Features

All Categories

Etta James Slams Beyonce, Obama at Seattle Concert

Posted Feb 4th 2009 6:30PM by Tracey Ford
Comments

There's never a dull moment in the world of divas. According to media reports, Etta James was less than pleased with Beyonce performing her hit 'At Last' at President Barack Obama's inaugural ball.

The 27-year-old singer, who portrayed James in the Chess Records biopic 'Cadillac Records ,' performed the classic for Obama and his wife Michelle's at the president's first Neighborhood Ball.

"You know, YOUR President, the one with the big ears -- he ain't my President -- had that woman singing for him at his Inauguration," James said during a concert in Seattle. "She's going to get her ass whooped. How dare Beyonce sing MY song that I been singing forever. Now I'm going to sing it for y'all."

While James sounds quite perturbed, Beyonce has had nothing but nice things to say about the legendary songstress. Beyonce praised the singer and gushed about James' "amazing voice" and credits the singer for giving her the motivation to take "risks" in an exclusive interview with AOL Music.

"I know I'm very private but I always reveal myself on the stage and I always reveal myself in my music," Beyonce said during her AOL Music Sessions taping. "I'm really proud of it and I feel like it's the best work I've done. I know you always feel that way but I really feel like I've grown tremendously and I feel so free and I have Etta James to thank for that."

Beyonce has not responded to James' recent comments.

Watch Beyonce Perform 'At Last'

Filed under: Soul/R&B, What's Beef?
Email This

CHECK OUT THE CONCERT

N/A N/A

N/A

Starting from N/A

Average Price N/A

SEE MORE TICKETS »

UPCOMING SHOWS IN YOUR AREA

- -

Add a Comment

Sign in »

19 Comments

Filter by:

luberthacox

I think it is an outrage that The Great Etta James is not given the respect that she has earned! What the indusrty has done to our Black American Musicians. Our Jazz Giants That are left. She is one of the few still here. And to not allow her to sing her own song is ridiculous. Maybe it's because you will find out the old will sound better than the new! Why are these artist making a disgrace of the original songs. Such as Jennifer Hudson singing Jennifer Holiday's song. Hudson doesn't even come close to sound as great as Holiday! Why don't you get to hear the original artist sing their songs. Who's behind this problem. It's really ashame how they are being blackballed in 2009! I'm really upset and will never buy the new version.

June 03 2009 at 7:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

chingchongrebe

Its a shame we still have bitter angry grown pple like Eta. Ms James should be ashamed of herself for such comments. Such crazy talk is exactly why they didnt ask her to sing her so called song. An embarassment to the younger generation.

February 10 2009 at 5:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lioness22ll

I too thought Etta James was dead...President Obama probably thought she was dead too...lol But anywho
I am a young adult, and I hadn't heard that song before, but after hearing Beyonce sing it, it made me want to hear it and even try to find the original singer, because it is such a beautiful song. Ms James should be proud that one of the songs that made her famous is still prominent today. And regardless of who sings it, it will always be know as Etta James' song, so she needs to get over herself.

February 10 2009 at 10:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

brm

I don't like Beyonce'.Etta supposed sing for Barack...it was her song...Beyonce' she's a phony....

February 10 2009 at 8:57 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kenneth

This response by Ms James reminds me of how someone "black" and older once responded to me getting a job promotion. (I'm "black" also) He stated "He's not going to tell me what to do." ie. "He's not my President." We had even been friends, yet he stopped speaking to me: even started to bad mouth me. Later on he apologized after it was bought to his attention by his wife he needed to have a 'reason' to behave as he did. He didn't. I termed it as a deep seated hatred of self and kind.

February 10 2009 at 6:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Hev2

beyonce is very over rated she hasn't got any talent so she gets over by wearing revealing outfits that shows tits and ass and the weak minded sex fiends eat it up. beyonce STINKS.

February 10 2009 at 2:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

denise

Get outta here! You were not "joking" and I have "Mad" respect for "Ms. B". Don't get into something (the dirt) that will sully you and your "rep". Ms. James, please learn from the youngster and have some respect for yourself as well as others (love yourself FIRST). If you had a problem with the situation, you should have sent the Pres. and Michelle a letter and told them you would have loved to sing for them. Who knows, you could have been invited to the first State Dinner and asked to sing. Get off your "Diva Chair" and THINK BIG - BE BIGGER THAN YOU'VE RECENTLY SHOWN!

February 09 2009 at 6:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ileana

How Etta dare to say"that's my song"?Before her was Nat King Cole,and it was a really good version.I already knew this song for him,before Etta jazzformer the essence of the song.She don't know that songs don't have any owner?.Everybody can sing and feel any song in pretty different ways.So nasty the old lady!!!!

February 09 2009 at 10:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kyle

Hey! Check out *** SUGARBABYDATE. C OM *** There are Over millions of profiles from all over the world! No matter where you are or what you are, you can find someone just around your neighborhood. You can get their pictures, phone numbers, locations, and almost any information.Everything is FREE!

February 08 2009 at 10:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Queen Ansha\'La

well to tell you the truth, i thought etta james was dead, beyonce song the heck out of that song; if my president wanted beyonce to sing the song for him etta can't get mad....jealousy is a bad thing ms. james GROW UP.....

February 08 2009 at 8:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Load more comments

Around the Web

This Week's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Listen to AOL Radio Now

Top Hip-Hop - Hip-hop's greatest: Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, 50 Cent

Top Jams - Hip-hop and crossover hits: T-Pain, Mariah Carey, Akon, Lil Wayne

Top R&B - Today's top R&B hits: Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, T.I.

Features

All Categories