Fantasia Skipped Grammys Over Franklin Tribute Snub

By Kelly Fisher Posted Feb 17th 2011 08:45AM

Talk about some hard feelings. 'American Idol' winner Fantasia Barrino was nominated for a Grammy this year -- and won! -- but decided to catch the ceremony from home after being left out of the tribute to Aretha Franklin.

"They were honoring someone who was my idol, and there is no way I could have sat there and not got the happy feet and wanted to jump on the mic because she is my favorite," she told BET's '106 & Park.' "I felt like, you know, at the end of the day I should have been on that stage."

Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams opened the awards show with a moving tribute to Franklin, who is recovering from an illness at home.

So what did Fantasia -- who won the golden statue for Best Female R&B Performance -- do instead of attending the show? She opted for a night in with her daughter.

"I kind of did my own little thing," she said. "I was kinda going through my own little thing. I cooked, I was in my own world."

Of course, she was overjoyed when she found out she'd won.

"Every year when I go, I feel like they always look over the good singers who are still around, so this has just given me motivation," said the singer. "I just started crying and thanking God."

It's been a tumultuous year for Fantasia. She reportedly attempted suicide over the summer after having an affair with a married man. But things are starting to look up. After numerous nominations, Fantasia can finally say she's a Grammy winner.

"I'm nominated 11 times, I finally got one," she said.

Watch Fantasia's interview with '106 & Park' below.

Comments

(47)

Thursday 17 February

By Lu

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Grow up Fantasia ....

Saturday 19 February

By Patti

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A. Aretha may not be @ home "recovering." Sadly, I think she's @ home suffering.
B. Fantasia would serve herself & her fans more by taking a tip from, for instance, Jennifer Hudson, & losing some of that weight. & it is partially all that weight that is killing the innovative & talented Aretha.

By candy

what a baby

By jsd1011

What an EGO. She sucks anyway. Where does she think she deserves to be included.

By anon69

Maybe they didn't want you up there because you are a hot mess.

By KR

That's for sure. Must have been a really bad year for Female R&B performances for her to have won. What did she do, a remake of 'Disco Duck'?

By martha

WHO DOES THIS PERSON THINK SHE IS? SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS OR EXPERIENCE TO THINK THAT SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE ON STAGE WITH THE GIRLS WHO DID THE TRIBUTE. IF SHE WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT TRIBUTE, ARETHA WOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING A BREAKDOWN LISTENING TO FANTASIA SING..... GIVE IT A REST FANTASIA, BUY A BOX OF KLEENEX AND STOP WHINING, BOO-HOO-HOO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

By Kenny

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And that Florence chick DOES? Fantasia can sing dodecahedrons around that squawk box! Please...AND, I'd bet she would have stayed on her feet and remembered the lyrics!

By susan

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Martha- No need to shout!

By foxylady1202

Who's Fantasia...isn't that a movie with Mickey Mouse...LOL!

By Toni

No loss. She just isn't that good. Get over it and go have another kid.

By Jazzy

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There's nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, but the latter was unnecessary

By John

She's a dope!! She is no Aretha!!!!!!

By Crys

Get over yourself, Fantasia. The performance was about Aretha Franklin and not you. Your known more for your story than your music. Just because you happen to be a black musician doesn't give you an automatic right to sing in the tribute. You were nominated and won, and that is beyond so many peoples' dreams. How about having some humble pie and giving the ego trip a rest?

By Mike1098

Everyone who sang did an outstanding job in my opinion. I'm sorry but I don't even know how this Fantasia won Idol let alone a grammy! When she sings I have to cover my ears. It sounds like running your fingernails across a chalk board.

By Sam

I always thought it sounded like she was drowning a cat.

By badass

LOL, what an EGO. who is this girl?

By DM

I think it would have been good to include her but she still should have gone to ceremony and dealt with it. And I am sure that Miss Aretha gave approval to who sang her songs in tribute. Aretha is the Queen.

By Ricktigers

Yaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn.

By Big Ed

Fantasia who? Aretha Franklin probable doesn't even know who Fantasia is. She didn't go because as everyone knows she is broke and couldn't aford the plane ride. Fantasia is a nobody and always will be....

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