Honoring Aretha Franklin: A Celebration of the Queen of Soul
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin is being honored in Detroit this week as her family prepares to lay her to rest.
Starting on Tuesday, there were public viewings of Franklin’s body at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in her hometown of Detroit.
A Star-Studded Funeral
A star-studded funeral took place Friday at the city’s Greater Grace Temple. Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Ronald Isley, Chaka Khan, Fantasia, and Jennifer Hudson are just a few musicians who paid tribute to Franklin during the event, which lasted nearly eight hours.
Franklin died of pancreatic cancer on August 16. The “Queen of Soul” was 76.
Pallbearers carry Franklin’s casket out of Greater Grace Temple at the end of her funeral service on Friday. Mourners made their way through the center of the church as Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir performed Franklin’s hit “Climbing Higher Mountains.” Jeff Roberson/APStevie Wonder performs at Franklin’s funeral on Friday. He began by playing the harmonica before singing, “I’ll Be Loving You Always.”
A Heartfelt Tribute
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson sings “Amazing Grace” at Franklin’s funeral on Friday. Scott Olson/Getty ImagesFormer US President Bill Clinton praised the values and virtues Franklin lived by, stating, “She cared about broken people.” He also played Franklin’s 1968 hit “Think.”Singer Chaka Khan performs at Franklin’s funeral on Friday, singing “I’m Going Up Yonder,” originally sung by Tramaine Hawkins in 1994.
Family and Friends Remember Franklin
Jordan Franklin, Franklin’s grandson, pauses alongside his sister Victorie while speaking at the funeral on Friday.Ariana Grande performs Franklin’s hit “Natural Woman” during the funeral service on Friday.Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attends Franklin’s funeral on Friday. Scott Olson/Getty ImagesFormer President Bill Clinton converses with the Rev. Jesse Jackson at Franklin’s funeral on Friday. Paul Sancya/APFaith Hill was the first celebrity performer to sing during Franklin’s funeral on Friday, performing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”Dozens of pink Cadillac owners lined up outside Greater Grace Temple for Franklin’s funeral, honoring her 1985 hit “Freeway of Love.”Franklin’s body is driven away from the New Bethel Baptist Church after a final public viewing in Detroit.
Final Farewells
Jesse Jackson greets Aretha Franklin fans outside the New Bethel Baptist Church.Fans gather outside the New Bethel Baptist Church for a chance to say farewell.Fans take pictures outside the New Bethel Baptist Church. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesWell-wishers left handwritten notes on boards outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.Vincent Street wipes down Franklin’s casket on Wednesday. Paul Sancya/APFans line up to view Franklin’s body on Wednesday. Carlos Osorio/APA fan takes a photograph while waiting to view Franklin’s body.Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta pay their respects to Franklin on Tuesday. She was made an honorary member of the sorority in 1992.A fan is overcome with emotion at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Paul Sancya/Pool/Getty Images
