Chaka Khan is known not to hold back her opinions when it comes to the entertainment industry, and she spoke her mind about Rolling Stone’s “200 Best Singers Of All Time” list published in January 2023.
While speaking to Andrew Goldman for The Originals podcast and Los Angeles Magazine, Chaka Khan admitted that she was unaware of the list, in which she was ranked at #29. Before sharing her thoughts on the list, Chaka clarified, "I didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about, so obviously this don’t mean a great deal to me. These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way."
Goldman went on to ask Chaka about singers ranked above her, including Mariah Carey, who Chaka thinks was placed at #5 because of "payola or some sh*t like that." After learning that she was placed behind Mary J. Blige, who came in at #25, Chaka stated, "These are blind bi**hes! They are blind as a motherfu**ing bat! They need hearing aids…These must be the children of Helen Keller!"
Chaka spoke more about Mary J. Blige, including revealing her reaction to Blige's cover of the Rufus & Chaka Khan song "Sweet Thing." She stated, "I told her her vocals were flat."
When Chaka learned that Adele was ranked #22, she said, "Okay, I quit." The only placement she approved of was Aretha at #1, "As she f**king should be."
