

Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time," Franklin said. "We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it. We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends. "We're very compatible, and he supports me and I support him a lot, and he has given me specialized attention that I don't think I've received from anyone else," she said. Source

Mr. Wilkerson would have made husband #4 for Ms. Franklin.  It wasn't stated if they are still together or not, but either way I'm pretty sure they'll continue to remain friends.

Aretha Franklin Engaged!

The Queen of Soul, 69, recently announced her engagement to longtime friend, William "Willie" Wilkerson...