Dionne Warwick says she doubts Beyoncé will reach icon status

close

Video

New Beyonce documentary goes behind the scenes; Cypress Hill makes history

Hollywood Nation: 'Homecoming' gives Beyonce fans an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the singer's 2018 Coachella performance.

Legendary singer Dionne Warwick said in an interview that Beyoncé is not yet an icon, saying the "Halo" singer has a "long road" before she reaches that status.

When asked if today’s generation of singers have what it takes to achieve the level of success such as “classic” artists like herself, Warwick, who began her career in the 1960s, expressed doubt.

“Not yet,” Warwick said during an interview with Essence. “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.”

BEYONCE AND JAY-Z GIVE ONE FAN FREE TICKETS FOR 'LIFE' IF THEY GO VEGAN

Warwick was also asked specifically about her thoughts on whether or not she considered Beyoncé an icon.

“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,” the 78-year-old performer said.

BEYONCE REPORTEDLY WORKING ON 2 MORE NETFLIX SPECIALS

“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.”

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

Warwick, who is the cousin of the late singer Whitney Houston, has won five Grammy awards and earned two number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.