PHOTOS: Aretha Franklin's Soul Celebrated At Funeral
By
Laura Beltrán Villamizar
Published August 31, 2018 at 1:19 PM CDT
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American gospel singers The Clark Sisters perform their hit "Is my Living in Vain?" at Aretha Franklin's funeral.
Mike Segar
Aretha Franklin's funeral service remembers and celebrates the "Queen of Soul." Beloved by millions around the world, Franklin — who died of cancer on Aug. 16 — also leaves behind a six-decade career of advocacy, becoming a symbol and transformative leader in both the women's rights and the civil rights movements.
Here is a visual recollection of the funeral of one of America's most celebrated artists. This collection will updated throughout the day.
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The casket carrying the late singer Aretha Franklin arrives at the Greater Grace Temple for her funeral service in Detroit.
Mike Segar / Reuters
As loved ones and stars paid their respects to Franklin inside the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, people gathered outside brought words of praise as well.
Leah Millis / Reuters
Flowers adorn Aretha Franklin's casket at the start of her star-studded funeral at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on Friday.
Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images
Members of the cast of "The Haves and Have Nots," a prime-time drama, are recognized at the funeral for Aretha Franklin.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
The Rev. Al Sharpton took a shot at President Trump during the funeral: "When word went out that Ms. Franklin passed, Trump said, 'She used to work for me,' " he said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "No, she used to perform for you. She worked for us."
Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images
More than 100 pink Cadillacs are parked outside the church to honor Franklin, who in "Freeway of Love" sang: "We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac."
Leah Millis / Reuters
Victorie Franklin spoke at the funeral. "I remember when I was a kid, people used to always ask me, 'What does it feel like to be Aretha Franklin's granddaughter?' " she said, according to CNN. "I would always shrug my shoulders and go, 'I don't know. It's just my grandma.' "
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Members of Aretha Franklin's family embrace during the funeral. They took turns at the lectern to share stories of the late singer's life.
Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images
Fans of soul music icon Aretha Franklin watch the singer's funeral on a giant screen outside Greater Grace Temple.
Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton ended his eulogy to Aretha Franklin by playing her 1968 hit "Think" on his cellphone.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens while her husband speaks. Before holding their many political offices, Bill Clinton said, the couple considered themselves "Aretha groupies."
Scott Olson / Getty Images
A line forms outside the Detroit church hosting the homegoing of Aretha Franklin, who died of cancer on Aug. 16.
Leah Millis / Reuters
Guests arrive at the funeral on Friday, the culmination of a weeklong tribute to the singer whose voice and soul touched millions.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
It wasn't just friends, family and the famous who turned out for the funeral. Fans also gathered in hopes of getting in to honor the singer.
Rebecca Cook / Reuters
A flower arrangement sent by the family of late singer James Brown sits in the lobby at the Greater Grace Temple on Thursday ahead of the funeral.
Jeff Kowalsky / AFP/Getty Images
Fans of soul music icon Aretha Franklin line up outside Detroit's Greater Grace Temple for the singer's homegoing celebration.
Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
Former boxer Tommy Hearns (right) and friends head to the church for the funeral service. He was among many well-known attendees.
Mike Segar / Reuters
Motown artist Martha Reeves, lead singer of the 1960s group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, arrives for the service.
Jeff Kowalsky / AFP/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin fans line up outside Greater Grace Temple at 2:30 a.m., hoping to be one of the thousand members of the general public allowed in to the singer's funeral.
Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
People gathered throughout the night outside of the Greater Grace Temple ahead of the funeral for the "Queen of Soul."