NEW YORK, June 10 (UPI) -- Soul queen Aretha Franklin has dubbed her 'semi-retirement' tour "The Queen Is On!!! ... The 2003 Tour," Arista Records announced Tuesday.
Franklin will be performing "The Only Thing Missin," her new single, which already has hit the top 40 on Urban AC radio, as well as her classic hits on the tour. As an added surprise, each concert will include at least one special guest duet performance.
Confirmed guests include Cissy Houston in a rare reunion performance, Ronald Isley (Isley Brothers), Dennis Edwards (Temptations) and Ali "Ollie" Woodson (Temptations).
In an unusual move last month, Aretha held open auditions in Detroit to hand-pick the dancers in her touring troupe. Male and female dancers, ages 18-35, flocked to the auditions, which were publicly announced just prior to the scheduled dates.
"The Only Thing Missin'" is the first single from Aretha's as-yet-untitled 12th Arista album since 1980. It is scheduled to arrive in stores on Sept. 16. In addition to tracks produced by Franklin herself, the album will contain at least one track written especially for her by Burt Bacharach.
