Aretha says foreclosure due to oversight

DETROIT, March 13 (UPI) -- Famed U.S. singer Aretha Franklin said she plans to bring her bills up to date so she doesn't lose her $700,000 Detroit mansion, which is now in foreclosure.

The Detroit Free Press said Franklin could lose her 1927 brick home because of $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees.

She also owes a total of $19,192 in back taxes on the property through 2007. However, foreclosure proceedings on those debts wouldn't likely begin until next year, the report said.

"It was a mere oversight on my attorney's part to notify me," Franklin told the newspaper in an e-mail through her publicist. "It will be taken care of immediately and thank you for making me aware of it."