Aretha Franklin, William 'Willie' Wilkerson engaged

New Year's Eve weekend is definitely that time of year for engagements and weddings and now the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has joined in. Aretha tells the AP that she and longtime partner William "Willie" Wilkerson are engaged (pictured, above, in 2006).

The pair are considering a summer wedding, possibly in Miami, and they would like to follow the ceremony with a reception on a private yacht. Aretha also says she's considering Valentino, Vera Wang and Donna Karan as the designers for her wedding dress.

Franklin assures People, "No, I'm not pregnant, LOL!"

She has been married twice before, to Ted White in the 1960s, who later became her manager, and to actor Glynn Turman, from 1978 to 1984.