Following Aretha Franklin’s highly publicized absence from Whitney Houston’s star-studded funeral, the “Queen of Soul” has sent flowers of apology to Houston’s mother for missing the event.
According to The New York Daily News, the flowers were delivered to Cissy Houston three days after the Feb. 18 ceremony in Newark, N.J. The large floral arrangement included tulips, white roses and other flowers, and was sent with a card that read, “Love, Aretha.”
Franklin, a longtime friend of the Houston family, was slated to sing at the service, but canceled at the last minute, citing leg spasms as the reason for her absence.
A source close to the Houston family told the Daily News that Franklin was “devastated” that she missed the event.
“She’s just stunned and heartbroken,” the source said, also noting that the singer watched the funeral live and texted about it the whole time. “She sent Cissy flowers to her house, telling her how terrible she felt, how she really wanted to be there.”
Franklin confused the masses after missing the funeral and then giving a show at Radio City Music Hall the same night. She also held a post-concert reception at the Ritz Carlton.
But the source explained that it was apparent that the singer was not well.
“Her leg was visibly giving her problems,” the source told the Daily News.
Many reports speculated that Houston’s family disinvited Franklin from the funeral for her comments during an interview on NBC’s “Today” show, according to the Associated Press.
During the sit-down, Al Roker asked Franklin about Houston’s rise to fame.
Franklin responded, “I think parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home… leave home prepared, really. She left home with all the right things.”
The singer later released a statement saying her comments were taken out of context and a portion of her response was not aired.
“Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly,” the statement read, according to the AP. “I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically.”
She also denied claims that she was disinvited from the funeral.
“Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me,” Franklin said in the statement. “Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I—particularly at this time.”