Aretha Franklin has revealed that she's starting to make a change for the better with her new diet and plans to return to the stage. 

Speaking exclusively to the Associated Press, the iconic singer explained:

"I want to not only maintain the weight I am at now, but better it, by one dress size,"

"You can't continue to eat things that are not good for you."

She did, however, admit that after a performance the last thing she will want is diet food:

"When you come off (a high-energy concert), a carrot or some celery just isn't going to work," she said. "I've gotta do a fresh fruit thing ... and come up with some tasty and satisfying recipes that are going to work for me after concerts."

Franklin has already booked her first show for May 28 at Seneca Niagara Casino in Buffalo, N.Y and will release her new album, 'Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love', during the first week of the same month.

Watch an interview with the Queen of Soul here: