Aretha Franklin has shocked the world by disrespecting her family from beyond the grave — as TMZ reported that the legendary Queen of Soul passed away without leaving a will! That could set the stage for a bitter battle to be fought over her $80 million estate. “I was after her for a number of years to do a trust,” said Aretha’s longtime attorney Don Wilson, and the bizarre development over her celebrity net worth would be even more shocking with Aretha having survived other cancer battles before her death at 76 years old. Showbiz insiders, however, revealed to The National ENQUIRER that they wouldn’t be surprised if the famously volatile singer showed disdain for her survivors. “Aretha loved everything that fame let her afford,” said one former employee, “but she hated money and everything it did to her family!”
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The source reported that Aretha turned her back on her finances in 2002, just when the singer turned 60 years old. "Her sister Erma had been dying of cancer," said the source, "Aretha was already distraught after she passed in September, and
then her home [in Michigan] totally burned down. It was where Aretha kept all her mementos, so those were all lost — and it happened just when she was planning to sell the estate to get some quick cash."
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Despite decades as a hit artist, Aretha had become entangled in more than 30 lawsuits filed against her by creditors since 1988. "She'd get sued and finally pay things off," said the source, noting that Aretha had burned through over $1 million in claims made against her. "Any kind of financial planning was just a pain to her, and then she really got furious when her kids began to go after her inheritance!"
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"Aretha would buy mink coats for people as a thank-you gift," said the insider, "and she was generous to her family — but she never forgave them for interfering with her plans to get married!" As covered by The ENQUIRER, Aretha was finally planning a 2012 wedding to her longtime boyfriend Willie Wilkerson after he had stood at her side through her first battle with pancreatic cancer. But then her kids reportedly demanded a pre-nuptial agreement!
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"Her four sons have all been involved in her career," a source told The ENQUIRER at the time, "and continue to be very close to their mother, and protective. Aretha understands how they feel, but she is not going to let anyone get in the way of her happiness." But instead, Aretha's wedding to Willie was postponed amid the family feuding — and Aretha remained single, despite new talk in 2014 of a second attempt to stroll down the aisle.
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"That's exactly the kind of thing that would've kept Aretha from even thinking about taking care of her kids," said the former employee, recalling
the Queen of Soul's legendary showbiz feuds. "It's no secret that she was also the Queen of Spite. Nothing made Aretha happier than showing disdain for money!"
The source reported that Aretha turned her back on her finances in 2002, just when the singer turned 60 years old. "Her sister Erma had been dying of cancer," said the source, "Aretha was already distraught after she passed in September, and
then her home [in Michigan] totally burned down. It was where Aretha kept all her mementos, so those were all lost — and it happened just when she was planning to sell the estate to get some quick cash."
Photo credit: Getty Images
Despite decades as a hit artist, Aretha had become entangled in more than 30 lawsuits filed against her by creditors since 1988. "She'd get sued and finally pay things off," said the source, noting that Aretha had burned through over $1 million in claims made against her. "Any kind of financial planning was just a pain to her, and then she really got furious when her kids began to go after her inheritance!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Aretha would buy mink coats for people as a thank-you gift," said the insider, "and she was generous to her family — but she never forgave them for interfering with her plans to get married!" As covered by The ENQUIRER, Aretha was finally planning a 2012 wedding to her longtime boyfriend Willie Wilkerson after he had stood at her side through her first battle with pancreatic cancer. But then her kids reportedly demanded a pre-nuptial agreement!
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Her four sons have all been involved in her career," a source told The ENQUIRER at the time, "and continue to be very close to their mother, and protective. Aretha understands how they feel, but she is not going to let anyone get in the way of her happiness." But instead, Aretha's wedding to Willie was postponed amid the family feuding — and Aretha remained single, despite new talk in 2014 of a second attempt to stroll down the aisle.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"That's exactly the kind of thing that would've kept Aretha from even thinking about taking care of her kids," said the former employee, recalling
the Queen of Soul's legendary showbiz feuds. "It's no secret that she was also the Queen of Spite. Nothing made Aretha happier than showing disdain for money!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
