Chaka Khan Apologizes For Controversial 'Rolling Stone' Comments

The 69-year-old music icon was on the list but had some feisty words for the other honorees. She’s now saying sorry.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Khan addressed an interview she did last week in which she threw shade at the other singers, including Mariah Carey, Adele, and Mary J. Blige.

She began her post by writing, “Recently, I was asked about a list of the ‘greatest singers of all time’ and instead of questioning the need for such a list, I was pitted against other artists and I took the bait.”

“As artists, we are unfairly put into ‘boxes’, ‘categories’ or on ‘lists,’” she continued. “Being an artist or musician is not a competition. It’s a gift, for which I am truly grateful.”

She then offered her apology, saying she didn’t intend “to cause pain or upset anyone.”

After thanking her fans for their love, Khan wrote, “I have always been about empowering others and I started a foundation for that very purpose. I will be announcing soon.”

To conclude her post, she stated, “Empowering all artists is most important because we truly are the architects of change...and change begins within the heart. I love you all and God bless.”

Accompanying the lengthy statement was a photo of Khan wearing a nude outfit, dangling earrings, a gold headband, and her signature brightly colored curls.

The Through the Fire singer grabbed headlines days ago when she opened up about what she thought of the Rolling Stone roster in an expletive-laced interview on The Originals podcast.

Although she made the list at a very respectable number 29, she wasn’t too impressed.

In fact, she hadn’t even heard of the list until the host told her about it.

“These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way,” she said.

However, her nonchalance turned to shock when she found out who made the roster ahead of her.

When she was told that Mariah Carey was the fifth greatest singer of all time according to the magazine, Khan chalked it up to “payola or some s**t like that.”

Adele, meanwhile, had snagged the 22nd spot – seven places ahead of her. The I Feel for You singer couldn’t believe it and declared she was quitting.

And when she was told that her frenemy, Mary J. Blige, had beaten her by four spots at 25, she totally lost it.

She called Rolling Stone’s editors “b****es” who are “blind as a motherf***ing bat” and said they could use some “hearing aids,” too.

The reason for the animosity? Khan was displeased when Blige covered her 1975 song, Sweet Thing, in 1992.

From then on, she would introduce it during her concerts as “the song Mary J. Blige f***ed up.”

They sort of reconciled later, though, and even collaborated on a recording in 2007.

Now that she’s apologized for the controversy, how about we focus on celebrating her milestone---her 50th anniversary in the music industry?