Aretha Franklin Fans pay their Respects at Open Casket Viewing in Detroit

ELLIOTT: It’s a royal blue satin hat with an oversized sequined bow on the front in the same style that Aretha Franklin wore when she sang at President Obama’s inauguration.

Franklin won 18 Grammy awards and provided a soundtrack to the civil rights movement, singing to raise money for the cause and uplifting activists with her phenomenal voice and upbeat anthems. “Seeing her, I would say she was saying, ‘I’ve done my duty”. Her music reflected her life as a strong and independent woman, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps and demand the respect of being treated like a human being.

The soul star, who was surrounded by flowers, was dressed in a striking red cocktail dress and matching red stilettos.

Franklin died of pancreatic cancer at age 76 in Detroit. Reports claim a week-long mourning will be held in the city, where fans from all over the United States will be given the opportunity to see Aretha one last time. “Being a singer is a natural gift”, she once said. “We had a great night”.

The museum will open from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. on both days.

The service will reflect Franklin’s strong gospel roots.

For the funeral, the streets outside are expected to be lined with pink Cadillac cars, in a tribute to Franklin’s 1985 hit Freeway of Love.

The result has been a week’s worth of activities in Franklin’s hometown of Detroit meant to pay homage to a woman who helped define the city. “Franklin’s family was moved by Grande’s performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” after Franklin’s August 16 death. “When a lot of people got rich and famous, they left Detroit”. Who would do that? But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring.

The museum also plans to stage an exhibition honoring Franklin.

For all the formality, however, Owens said the viewings are meant to be welcoming and accessible for her legions of fans.

“After all she gave to the world, I felt we needed to give her an appropriate send-off that would match her legacy”, she said.

Seeing Franklin in her casket rendered Wilson speechless. “I’m OK – I’m going to rest now, ‘” Mills said.

Some of the fanfare outside went too far for some.

The traditional service saluted Franklin with words, scripture and songs. “She’d let us in the door, you know-she knew my father as O’Neil, not Mr. Swanson-she invited us in, and we all sat together and ate fried chicken”, funeral director O’Neil Swanson II said.

The stadium then cut the lights so that the thousands in attendance could pay homage to the legend and innovator.

Felicia Phillips, 57, who queued up at 5 am for what she described as about 20 seconds of viewing time, was drying her tears as she left the museum.

DENISE BARRETT-HUBBARD: I want to do something that honors the queen in me and the queen in her as well.

“She was just so down to earth. She looked at peace”.