Etta James has leukemia

The legendary 'At Last' singer - who is also suffering from dementia - is reportedly so ill her husband of 41 years Artis Mills has filed a court order to take control of more than $1 million of her money.

In documents filed at a California court he has claimed his wife is unable to manage her finances due to her condition. Dr. Elaine James, who is no relation, added in the court documents that the singer cannot sign her name and she needs help with feeding, dressing and hygiene.

According to the Riverside Press Enterprise he said in court documents his wife expressed that "if she ever became disabled, she did not wish to be placed in an institutional nursing facility as long as they had the money to keep her at home".

However Artis faces objections from son Donto James, who along with his brother Sametto James and wife Christy was given power of attorney by the singer in 2008.

Donto's court filing says he is happy to release the money to cover the costs of his mother's medical treatment, but he would prefer for a third party to be placed in charge "to avoid present and future family conflict and discrepancies".

A hearing at a Riverside County court in California is scheduled for Friday.