My comments continue.....
The way I see it we need to look at who the award is named after...ARETHA FRANKLIN!! Her name is synonymous with SAAANGIN' and LONGEVITY!!
Neither of which Miss Ashanti has at this point. For God's sake, they gave the award to PATTI LA BELLE, last year!!
Now we all know Ashanti couldn't carry Patti's FIVE INCH PUMPS, much less carry a tune like Patti! I mean, they could have handed that award to BRANDY, or MONICA, etc..before Ashanti!? At least those girls have more than ONE CD and have been around for a fair number of years!!
If Soul Train wants to, what they should do is establish a new artist award. (They could name is after Aaliyah perhaps?) Then they can justify giving an award to anyone with only one CD to her credit!!!
Does anyone smell a rat here?! hmmmmm.....