Chaka Khan Rips Adele and Mariah Carey Being On ‘Greatest Singers’ List
Chaka Khan recently found out about Rolling Stone magazine’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list, and she’s not too happy about their choices. The “I’m Every Woman” singer was…
Adele attends The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena on February 08, 2022 in London, England. Chaka Khan attends Angel Ball 2022 hosted by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 24, 2022 in New York City. Mariah Carey attends the premiere of Tyler Perry’s “A Fall From Grace” at Metrograph on January 13, 2020 in New York City.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation/Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesChaka Khan recently found out about Rolling Stone magazine’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list, and she's not too happy about their choices. The "I'm Every Woman" singer was ranked number 29 on the list, which was published at the start of the year.
In a new interview with Los Angeles Magazine Wednesday (March 1), Khan “didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about," when interviewer Andrew Goldman congratulated her on being included. "So obviously, this don’t mean a great deal to me,” she told him. “These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way.”
Despite saying that, Khan, who turns 70 on March 23, was curious about who else was featured. Finding out that Mariah Carey placed in the number 5 spot, however, Khan suspected foul play. “That must be payola or some s--- like that," she said. Next was Adele’s inclusion at number 22, to which she responded: “Okay, I quit.” When she found out that her longtime frenemy Mary J. Blige appears on the list just ahead of her, at number 25, Khan remarked on Rolling Stone’s editors. “What? Wait, wait? I'm 22 and she's 25?" she asked, before being corrected that she was placed 29th. "Oh, you know what? That's why I feel the way I do. These are some blind bat bitches. These bitches are blind as a motherf---ing bat! They need hearing aids! They have no eyes, they have no ears. These must be the children of Helen Keller!”
As the publication reports, decades ago in concert, Khan would introduce the 1975 Rufus funk ballad, “Sweet Thing” as “the song Mary J. Blige f---ed up.” Blige covered the song for her 1992 debut album. Though Blige sang in Khan’s 2007 song, “Funk This” years later, their current relationship doesn't seem to be a friendly one.
Khan did have positive things to say about others on the list, including Aretha Franklin, whom the outlet placed as the greatest singer of all time. To which Khan said, "She should be! As she f---ing should be. Thank you, there’s justice somewhere!” She also spoke highly of Whitney Houston, who came in second place. “Great, I’m the one who introduced her to Clive [Davis]. And I introduced her to the business.” She added, “I made her mother bring her down to the studio and sing background with me. Her and Luther Vandross. They both sang background for me on my albums.”
21 of the Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century
Women have been present in the creation and production of music since the very beginning, shaping and changing the music industry, the public’s tastes, and popular styles for thousands of years.
We have highlighted 21 of the most influential women musicians of the past two decades in pop music. To qualify, the musician has to be primarily considered a 21st-century act. See who made our list below.
Adele
Sascha Steinbach/Getty ImagesCOLOGNE, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Adele attends the television show 2015! Menschen, Bilder, Emotionen - RTL Jahresrueckblick on December 6, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
Alicia Keys
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Alicia Keys attends the 2019 Billboard Women In Music at Hollywood Palladium on December 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Amy Winehouse
Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesGLASTONBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 22: Amy Winehouse performs on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, Pilton near Glastonbury, on June 22 2007 in Somerset, England. The festival, that was started by dairy farmer Michael Eavis in 1970, has grown into the largest music festival in Europe. This year's festival is the biggest yet and will have headline acts including The Who, The Artic Monkeys and The Killers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Avril Lavigne
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Avril Lavigne attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Beyoncé
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 14: Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
Cardi B
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 26: Rapper Cardi B performs during the 2019 Adult Video News Awards at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 26, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
FKA Twigs
Steve Jennings/Getty ImagesOAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Singer FKA Twigs performs at The Fox Theater on November 6, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Grimes
Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Grimes attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Gwen Stefani
Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesUNIVERSAL CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 30: No Doubt's Gwen Stefani performs at Gibson Amphitheatre on November 30, 2012 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Rebel Waltz)
Katy Perry
Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Katy Perry performs during a concert following the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 08, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Kelly Clarkson
Rich Fury/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Kelly Clarkson attends STX Films World Premiere of "UglyDolls" at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on April 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Lady Gaga
John Phillips/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Lady Gaga attends the UK Premiere Of "House of Gucci" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 09, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Universal Pictures )
Lizzo
Bryan Bedder/Getty ImagesMIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 04: Lizzo performs live from Miami Beach at the Platinum Studio for American Express UNSTAGED Final 2021 Performance at Miami Beach EDITION on December 04, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Express)
Lorde
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Lorde performs onstage at the 2021 Guggenheim International Gala on November 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum)
Miley Cyrus
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: Miley Cyrus performs a Tribute to Frontline Heroes during the 2021 NCAA Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images for NCAA)
Nicki Minaj
Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Nicki Minaj performs onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Pink
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesINGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 27: Pink attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Rihanna
Simone Joyner/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Singer Rihanna performs live on stage as part of her 777 tour at The Forum on November 19, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
Shakira
Kimberly White/Getty ImagesCARACAS, VENEZUELA - MAY 11: Columbian singer Shakira performs at a concert during her Tour Of The Mongoose May 11, 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images)
SZA
Craig Barritt/Getty ImagesVIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA - APRIL 27: SZA performs onstage at SOMETHING IN THE WATER - Day 2 on April 27, 2019 in Virginia Beach City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Something in the Water)
Taylor Swift
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
