Soul queen Aretha Franklin is on a desperate mission to lose weight and she has been so inspired by TV star Kirstie Alley's drastic slimdown, she's signing up to the JENNY CRAIG Diet.

The Heavyweight R.E.S.P.E.C.T singer faces a constant struggle to lose weight, but now she's getting serious about shedding the pounds.

She says, "Jenny Craig is real high on my list of priority."

Franklin admits her biggest problem is not being able to eat healthily while touring.

She adds, "When I'm at home... I've got it going on and then you have to leave town and everything changes and it just disrupts all of the good work that you've done."