Aretha Franklin reignites feud with Dionne Warwick

Singing legend Aretha Franklin has reignited an old feud with fellow soul star Dionne Warwick.

The Queen of Soul, 75, sent a lengthy fax to the AP news agency criticising Warwick's quotes following the funeral of the latter's cousin Whitney Houston in 2012.

Despite remaining silent over the issue for five years, the R.E.S.P.E.C.T star has had enough, even accusing Warwick of 'libel'.

Franklin took exception to Warwick's discussing her non-attendance at Houston's funeral, when she said: "Ree's (Franklin) not here, but she is here. She loves Whitney as if she were born to her. She is her godmother."

Franklin said she couldn't attend the service in Newark, New Jersey because she was suffering from swollen feet and due to perform that night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

She is now keen to set the record straight that she was not Houston's godmother and admitted she refused to hug Warwick at an industry event last week.

The singer recalled: "She said, 'Give me a hug.' I said, 'Oh hell no. You couldn't be serious.'

"We've never been friends and I don't think that Dionne has ever liked me."