Etta James: Beyonce Comments Were A Joke

Access Hollywood - February 6, 2009 3:03 PM PST
Story photo: Etta James: Beyonce Comments Were A JokeEtta James and Beyonce at the 'Cadillac Records' premiere in Hollywood (Nov. 2008)Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Etta James might have put superstar Beyonce on blast for singing her signature song, "At Last," at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball after Barack Obama's presidential inauguration, but the music legend said it was just a joke.

During a concert in Seattle on January 28, Etta told the crowd, "I tell you, that woman he has singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her a** whipped... I can't stand Beyonce, she had no business up there singing... my song that I've been singing forever."

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However on Thursday, Etta told The New York Daily News, "I didn't really mean anything. Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. ... That's probably what went into it."

"Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle," she continued. "They were all laughing, and it was funny."

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The singer did admit to being a little hurt that she was not invited to sing for President Obama, saying she was "feeling left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around."

And when it came to rating Beyonce's rendition of her iconic song, Etta said she liked it, but when asked if she could have performed it better, Etta answered, "I think so. That's a shame to say that."

As for President Obama, who she referred to as "the one with the big ears," she believes he's focused on more important things.

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"I still had my joke about him. That might be horrible. The President might not ever like me in life," she added. "He's got other stuff [to worry about] besides Etta James ."

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Etta James Blasts Beyonce
PLAY IT NOW: 'Cadillac Records' Premiere, Los Angeles

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Beyonc Knowles - Barack Obama - News - Music - Media

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comments 1-10 of 44  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • mr.universe
    i think etta is wrong obama choose bey so she need to get a life she propley still on crack she need to go back to cadilac racords and get a life beyonce is a diva beyonce is betta and beyonce song it betta and she dont have the right to call obama a big eared fool etta on that stuff
    report abuseposted April 5, 2009 11:41 PM PDT
  • valerie
    etta is betta!
    report abuseposted March 28, 2009 2:56 AM PDT
  • Contrarion
    Beyonce is no diva, u need look the word up, like the hero being thrown around, diva is being equally abused!
    report abuseposted March 26, 2009 3:17 AM PDT
  • Contrarion
    She should have never apologized, Beyonce sounds like a man!!!! Etta James can really sing!
    report abuseposted March 26, 2009 3:15 AM PDT
  • My mother,daughter,nephew and I love Etta James' voice and music style.Beyonce's voice pales in comparison.
    report abuseposted March 25, 2009 10:23 PM PDT
  • Lis
    Etta - please don't apologize - u said something folks been saying & would like to say. No one does "At last" like Etta, sorry - whenever I hear that song - it will always remind me of Etta. I would be upset too - Etta was soooo in place for voicing her opinion.
    report abuseposted March 18, 2009 6:19 PM PDT
  • Matthyew Fritch
    COOL!
    report abuseposted March 9, 2009 6:57 AM PDT
  • Helen J
    MAYBE ETTA AND BEYONCE SHOULD HAVE SANG THE SONG TOGETHER
    report abuseposted March 2, 2009 10:27 PM PST
  • vachic
    ETTA IS BITTER!!!!
    report abuseposted March 2, 2009 8:32 PM PST
  • Latoya R
    beyonce' is like a super diva that old lady just mad caus eb is yung nd doin her thing like she suppose to...
    report abuseposted February 16, 2009 11:25 PM PST
comments 1-10 of 44  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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