Aretha Franklin has promised she will return to the UK, once she gets over her fear of flying.

The 72-year-old soul singer admitted she has been suffering from aviophobia for 30 years, and has been trying to conquer her fears.

"I want to come to London. I'll be there when I can get over this flying thing," she said.

"I've had a fear of flying since 1984. It just came on overnight. I did take a class, Fearless Flyers, but I missed two weeks of it and my fellow students went on to Indiana and passed, and I didn't, so I need to make those two classes and then hopefully I'll pass and I'll be able to fly again."

Aretha's new album, Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics, sees her tackling songs from other female stars such as Adele, Etta James, Gloria Gaynor and Alicia Keys.

"I wish some of those songs were mine," she said. "I had a wonderful time (recording this). Music is transporting, and can take you to a certain time in your life. There are many wonderful memories around these songs."

She would like to duet with any of the songstresses featured on the album: " I think Alicia and I, and Adele and I, and maybe Gladys (Knight) could do something amazing. Any of them, really."

Aretha - who started singing as a child - admitted she would never stop singing, even if she retires from the spotlight.

"No, never. I'll never retire, I'll always be singing. If I retire from the business, I'll be singing at ladies' tea mornings or at church or at fairs, somewhere. I'll always be singing," she said.

:: Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics is out now.