Singer Chaka Khan has apologized for her outburst over being named 29th in a Rolling Stone list of the 200 greatest singers of all time.

The 69-year-old, whose hits include “I’m Every Woman” was listed 29th on the list and clearly felt that she should have been much higher.

Appearing on a Los Angeles magazine podcast, Khan said Mariah Carey’s fifth spot must have been “payola or some shit like that.” Of Adele being 22nd on the list, she said: “OK, I quit.”

Realising an inevitable backlash, Khan apologized in a series of tweets explaining that she should never have “taken the bait” when asked about the list. “As artists, we are unfairly put into ‘boxes’, ‘categories’ or on ‘lists.

‘’Being an artist or musician is not a competition. It’s a gift, for which I am truly grateful. It was not my intention to cause pain or upset anyone. To anyone that felt this way, I sincerely apologize.”