Singer James Brown's widow, Tomi Rae Brown, has been denied access to their Georgia home by Brown's attorney, the Augusta Chronicle reported.

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Authorities padlocked the gate to the Beech Island home, the newspaper said. Tired of touring, Mrs. Brown reportedly had been on a retreat at the time of her husband's death in Atlanta, the report said.

Brown died Christmas Day of congestive heart failure at age 73.

The Browns have a 5-year-old son, and the family was to reunite at the home on Christmas Day.

But Brown's attorney, Buddy Dallas and his accountant, David Cannon, denied the widow access to the house, the Chronicle said.

Tomi Rae Brown, who does not own the deed to the house, said she intends to hire an attorney to fight Dallas and Cannon and regain access to her home.