This is not a joke: 71-year-old Etta James actually threatened to beat the crap out of Beyoncé Knowles — and it’s caught all on tape!

The war is all over Etta’s song, “At Last ” — Beyoncé sang the tune at Obama’s 1st Inauguration Ball on Jan. 20th … but last week at a concert in Canada, James was still pissed.

While on stage, Etta told the crowd, “Your President, the one with the big ears … he had that woman singing my song. She gone get her ass whipped.”

She continued, “The great Beyoncé … I can’t stand Beyoncé,” according to audio from Crown City Media.

Ironically Etta didn’t kick up this sorta fuss when Beyoncé portrayed her in “Cadillac Records.”

Reps for Beyoncé had no comment.

 

Man, old people can be cranky. I’m not a Beyonce stan but I was raised right not to be disrespectful for no good reason (sometimes I disobey but not to the point where I expect my Gramma to come down from the heavens and pull a switch out - cause you never know). This Etta James-gate has bothered me. I don’t think its right for an old lady to bash a new kid on the block for now real reason other than you need some gigs to pay your rent and the youngblood’s hustle is working. More so, Obama IS Etta James’s president (despite whatever Her Crankyness says - that goes for all who didn’t vote for him too) so she should whip herself into shape before she talks smack about anything other than music.

Also, she should probably check this joint out from TMZ.com before she spews some other ignorance to a blank stare audience. Cranky old artist doesn’t get you anywhere, Ms. James. She’s almost as bad as my great uncle who used to sit in the back room, watching TV and cussing anybody out who stepped in the kitchen.

If Etta James thinks she should beat down Beyonce for covering “her song,” then by her own logic, Etta has a couple of ass-kickings coming her way too — ’cause Etta’s version of “At Last” was a cover too!

Etta went on stage in Seattle last week and told the crowd she’s gonna lay the smack down on B for “singin’ my song” at Obama’s Inauguration Ball. But not only did the 71-year-old not write the song, she wasn’t even the first — or second — to record it!

Glenn Miller did it first in 1941, followed by Nat King Cole in 1957. Etta got around to recording it in 1961. In fact, Glenn’s version ranked higher on the Billboard Pop Singles chart than Etta’s ever did.

FYI — neither Miller nor Cole ever threatened to beat Etta’s ass — although it’s about time someone knocks some sense into that lady.