Joan Baez Reacts to Chaka Khan Saying She 'Can't Sing': 'It's Not Her Style' (Exclusive) (original) (raw)

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Joan Baez knows that she might not be for everyone — including Chaka Khan.

Earlier this year, the "I'm Every Woman" singer openly shared her opinions about Rolling Stone and the placements of certain artists on their “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list that includes Aretha Franklin , Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Adele — and the folk legend herself who was listed as No. 189.

"Let’s be honest, the bitch cannot sing. Now, she was a good writer," Khan, 70, said of Baez in an interview with Los Angeles Magazine.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Baez, 82, responded to Khan's remarks for the first time.

"It's just too funny," the "Silver Dagger" singer said. "It's not her style, and so it is perfectly legitimate."

She added, "If that kind of floaty voice doesn't mean anything to her, then I get it."

Just days after her interview, Khan posted an Instagram apology for her remarks about the Rolling Stone list to Instagram.

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

"It was not my intention to cause pain or upset anyone. To anyone that felt this way, I sincerely apologize," she added.

Baez, who has been sharing her ethereal soprano voice with the world for more than 60 years, is the subject of the new, candid documentary Joan Baez: _I Am a Nois_e (in limited release Oct. 6).

The film — directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O'Connor and Maeve O'Boyle — chronicles Baez's life as an artist and civil rights activist, who was at the helm of the 1960s folk revival.

“I had no idea how deeply people are affected by the fact that a famous entertainer will be as honest as I am,” she said of the reactions to the film, which looks back on her childhood trauma, prolific career and tumultuous love affair with Bob Dylan. “What I hear most is, ‘I can’t believe you said that.’ ”

Elsewhere in the interview, Baez reflected on her relationship with "dear friend" Lana Del Rey, who she performed with on stage at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California, in 2019.

While they don't see each other too much, Baez reflects on a text she received from the singer recently.

"She texted me and she said, 'Just thought I'd say hello. I'm about to go and sing for 100,000 people.' I thought, 'OK, that's good news to hear.' "

Baez notes that the "Say Yes to Heaven" singer is "really lovely with my granddaughter, who's a songwriter as well."

"She gave Jasmine her jacket. Can you imagine a 20-year-old going backstage to see Lana? They're friends now too because of our friendship," she explains, adding that the pop singer is "really loving and sweet."