Aretha Franklin sues US magazine over drinking claims

Aretha Franklin is suing American magazine Star for $50m.

Her lawyers claim she was defamed by an article published in December 2000.

It was headlined Aretha Franklin Drinking Herself Into Grave.

They say it incorrectly alleged alcohol abuse had caused Franklin to cancel many concert performances and was threatening her career and health.

The lawyers have filed a federal lawsuit against the magazine's publishers American Media Inc.

A spokesman for American Media said no one in the company had read the lawsuit and they couldn't comment.