Remember a couple of months ago when Rolling Stones released their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time?
Celine Dion fans were up in arms because the Power of Love singer didn't make the list.
\u201cDear @RollingStone. This is C\u00e9line Dion. \n\nLeaving her off your Top 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list has to be an honest and regrettable mistake\u2026 because doing it intentionally would be criminal. \n\nSo\u2026 please fix it.\u201d— Bonnie Bernstein (@Bonnie Bernstein) 1672627066
Well, it turns out Chaka Khan is none too pleased with the list either... even though she's on it.
The I'm Every Woman singer had some choice words about Rolling Stones' rankings on the latest episode of Los Angeles Magazine Presents: The Originals podcast with Andrew Goldman. At the conclusion of the hour-long podcast, Khan revealed she had not read the list, so Goldman enlightened her of her number 29 spot.
Khan was in agreement with Aretha Franklin's number one position on the list. But then things took a turn as Khan did not hold back her disapproval of some of the artists that landed ahead of her.
Of Mariah Carey's number five spot, Khan snarked:
"That must be payola or some sh*t like that."
And of Beyoncé landing at number eight, she shared:
"I don't have anything to say about Beyoncé. She's a great singer. She really has [the] opportunity to be a great singer."
"She has what it takes. She got the chops. She does."
After Goldman revealed Adele ranked 22nd, the 10-time-Grammy-winner sighed:
"I quit."
But then she went off when she learned Mary J. Blige fared better than her at number 25.
"You know what? That's why I feel the way I do."
"These are some blind bat b*tches. These b*tches are blind as a motherf**king bat!"
"They need hearing aids. They don't have hearing aids. They have no eyes. They have no ears."
"You know what? These must be the children of Helen Keller."
You can listen to the segment below.
\u201cThis Chaka Khan interview has me on the floor \ud83e\udd23\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\udc80\n\nNobody gonna give it to you straight wit no chaser like an OG \n\nShe & her peers EARNED THAT. Respect it.\u201d— Eric Beign\u00e9t (@Eric Beign\u00e9t) 1677762797
A few listeners were shocked by some of the singer's assessments.
\u201c@FranciskoMayne \ud83d\ude33\u201d— Eric Beign\u00e9t (@Eric Beign\u00e9t) 1677762797
\u201c@FranciskoMayne \u2026these must be the children of Helen Keller \ud83d\udc80\u201d— Eric Beign\u00e9t (@Eric Beign\u00e9t) 1677762797
\u201cSo according to @ChakaKhan, payola is what got the Songbird Supreme Mariah Carey at #5 on RollingStone\u2019s list. Girl\nShe also said Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s #8 placement is fine and she\u2019s \u201ca great singer and has the opportunity to be a great singer.\u201d I see Ms. Khan wants no smoke with the hive \ud83e\udd23\u201d— RO ALMIGHTY \u2728\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2 (@RO ALMIGHTY \u2728\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2) 1677774913
And Carey's fans rushed to defend their idol.
\u201cHi Chaka Khan,\nIf you want to be relevant (again), sing this song written by Mariah Carey. Don't try to play your games from some unpopular podcasts \ud83e\udd74 \nhttps://t.co/TbxPqFpW1A\u201d— Tris Boom (@Tris Boom) 1677734323
\u201c@PopBase It was a messy list for sure, but Mariah truly is top 3 best (famous) singers of all time.\n\nCause who else got a 5 octave range? Can belt? And has the agility of a songbird? Let\u2019s be for real.\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1677720468
\u201c@PopBase Now @ChakaKhan, just say you\u2019re jealous that you only have one #1 song out of 13 albums, and it wasn\u2019t even a solo single. \ud83d\ude2d As for payola?\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1677720468
\u201c@PopBase Chaka is amazing, but there is no doubt that Mariah is one of the greatest singers of all time.\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1677720468
\u201c@FranciskoMayne Mariah actually writes & co produces 99% of her music, so I\u2019m confused on why she think Mariah is payola. Mariah was the 90s\u201d— Eric Beign\u00e9t (@Eric Beign\u00e9t) 1677762797
But many agreed with Khan's stance on the rankings.
\u201c@FranciskoMayne Straight with no chaser, indeed. This woman is a goddess. There are wannabes and there's the REAL deal.\u201d— Eric Beign\u00e9t (@Eric Beign\u00e9t) 1677762797
\u201cOr Chaka Khan came in an era where you HAD to be talented musically and she has a set standard and refuses to be impressed easily simply because others are? You think she got to legend status by being nice? It\u2019s good that she speaks her mind and tells shii like it is.\u201d— Six\u20196ix (@Six\u20196ix) 1677789189
\u201cI might as well! Y\u2019all know the deal! CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER\u203c\ufe0f\ud83d\ude08\n\n#ChakaKhan #ManisJourneyThroughThe80s\u2728\u201d— Kemani\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec (@Kemani\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec) 1677775564
\u201cChaka Khan is one of the greatest singers EVER. Literally. Preserved her voice and sound damn good to be 99. Don\u2019t play with auntie.\u201d— Gutta Gutta \ud83d\udde3 (@Gutta Gutta \ud83d\udde3) 1677786107
\u201cmind you chaka khan has more great vocal performances than mary has\u2026 even at chaka worst she could still sing mary into a hole and even mary knows this.\u201d— i be like\u2026 DO IT 4 MY BABY! (@i be like\u2026 DO IT 4 MY BABY!) 1677778686
At least we can all agree on Aretha, though.
