[reece(:]

Dionne Warwick doesn’t believe Beyoncé is an icon — just yet!

During a recent interview with Essence, Warwick, 78, raved over the “Formation” singer, 37, but questioned whether or not her career will reach the level of success that “classic” musicians from the Sixties have.

“I have an admiration for Beyoncé Knowles, Carter now. Watching her growth has been quite refreshing. It’s wonderful to see how she’s been able to create what and who she wanted to be and who she is… very proud of that, I really am,” Warwick, who released her new album She’s Back earlier this month, told Essence.

“Now sustaining and becoming a big icon that Gladys Knight, or Patti LaBelle, or Johnny Mathis, or Frank Sinatra, or Sammy Davis Jr. is? I doubt that,” Warwick said.

She continued, “And I love her to death and can appreciate her talent. But that iconic status? It’s a long road [ahead].”

A rep for Beyoncé did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

“I don’t know if 10 years from now, anybody can actually sing the songs of our babies today. That’s not, as you guys say, ‘throwing shade,’ it’s looking at it with reality,” Warwick explained to Essence.

Nonetheless, Warwick is impressed by this generation’s talent.

“The youngsters are doing it,” Warwick told the publication.

Born in New Jersey, Warwick began her career at only 19 years old. By 1964, she had two top singles: “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “Walk On By” — both written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

She would later go on to release the hits “Michael to Michael” and her version of “I Say A Little Prayer,” in 1966.

In 1968, Warwick won a Grammy Award for “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.”

https://people.com/music/dionne-warw...t-an-icon-yet/

I'm so over twitter stan brigade doing the most on any artist that dare voice an opinion

[Nicky91]

Dionne is right


she had worked herself with a songwriting icon Burt Bacharach

[Saph]

shes right ..but hew is she to say that lmao

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Saph

shes right ..but hew is she to say that lmao

WAIT

i would say give her songs a listen, and most of her composed work by Bacharach is very much well known

[Elliot]

She’s right, beyonce is incredibly overrated and hypocritical. Beyonce fans get so defensive and personal whenever you dare question how overhyped she is too lmao

[LeatherTrumpet]

beyonce could not lace DW's boots

bang on right

[MB.]

"hmm Beyonce's good, but she's no Johnny Mathis" is giving me

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Solange on the other hand

[Strictly Jake]

She had potential to be an icon particularly in the early to mid 2000s but in my opinion she has had no good songs in the last 10 years....

So her icon status has diminished.

[Amy Jade]

Dionne Warwick ain't iconic either

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Originally Posted by ShakeyJake10

She had potential to be an icon particularly in the early to mid 2000s but in my opinion she has had no good songs in the last 10 years....

So her icon status has diminished.

Blow was 2013 though?

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

Dionne Warwick ain't iconic either

she is though

[LeatherTrumpet]

drag ha

[Alf]

Get her!

[Marsh.]

I don't get the backlash?

She's incredibly complimentary to Beyonce, her career, and her talent.

She's discussing the term "icon" in its actual sense, not the glib "everything is iconic" way it's used in slang nowadays.

[arista]

78 year old great singer
is this a set up?
Getting the younger performer in the Headlines?

[Shaun]

I think Beyonce will be just fine in lieu of this

[Saph]

Originally Posted by MB.

im saying this in 2019

[iRyan]

Originally Posted by Saph

shes right ..but hew is she to say that lmao

I came to post just this

Beyoncé is an icon on a certain tier, but that tier is at least two marks below the likes of someone like Whitney Houston, Cher, or Frank Sinatra.

[montblanc]

Originally Posted by Elliot

She’s right, beyonce is incredibly overrated and hypocritical. Beyonce fans get so defensive and personal whenever you dare question how overhyped she is too lmao

your opinions

[montblanc]

i think it's fair if you don't like Bey's music but to call her overrated is such a reach she's incredibly talented and is the most talented performer (out of the current pool of celebrities) alive atm

[Marsh.]

Tbf it's not a reach.

Overrated doesn't mean she's not talented. It means she's held in higher regard than she should be.

And being the most talented out of the current pool of celebs isn't saying much either! A snooker cue is more talented than the likes of Britney and the Kardashians.

[brat.]

Beyoncé is by far the best performer and 'icon' of our generation (and from someone hew is Riri > Yoncé), ain't no other artist putting in the same time and practice as she is, call her overrated if you want but she's still the best all round artist (music, performance, etc.) of our generation

[brat.]

and of course she isn't going to be held at the same standard as Whitney, Tina etc. because they are of a different generation, but in 10/20 years time she 100% will be! periodt!

[brat.]

I mean ah don't think miss warwick could come up with 'ah sneezed on t'beat and t'beat got sicker' huh?