March 03, (THEWILL) – Legendary musician, Yvette Marie Stevens, professionally known as Chaka Khan, has thrown a subtle shade at her colleagues, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, over her position on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list.
While appearing on Los Angeles Magazine’s podcast, ‘The Original’, this week, the musician expressed her thoughts on being placed 29th on the list and aimed at other artistes, who were sectioned above her.
As podcast host, Andrew Goldman, congratulated Khan on being included, the singer said, “This doesn’t mean a great deal to me. These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way.”
Khan then questioned who exactly made the list, which she wasn’t entirely familiar with, and as Goldman told her that Aretha Franklin earned the top spot, she responded, “As she fucked should.”
When the host told her about some of the other vocalists, who were also featured, Khan did not shy away from sharing her other thoughts.
Noting that Mariah Carey earned the No. 5 spot on the list, Khan replied, “That must be payola or some suck like that.”
When Goldman mentioned that Beyonce claimed No. 8, the artiste said she has no comment, but later added that she is a great singer.
“She’s a great singer. She really has the opportunity to be a great singer. She has what it takes. She’s got the chops. She does.”
The most candid response came, however, after Khan learned that Mary J.Blige appeared on the list just a few spots ahead of her at No. 25.
“They are blind as a motherfucker bat! They need hearing aids,” she said.
“These must be the children of Helen Keller!”
Helen Keller was an activist, who became deaf and blind when she was 19 months as a result of a high fever.
Despite her response, Khan confirmed that she and Blige are still close, following the 2007 mending of their relationship and the subsequent recording of the song, ‘Disrespectful’ together.
Rolling Stone’s much-talked-about list was released on the first day of 2023 and featured a lot of singers, including Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell and a host of others.
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