Aretha Franklin has big plans for her 69th birthday in New York, following tradition

Aretha Franklinknows how to celebrate! The Queen of Soul will ring in her 69th birthday Friday right here inNYC, and she's got big plans. Not that we're surprised - how could a Do-Right Woman do a party wrong?

Franklin will start her evening at"Driving Miss Daisy,"the Broadway revival at the Golden Theatre starringVanessa RedgraveandJames Earl Jones. She'll see the show with a group of nine friends. According to a source, Franklin made the phone call herself when buying the 10 tickets, which we hear is typical behavior for the apparently un-diva-like songstress. (Mariah CareyandJennifer Lopez, take note.)

The combination of theater and James Earl Jones has become a bit of a birthday tradition for Franklin. To celebrate her 66th, she took in Tennessee Willliams'"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,"in which Jones appeared  withTerrence HowardandPhylicia Rashad.

She also saw the actor in the show"On Golden Pond"in 2005.

This production of"Daisy,"however, knows a thing or two about birthday festivities. As Gatecrasher reported in January, the cast celebrated Jones' own 80th with two cakes onstage after the performance— one sugar-free, since he's diabetic.

After the show, Franklin will proceed to her own party. And while she may not be blowing out candles in front of an audience, she should still save room for cake.

One bit of speculation around town is that Franklin's birthday dessert will be provided by famedHarlemsoul-food restaurant Sylvia's.

Maybe the staff at the Lenox Ave. destination is extremely good at keeping a secret or maybe those plans have changed. When we called Sylvia's to inquire about the eatery's involvement, a rep there claimed to know of no plans to feed Franklin.

Perhaps the Queen of Soul is taking special care in putting together the menu for her fete, considering her recent dramatic loss of 85 pounds.

Franklin has attributed the downsizing of her figure to diet and healthy living rather than a rumored gastric-bypass surgery.

As for location, a spy tells us she was spotted Tuesday at the Helmsley Park Lane, which supports previous reports that theCentral ParkSouth hotel would be the site of her star-studded birthday bash.

The insider adds that 100 of Aretha's nearest and dearest friends are expected to attend the celebration, where a live band will entertain the crowd. It's unclear whether Aretha plans to perform at her own party, but we hope there's some serious talent on hand: Imagine civilians butchering"Happy Birthday"for the Queen.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com
Molly Fischer:mfischer@nydailynews.com

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