Soul icon Aretha Franklin’s family have confirmed that the singer is ‘seriously ill and surrounded by family’, as they rally around her at her home in Detroit.

It was reported on Monday by a close source that Franklin’s family were readying themselves to say goodbye to her, as she received hospice care at home, prompting an outpouring of appreciation and well-wishing the world over.

Aretha’s publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told People Magazine: “Aretha Franklin has been the Matriarch of the Franklin family since the passing of all of her siblings. The love she has for her family is above reproach and was evident in the warm smiles she was able to share with her nephew during his very brief visit two weeks ago.

“She is seriously ill and surrounded by family members who appreciate the outpouring of love and support they have received.”

Yesterday, nephew Tim Franklin confirmed that the legendary soul singer was in ‘good spirits': ”

“She’s alert, laughing, teasing, able to recognise people. Family is there with her. She’s home. I saw her a week ago Friday and we talked for about 45 minutes to an hour”, he said.

“My brother was there on Saturday and she was alert, talking, laughing, joking.”

Remaining optimistic, he added: “We believe she’ll pull through it, she believes she’ll pull through it, and that’s the important thing.”

Aretha Franklin is one of the most revered and successful soul singers of all time, with a career that spans over five decades, including more than 18 Grammy wins, and over 75 million records sold. Her last album came in 2017, in A Brand New Me. Franklin used the album to officially announce her retirement from music, saying “I must tell you, I am retiring this year. I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from and where it is now.”

Billboard now reports that producer extraordinaire Clive Davis- who signed Franklin to Arista Records back in 1980- is spearheading the organisation for a tribute concert for Aretha, to be held at Madison Square Garden later this year.

The show will reportedly be titled ‘Clive Davis Presents: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin’ and is set to go ahead on November 14. Rumours are all we have to go on at the moment, but huge names are being suggested for the concert, including the likes of Stevie Wonder and Beyonce.