Aretha Franklin surprises diners at NC Cracker Barrel

By Erica Bustamante, NBC-17

MEBANE, N.C. – Although the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin has canceled four shows in the Triangle, she did make a stop at the Cracker Barrel in Mebane.

Twitter was all a buzz after the singer ate at the restaurant on Tuesday between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

“My neighbor just met Aretha Franklin at the local Cracker Barrel. Has pictures and everything. In this teeny N.C. town?” stated one tweet from Jennifer Shelton.

A manager at the restaurant confirms that she indeed stop by for a meal and to do some shopping. The manager says she came in with her fiance and four body guards.

Caroline Atkinson says the group was seated at the table right next to theirs. Atkinson said her husband asked them what group they were with and according to Atkinson, one of the men said, “This is Ms. Franklin.”

“I couldn’t believe what he said. Of all places, for the ‘Queen of Soul’ to stop, the last place we would have expected would be Mebane,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson said the singer stood in front of the fireplace to take pictures with diners.

“She was very gracious with everyone. It was a very unexpected and cool experience to have in Mebane,” said Atkinson.

The manager says this isn’t the first time a celebrity has stopped to eat at his restaurant. He says Bon Jovi, members of Alabama and race car drivers have eaten there, to name a few.

In October, Franklin announced she was cancelling her Oct. 16 show in Durham. She later sent a letter to fans saying the show has been rescheduled for Feb. 9, 2012, at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

Makes us wonder where she’ll eat when she’s in town in a few weeks.

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