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.
Doors to the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit sanctuary opened about 8 a.m. to welcome business and political leaders, athletes and others from around the country to the private funeral, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. ET. Among them were boxer Tommy Hearns, sports commentator and former NBA star Greg Kelser, Judge Greg Mathis, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. Several gospel superstars including Dr. Bobby Jones, Bishop Paul Morton, Ricky Dillard and Dottie Peoples also arrived.
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.
Franklin’s body arrived at the church earlier this morning in a white 1940 LaSalle hearse. The private funeral, which is being livestreamed, is expected to last at least six hours and has an epic program.
The vintage two-door, three-speed LaSalle made by Cadillac is the same vehicle used to carry the Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of the Queen of Soul, in 1984; David Ruffin, baritone for the Temptations, in 1991; and Rosa Parks, civil rights icon, in 2005.
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
Star and dignitaries begin to arrive
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Detroit Pistons star and coach Isiah Thomas and 1960s R&B star Martha Reeves were among the first of an expected crowd of celebrities arriving Thursday morning for an hours-long celebration of the forever-reigning Queen of Soul's life. Jackson is scheduled to speak.
Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande are among the many performers lined up to sing at the funeral, with other names including Faith Hill, Ronald Isley, Chaka Khan, Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson.
Celebs: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton to pay tribute
Lines form 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, you 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.”
Network news teams from NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News are on platforms facing the church’s side entrance along with set-ups for local news outlets.
Stars and dignitaries will honor the Queen
Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande are among the many performers lined up to sing at the funeral, with other names including Faith Hill, Ronald Isley, Chaka Khan, Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson.
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. Jesse Jackson and Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas.
After the funeral, Franklin will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, alongside late family members including her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin.
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