Chicago, IL -- Aretha Franklin gets a lot of "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" but she prefers cold hard cash. Franklin recently performed in Chicago and insisted on being paid $250,000 in a suitcase stuffed with cash. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports the Queen of Soul also doled out $15,000 from her earnings to a domestic violence shelter.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- An online website is putting its money where its mouth is for Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Mybookie.com is offering to donate $100,000 to the couple's favorite charity if they can manage to stay married until December 31, 2005. No word on whether the couple has accepted the bet.

NEW YORK -- Queen Latifah will lead a group of self-proclaimed "curvaceous" ladies around the Statue of Liberty later today (Jun. 22) during an event coordinated by an underwear company which caters to plus-size women. Besides recognizing Lady Liberty as "the nation's most symbolic curvaceous woman," Latifah will present a check from the Curvation lingerie company for the monument's upkeep.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Carlos Santana's latest album is being released by a fast food company, not a record label. The "Food For Thought" disc will be sold in Baja Fresh Mexican restaurants starting July 13. The $8 album includes four new Santana songs; one never-released recording from his archives; one song written by his son and the guitarist's personal picks from Etta James, Buddy Guy, Indigenous and Cesaria Evora. The net proceeds will be donated to the Milagro Foundation.

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