Aretha Franklin 'Doing Better'
Aretha Franklin's cousin says the ailing legendary singer is "doing better than doctors expected'' and expects to be released from the hospital this weekend.
Brenda Corbett told the Detroit Free Press that Franklin 'has a long life in front of her and will be back in concert, on stage, late spring or early summer.'
Franklin been very quiet about the nature of the illness that forced her to cancel all upcoming events -- and she did undergo last week.
Neither she nor her publicist have said what is ailing the 68-year-old Queen of Soul, but reports Wednesday said Franklin is suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Famed Motown singer, Smokey Robinson says he spoke to his longtime friend by telephone and says Franklin is doing well and expects to be released from the hospital soon.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has said he's visited with Franklin four or five times recently and says the legendary singer is "recovering very well'' from surgery.
He says Franklin takes daily walks up and down the hall of her hospital, and her spirits "are high and her faith is strong.''
Last month, Franklin announced she was canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on the orders of her doctors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
