Thousands of friends, family, fans, celebrities and dignitaries are paying their final respects today to Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 16.
The service was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, but the Aretha Franklin Orchestra began singing about 50 minutes behind schedule. The prelude began with a procession by the Detroit Police Department, and Franklin's family entered the sanctuary to the choir singing "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwoo
Doors opened about 8 a.m. to welcome business and political leaders, athletes and others from around the country to the private funeral.
Celebs: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton to pay tribute
Franklin will be buried in 24-karat gold plated Promethean casket made of solid bronze. The interior is finished with champagne velvet. Franklin's title, “Queen of Soul,” and her name “Aretha Franklin” are embroidered in the casket with gold metallic thread.
She wore red on Tuesday, powder blue on Wednesday, rose gold on Thursday and gold lamé today. She was dressed in a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels for her final outfit.
Franklin’s body arrived at the church earlier this morning in a white 1940 LaSalle hearse that also carried civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005. The private funeral, which is being livestreamed, is expected to last at least six hours and has an epic program.
After the funeral, Franklin will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, alongside late family members including her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin.
Speakers: Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and more
Performers: Ariana Grande, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson and more
Funeral details: Key details, what to expect
More: See the epic program for the six-hour event
More: Baptist funeral traditions
Stars and dignitaries arrive
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Detroit Pistons star and coach Isiah Thomas, 1960s R&B star Martha Reeves, Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson and Oscar-winner and "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg were among the first of an expected crowd of celebrities arriving.
Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande are among the many performers lined up to sing at the funeral.
Franklin will be honored by various high-profile speakers, including former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Motown star Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jackson and NBA star Thomas.
Celebs: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton to pay tribute
Lines formed early
Lines formed very early Friday morning outside for today’s funeral. Most mourners came dressed in church clothes and carrying folding chairs.
People who lined up last night for an early spot in line found themselves pushed to the middle of the line after police forced the crowd to reorganize from a residential street.
“I was here since 8:30 last night. We were right here, and they pushed us to the back,” said Debra Demmings, 63, of Minneapolis.
Although the service is limited to family members, friends and selected guests, viewers can watch it live here on usatoday.com (above). Several broadcast networks will also carry live video.
Church prepped for funeral
Police officers with dogs went through the church about 7 a.m. Shortly thereafter, nurses, musicians and some VIPs entered the church.
Among them was Elaine Steele, the longtime spokesperson for Rosa Parks. She said Franklin was extremely supportive of Parks.
“She was the greatest. She didn’t belong just to us, but she was from us,” Steele said. “We held our heads high and stuck our chests out wide because of her genius and her willingness to share it.”
Thousands of friends, family, fans, celebrities and dignitaries are paying their final respects today to Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 16.
The service was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, but the Aretha Franklin Orchestra began singing about 50 minutes behind schedule. The prelude began with a procession by the Detroit Police Department, and Franklin's family entered the sanctuary to the choir singing "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwoo
Doors opened about 8 a.m. to welcome business and political leaders, athletes and others from around the country to the private funeral.
Celebs: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton to pay tribute
Franklin will be buried in 24-karat gold plated Promethean casket made of solid bronze. The interior is finished with champagne velvet. Franklin's title, “Queen of Soul,” and her name “Aretha Franklin” are embroidered in the casket with gold metallic thread.
She wore red on Tuesday, powder blue on Wednesday, rose gold on Thursday and gold lamé today. She was dressed in a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels for her final outfit.
Franklin’s body arrived at the church earlier this morning in a white 1940 LaSalle hearse that also carried civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005. The private funeral, which is being livestreamed, is expected to last at least six hours and has an epic program.
After the funeral, Franklin will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, alongside late family members including her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin.
Speakers: Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and more
Performers: Ariana Grande, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson and more
Funeral details: Key details, what to expect
More: See the epic program for the six-hour event
More: Baptist funeral traditions
Stars and dignitaries arrive
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Detroit Pistons star and coach Isiah Thomas, 1960s R&B star Martha Reeves, Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson and Oscar-winner and "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg were among the first of an expected crowd of celebrities arriving.
Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande are among the many performers lined up to sing at the funeral.
Franklin will be honored by various high-profile speakers, including former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Motown star Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jackson and NBA star Thomas.
Celebs: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton to pay tribute
Lines formed early
Lines formed very early Friday morning outside for today’s funeral. Most mourners came dressed in church clothes and carrying folding chairs.
People who lined up last night for an early spot in line found themselves pushed to the middle of the line after police forced the crowd to reorganize from a residential street.
“I was here since 8:30 last night. We were right here, and they pushed us to the back,” said Debra Demmings, 63, of Minneapolis.
Although the service is limited to family members, friends and selected guests, viewers can watch it live here on usatoday.com (above). Several broadcast networks will also carry live video.
Church prepped for funeral
Police officers with dogs went through the church about 7 a.m. Shortly thereafter, nurses, musicians and some VIPs entered the church.
Among them was Elaine Steele, the longtime spokesperson for Rosa Parks. She said Franklin was extremely supportive of Parks.
“She was the greatest. She didn’t belong just to us, but she was from us,” Steele said. “We held our heads high and stuck our chests out wide because of her genius and her willingness to share it.”
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