TORONTO - Ailing soul diva Aretha Franklin will take the stage in Toronto for a free show this summer.
The 69-year-old will kick off the Toronto Jazz Festival with a performance at Metro Square on June 24.
Franklin has been out of the spotlight since undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment in December, but is scheduled to return to the stage in Chicago next month.
Her recovery even forced her to miss February's Grammy Awards, where the singer was honoured with a medley performance featuring Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson.
Other artists announced for the Toronto jazz bash include the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the Average White Band and the Stax Allstars, Los Lonely Boys with Los Lobo, Bootsy Collins and veteran hip-hop act the Roots, who will take the stage on Canada Day.
