Franklin: 'I had severe pain in my side'

Aretha Franklin has claimed that severe abdominal pain was behind her decision to cancel several tour dates and seek medical attention.

The singer announced in November 2010 that she would not perform any shows until May 2011 as she underwent surgery for an unnamed condition.

It was rumoured that Franklin was battling pancreatic cancer, though she later dismissed the reports.

In an interview on The Wendy Williams Show, Franklin recalled the incident which made her realise that "something was wrong".

"The pain was so hard it nearly brought me to my knees. So I said, 'The concerts are over. I have to go and find out what is wrong'," she said.

"[It] was my first inkling that something was wrong, that something wasn't what it should be."

Questioned about the reports of her abdominal operation, Franklin simply replied: "Hmm… Is that what you heard?"