Etta James Kidding About Beyonce Remarks

Us Magazine - February 6, 2009 2:33 PM PST
Story photo: Etta James Kidding About Beyonce RemarksEtta James and Beyonce arrive at the premiere of "Cadillac Records" held at The Egyptian Theater on November 24, 2008 in Hollywood, CA.Us Magazine
Etta James says she was only kidding when she announced at a recent Seattle concert that she "can't stand" Beyonce and poked fun at President Obama's ears.

"I didn't really mean anything," James, 71, tells New York's Daily News. "Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. ... That's probably what went into it."

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James admits she was irritated that Beyonce sang her classic "At Last" for Obama's first dance on inauguration night and that she wasn't invited to perform it.

She says she was "feeling left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around."

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She says she liked Beyonce's performance. But, when asked if she thought she could have done better, James says, "I think so. That's a shame to say that."

She says she kept spewing insults at the show because "nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle. They were all laughing, and it was funny," adding that her jokes were "not from a vicious place."

Although she cracked that Obama had "big ears," James says she "always thought he was handsome and he was cool."

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"I still had my joke about him," James says. "That might be horrible. The President might not ever like me in life."

But she says she doesn't think Obama will be too upset.

Says the singer, "He's got other stuff [to worry about] besides Etta James ."

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comments 1-10 of 346  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Tatyana
    ETTA MADE THE SONG AND BEYONCE OWNS IT SO ITS BEYONCES SONG BECASE SHE SINGED IT IN FRONT OF USA SO ITS HER SONG
    report abuseposted February 15, 2009 10:46 PM PST
  • Tatyana
    ETTA YOU CRAZY MAN OBAMA HAVE NO DUMBO EARS YOU JUST SAYIN THAT BECAUSE BEYONCE SINGED THAT SONG FOR HIM YOU WANNA BE UP THERE SINGIN FOR HIM AND HIS WIFE BUT TO BAD GET OVER IT IT ALREADY HAPPEND WAY BACK WHY YOU AGUIN ABOUT IT NOW YOU DIDT HAVE TO CALL BEYONCE AN %@!*# THAT MAKES IT WORSE
    report abuseposted February 15, 2009 10:44 PM PST
  • Nely
    Yeah I'm sure that was the case and not just her bad taste. This is a definite reason why people should think before they speak. There's an old saying I should pass to Ms. James "It is better to be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
    report abuseposted February 11, 2009 5:34 AM PST
  • The Cat
    It's about RESPECT, y'all. Karma will snare Obama for not asking Ms James to sing her signature song and Beyonce for buying her way past a music legend to sell tickets and cds for Cadillac Records. Obama & Beyonce are both standing on the shoulders of giants; I hope the Universe soon reminds them. I will by boycotting Cadillac Records until it's at a thrift store.
    report abuseposted February 9, 2009 10:06 AM PST
  • Hammer
    Stop hating Ms. James
    report abuseposted February 9, 2009 12:44 AM PST
  • Inspector
    No disrespect to Beyonce (I think she's fine) but Etta owns "At Last". Etta is a legend and has earned the right to sing that song for The Prez ... I can't believe she wasn't asked. As for Whitney doing the song ... she couldn't feel enough to begin to do the song justice. Etta will out-sing and out-feel the newcomers because of her life experie
    report abuseposted February 9, 2009 12:11 AM PST
  • Inspector
    No disrespect to Beyonce (I think she's fine) but Etta owns "At Last". Etta is a legend and has earned the right to sing that song for The Prez ... I can't believe she wasn't asked. As for Whitney doing the song ... she couldn't feel enough to begin to do the song justice. Etta will out-sing and out-feel the newcomers because of her life experie
    report abuseposted February 9, 2009 12:10 AM PST
  • Veronica M.
    OH AND IF YOU WANT TO CALL ME RACIST, SHUT THE F*CK UP. i'M MIXED WITH BRITISH, SCOTTISH, PORTUGUESE AND BLACK AND DAMN PROUD! MY FAMILY IS FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
    report abuseposted February 8, 2009 11:59 PM PST
  • Veronica M.
    BRINTON C. WHY IS IT SOME WHITE PERSON ALWAYS HAS TO BRING UP HOW WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS AND HOW THAT MONEY FOR THE PARTY AND INNAUGURATION WAS 175 MILLION DOLLARS? SO F*CKING WHAT? IF McCAIN WON AND SPENT THAT YOU WOULDN'T SAY SH*T. I HEAR SO MANY WHITE PEOPLE SAY "BLACK PEOPLE VOTED FOR HIM CUZ HE'S BLACK"! HOW MANY WHITES DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM BEC
    report abuseposted February 8, 2009 11:58 PM PST
  • Veronica M.
    WHITNEY WOULD HAVE TORE IT UP, SHE WOULD HAVE SANG THE HELL OUT OF THAT SONG. SHE WOULD HAVE SUNG IT, OWNED IT, AND EVERYONE WOULD HAVE FELT IT! ETTA IS HALF BLACK AND HALF WHITE. HER MOTHER WAS PAID OFF BY THE WHITE FATHER AS HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER. ETTA IS MIXED, BUT IN AMERICA SHE'LL ALWAYS BEEN SEEN AS BLACK. A HATEFUL, RUDE, JEALOUS, OLD BLACK WOMAN. SAD.
    report abuseposted February 8, 2009 11:53 PM PST
comments 1-10 of 346  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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