Aretha Franklin Fights Speculation She Was Barred From Whitney Houston Funeral

As the world debates whether the National Enquirer was out of line for publishing a photo of Whitney Houston in her casket, Detroit's Queen of Soul is in the middle of her own superstar songstress controversy.

Franklin, who was Houston's godmother, was forced to deny reports Thursday that she's fighting with her old friend Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother.

The issue began when Franklin first said she planned to attend Houston's funeral in Newark, New Jersey last week, then didn't show up, saying she had to miss due to leg spasms.

The rumor mill said she was barred from the memorial by Cissy Houston after a television appearance where Franklin said Whitney Houston's death -- from suspected drug and alcohol interaction -- showed "parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home."

Franklin fought back later at any insinuation that she wasn't welcome at the funeral.

"Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) should stop the BS," Franklin said in a statement "Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral. Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) are more interested in sensationalism and negative speculations than the truth."

She added: "Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I – particularly at this time … Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically."