Stars arrive at Aretha Franklin’s funeral
DETROIT – The red carpet was rolled out for Aretha Franklin’s star-studded funeral on Friday, as a who’s who of Hollywood arrived to bid the Queen of Soul a final farewell.
The “Natural Woman” belter sparkled in a full-length gold dress and sequined heels for her final outfit – the fourth she’s worn during a week of public viewings leading up to her funeral at Greater Grace Temple.
The streets outside the Motor City church were filled with dozens of pink Cadillacs, a nod to Franklin’s 1985 hit “Freeway of Love.”
Her shiny 24-karat-gold-plated casket was delivered one last time by a white 1940 Cadillac LaSalle hearse and carried by pallbearers in matching suits and white gloves.
Celebrities and dignitaries, including Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and former President Bill Clinton, trickled into the church ahead of the 10 a.m. ceremony.
The show-stopping funeral is expected to last around six hours, with performances by Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Faith Hill, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan and more.
Clinton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Smokey Robinson are among the speakers.
Franklin will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery, where her legendary minister father C.L. Franklin and civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks are also buried.
Additional reporting by Lia Eustachewich
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