Aretha home from hospital after surgery

DETROIT, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Aretha Franklin, home from the hospital after undergoing surgery nearly two weeks ago, says her "family and friends are taking great care of me."

Sources have told various media outlets the 68-year-old performer known as the Queen of Soul is suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Franklin's representatives haven't confirmed her diagnosis. They have said only that the operation she underwent Dec. 2 was "highly successful."

The Detroit Free Press said Franklin's publicist issued a statement Wednesday noting the entertainer is in "great spirits and very happy to be home where she will be resting in anticipation of spending the upcoming holiday season with her family."

"I've been at home for almost three days now," Franklin said in a statement. "My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me. I also have a private nurse who visits on a daily basis. I'm hoping to be strong enough to go out and see the upcoming Sam Cooke play at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit before Jan. 2, as well as a performance of 'Dreamgirls' at the Fox before it closes."

Franklin last month announced she was canceling most of her planned performances through May so she could deal with undisclosed health issues.