Dionne Warwick Says Beyoncé Hasn't Reached 'Iconic Status' Yet
Dionne Warwick has the BeyHive buzzing with her latest comments.
During an on-camera interview with Essence, the five-time Grammy-winning singer was asked about today’s artists and whether they are creating timeless music.
“I don’t know if 10 years from now, anybody can actually sing the songs of our babies today. That’s not, as you guys say, ‘throwing shade.’ That’s just looking at it with reality,” said the 78-year-old.
Added Warwick, “When you speak of folks who have been in the industry, recording for as long as I have, and my peers… These babies, who are approaching 20 years, maybe, which is amusing to me because I’m certain they wouldn’t even last that long. But since they have, when they get into the 50- and 60-year range, that’s when you can start saying, ‘Well, maybe there is a classic hidden somewhere amongst them.’ But at this very moment, I don’t see it.”
She also shared her thoughts on Beyoncé. “I have an admiration for Beyoncé,” said Warwick. “Watching her grow has been quite refreshing. It’s wonderful to see how she’s been able to create what and who she wanted to be and who she is.”
While she is a fan of Queen Bey, she doesn’t think the 23-time Grammy winner has reached “icon” status just yet. “Now sustaining and become the icon [like] Gladys Knight, or Patti LaBelle, or Johnny Mathis, or Frank Sinatra, or Sammy Davis Jr.? I doubt that. I really do,” she said. “I love her to death and can appreciate her talent. But that iconic status that I just mentioned before? Those names? It’s a long road [ahead].”
After the story went viral, Warwick took to Twitter to clarify her comments, sharing a screenshot of the article. “What I said is in quotes. What @Essence said is not,” she tweeted. “It takes a long time to reach and achieve iconic status. That’s not to say that Beyoncé isn’t well on her way. She is a gifted performer. That was a reach from Essence.”
What I said is in quotes. What @Essence said is not. It takes a long time to reach and achieve iconic status. That’s not to say that Beyoncé isn’t well on her way. She is a gifted performer. That was a reach from Essence. pic.twitter.com/nWlZcrgdqg
— Dionne Warwick (@_DionneWarwick) May 23, 2019
— Dionne Warwick (@_DionneWarwick) May 23, 2019