Aretha Franklin is well and alive after death hoax

Los Angeles: Aretha Franklin`s representative has confirmed that the `Queen of Soul` is alive and well after she became the latest victim of an Internet death hoax.

The `Respect` hitmaker who recently underwent surgery for a disease rumoured to be pancreatic cancer, was reported dead on Monday. But her spokesperson has slammed the claims, saying, "Aretha is fine," reported TMZ. Franklin is the latest star who has had to respond to a death hoax. Actor Charlie Sheen was incorrectly reported to have died in a snowboarding accident on Sunday and singer Aaron Carter also denied reports he had passed away last week. It is believed that the 68-year-old Motown legend was given the diagnosis of the same cancer which killed Patrick Swayze and Michael Landon, though she has neither confirmed nor denied it. Though this type of cancer has only a 5 to 10 per cent survival rate, Franklin had said in a press statement that she had a very successful surgery. Last month, the singer announced she was cancelling all concert dates and personal appearances until May on the orders of her doctors. This came after she reportedly spent a week in Detroit`s Sinai-Grace Hospital for a "serious illness". PTI