Aretha Franklin’s funeral in quotes

An all-star lineup of mourners filled a Detroit church with prayers and songs Friday for Aretha Franklin’s funeral, honouring her not just as the Queen of Soul but also as a lifelong friend, family member, churchgoer and activist.

“Come on, this is a church service, lift your voice!”

After Grande’s performance, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who co-officiated the ceremony, joked about the 25-year-old’s inclusion in the service.

The Obamas praised Aretha Franklin as “truly one of a kind” who inspired millions through her music in a letter read by the Rev. Al Sharpton at the Queen of Soul’s funeral on Friday.

Franklin was dressed head to heel in red for her first public viewing on Tuesday, a nod to her membership in the sorority Delta Sigma Theta. “We have the Duke of Ellington, the Count of Basie, and ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the Queen of Soul.’ And that’s how she was introduced here”. Closing his remarks, Clinton held the microphone to his smartphone and played Franklin’s 1968 hit “Think” over the church’s speakers.

Franklin was also an ardent champion of civil rights in her public associations and statements through the tumultuous 1960s, and quietly funded the work of Martin Luther King Jr’s Southern Christian Leadership Council.

“#ArianaGrande don’t know the below the knee rule for the pulpit in the black church”.

In addition to the 18 performances, the six-and-a-half hour service will feature speakers including former president Bill Clinton, who gave both a amusing and heartfelt tribute to Franklin. Nothing sounded better to me than the way my grandma sings.

Numerous tributes were musical.

Motown legend Smokey Robinson followed later with a speech that turned into song. Ariana Grande belted out “Natural Woman”.

Watch the livestream (below) and check back here for a full recap of performances. No, she used to perform for you.

Clinton ended with this praise of Franklin: “You should remember in this time about this magnificent woman”. Then she went out into this setting and all these people who loved her were awestruck and said, ‘Can you believe she showed up?’ She sang not one song, not two songs, not three songs.