One thing about the legendary Chaka Khan, she will keep it all the way real with you about how she feels and that’s exactly what she did when it came to her fellow female singers.
During a recent interview, the Through The Fire singer gave her opinions about singers such as Adele, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and more. When asked about being No. 29 on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers list, she revealed she never heard of it.
“These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way,” she said. She also said that she should’ve been placed in the top five or top ten slots on the list.
Khan’s brutal honesty came after hearing the list for the first time. She approved of the late Aretha Franklin for being at the number one spot and gave herself credit for Whitney Houston landing at number 2. She went on to comment that it’s because of payola that Mariah Carey is number five.
The legend went on to speak about Beyoncé after initially saying she had no comment about the Cuff It 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.” Khan said. After learning that Adele and Mary J. Blige landed before her, she did not approve.
Khan began to talk about Blige’s spot and said, “They are blind as a motherf*****g bat! They need hearing aids. These must be the children of Helen Keller!”
Chaka Khan then talked about Blige’s 1992 cover of her hit song “Sweet Thing” with her former band Rufus.
“Her vocals were flat,” she said. Khan then recalled asking Blige what time was the song recorded and was told that it was at 8 am. “Girl you don’t sing nothing at 8 o’clock in the motherf*****g morning,” she remembers telling Blige.
Since then, Chaka states that they are good with each other and that they have a relationship where they “can talk.”
“I love her. She loves me. We don’t have a problem,” Chaka said.