Details about the late Aretha Franklin‘s funeral have been released, with the Detroit Free Press reporting that the ceremony will be available to view on U.S television and via livestream through The Associated Press.
The Queen Of Soul lost her battle to pancreatic cancer on August 16th at the age of 76, sparking a huge outpouring of grief and gratitude in the wake of her passing. Her immeasurable impact on music has been widely celebrated, and the loss of her life deeply mourned by many.
The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. local time on Friday the 31st of August in the late singer’s hometown. Several major artists have been reported to perform at the ceremony, including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Ronald Isley, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Fantasia and Yolanda Adams.
Those reportedly speaking at the ceremony alongside her family include; Bill Clinton, record mogul Clive Davis, Smokey Robinson, Michigan governor Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Rev. Jesse Jackson and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will also speak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFt1FRG4_VM
Nicknamed ‘The Queen Of Soul’, Aretha Franklin’s influence extended far beyond the charts as well, with the musician winning a total of 18 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, and also being awarded such honours as being the first female performer in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, being given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom back in 2005.
Prior to the recording of her latest album, A Brand New Me, in February of last year, Franklin revealed that she was set to retire from live performances at the end of 2017. “This will be my last year,” the singer explained. “I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it.”
While her impending retirement was set to put an end to an illustrious career, Franklin revealed that she would however continue to perform at “some select things”. As it turned out, her last performance was in November of last year, for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York, while a number of shows scheduled for this year were also cancelled under doctor’s orders.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Aretha Franklin at this difficult time.
