A Fish Fry with the Queen

When the invitation arrived, I simply could not believe my eyes! A handwritten note from the Queen of Soul, inviting me to join her for a party at her home. The one-and-only. Aretha Franklin.

I stood in the middle of the newsroom opening and closing my mouth like a guppy. There had to be a mistake. Surely, the mail room had left this invitation on my desk, thinking it was someone else’s.

But, no. I kept reading and was even more surprised. Now I dare not get it twisted and think I can say, “Aretha,” as if we were BFFs, but, Ms. Franklin said she watched the morning show I co-anchored at WDIV-TV in Detroit and enjoyed my work. And, our birthdays were 13 days apart.

Now, let me stop right here. To know the 18-time Grammy Award winning R & B singer  who could make grown men cry with her blues-soaked, soul-filled voice even knew my name not to mention invite me to home was and still is one of my Top 10 greatest hits.

The days leading up to the party were blur. I don’t remember exactly what I wore, but it was new. It was the summer of 1998, and summers in the Motor City tend to be mild compared to cities south of Michigan.

This was before cameras were built into cell phones and as essential as the mouthpiece…if not more. I’m sure I had a camera, but I wasn’t sure if I should show up at the Queen’s home and start snapping pictures. But, let me tell you, that night is locked in my memory.

The beautiful backyard with food stations serving every type of food a Southern girl like myself and a Memphis-born lady like Ms. Franklin could ever want. I’ve never had catfish as good as that served in Aretha Franklin’s backyard. Under the stars that night, her friend, the late Wilson Pickett, performed. It was the only time I wanted a mustang…car or horse.  And, Ms. Franklin welcomed me with the kindness and warmth of a dear family friend. She was shorter than I thought she was and her gentle, humble spirit made you forget she was musical royalty.

When she passed, my brother sent me a text calling out his favorite Gospel songs Ms. Franklin sang, and like millions of others, I watched the news reports. But, in my mind’s eye, I saw her standing in her home on a summer night, surrounded by family and friends and a young woman she decided to include. A Queen, yes…and not just on stage.