Aretha Franklin - Franklin Looking Forward After Surgery Extends Her Life

The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. singer is addressing reports she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year (10), insisting the health crisis that prompted her to pull out of a string of end-of-year shows was not that serious.

Franklin is refusing to divulge details of exactly what was wrong with her, but she insists she is now in recovery and looking forward to a long life.

Calling into U.S. news show Access Hollywood on Thursday (13Jan11), she said, "That's what my doctor said. He said, 'The surgery that you just had is going to add 15 or 20 more years to your life.'"

And when she returns to the spotlight, the soul legend plans to dazzle fans with her slimmed-down new look after losing weight through her illness and surgery.

She adds, "I plan to maintain and keep this weight that I have now. I'm so happy with it."

Franklin hopes to be back onstage in May (11), when she'll reschedule the concerts she cancelled last year (10).