Aretha Franklin to Headline 41st New Orleans Jazz Fest

by Gentle Jones

The New Orleans Jazz Fest has announced the 2010 line up and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin will be headlining the event. Aretha Franklin will share the stage with hundreds of acts over the course of 2 weekends, April 23rd through May 2nd, including the Neville Brothers, Anita Baker, rapper Juvenile, and actor Steve Martin, who plays banjo with his bluegrass outfit the Steep Canyon Riders. Also performing during the 41st Jazz Fest will be B.B. King, the Allman Brothers, and New Orleans' own Dr. John.

Aretha Franklin was the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. In 2008, Aretha Franklin was named by Rolling Stone magazine the Greatest Singer of All Time. She has 45 Billboard Top 40 hits as well as 20 #1 hit singles.

Franklin was supposed to perform at the 40th New Orleans Jazz Fest but cancelled when asked to participate in the inaugural ball for President Barack Obama, where she was the only featured singer.

The New Orleans Jazz Fest was created to have popular appeal as well as cultural significance. The first festival line up included Mahalia Jackson, the Meters, Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, as well as many others.

Tickets for the festival, which is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana, go on sale today.