Aretha Franklin Grammys Appearance: Thin and Thankful

Feb 13th 2011 09:08PMEmail ThisAfter a powerful Aretha Franklin tribute opened the 53rd Grammy Awards on Sunday night, the Queen of Soul herself appeared in a taped video segment, thanking the divas who paid tribute to her and the fans supporting her through recent health troubles. It was Franklin's first televised appearance since surgery for an undisclosed malady, rumored in December as pancreatic cancer.

"I wish that I could have been with you all tonight, but since I couldn't, next year," Franklin, 68, said.

In her brief Grammys video appearance, Franklin looked healthy in a white dress, though she has lost a significant amount of weight since her surgery. She thanked her fans for the prayers, good wishes, and get-well-soon cards.


"We came together as a group tonight to honor the queen," Christina Aguilera said. "We love you Aretha."

A week after botching the national anthem at the Super Bowl, Aguilera brought her A-game and brought the house down with her take on 'Ain't No Way.'

?Aretha Franklin After Surgery: 'The Problem Has Been Resolved'

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=982148&pid=982147&uts=1297638509http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swfGrammy Awards 2011Lady Gaga arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.Chris Pizzello, APGrammys Red Carpet 2011Lady Gaga arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Kelly Osbourne arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Actress Selma Blair arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Margaret Cho arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

TV personality Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Barry Manilow arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Musician D.L. Menard arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

Musicians Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys arrive at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Singer Justin Guarini arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Grammys Red Carpet 2011

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