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WASHINGTON: Aretha Franklin, 69, is making plans to tie the knot with longtime friend William “Willie” Wilkerson, the Queen of Soul said Monday through her publicist.
“We're looking at June or July for our date and no, I'm not pregnant,” said the Grammy-winning voice behind such classics as “Respect,” “Think,” “Chain of Fools” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Miami Beach is the likely wedding venue, she said, with the reception to be held on a private luxury yacht. Franklin is considering Donna Karan, Valentino and Vera Wang as designers for her gown.
It will be Franklin's third time to the altar; she was previously married to manager Ted White and, from 1978 to 1984, actor Glynn Turman.
She underwent surgery in December 2010 for an undisclosed ailment, but returned to the stage in a matter of months and sang at last October's dedication of the Martin Luther King memorial in Washington.
