A slimmed-down Aretha Franklin celebrated her 72nd birthday in New York with friends including Denzel Washington and Clive Davis.
The Queen of Soul, who will perform two dates at Radio City in June, was feted by friends at the Ritz-Carlton on Central Park South on Saturday.
We’re told Franklin, who is recording a new album with Davis, mingled with guests, including Charlie Rangel and Nikki Haskell, while a jazz band played.
Franklin canceled a string of appearances last year due to unspecified health reasons, but more recently said her recovery has been “miraculous”.
One witness told us, “Aretha looked fabulous, she has lost a lot of weight, and said she is healthy and looking forward to her Radio City shows.”