Franklin funeral bishop apologises to Grande

Former presidents, stars and musical royalty paid joyous tribute to Aretha Franklin at her marathon funeral on Friday, leading her family and members of the public in bidding goodbye to America’s “Queen of Soul”. And the undercurrent to it all was music. A great name in the music industry, Arethas’s accomplishments made her stand out among the crowds.

Over a hundred pink Cadillacs will line the route to Aretha Franklin’s funeral and stand honor guard along Seven Mile outside of the church. It is unknown if this is the disease Knight shared with Franklin.

“I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community”, Ellis said. Jennifer Hudson gave a rousing rendition of “Amazing Grace”. Reverend JoAnn Watson, a close friend, says Franklin was especially devoted and generous to her hometown. “We don’t all agree on everything but we agree on Aretha”.

Some performers directly reflected that lifelong history that Aretha Franklin had with gospel. Clarence Franklin, the eldest, has special needs and is represented by a legal guardian.

Among Franklin’s more tangible assets are several pieces of property in the Detroit area that according to tax assessors’ estimates are worth at least $2 million, with a market value that could easily be twice that.

The mood through much of the service was mostly celebratory and upbeat, capturing the black gospel church spirit that Ellis had hoped to foster.

“She said, ‘Boy, don’t you have a copy machine?'” he recalled, prompting roars of laughter.

The Wright Museum is the second-largest black museum in the US, and it hosted a viewing in 2005 for civil rights activist Rosa Parks. This is a real life that has been lived, that a person regardless of how famous she became no matter how many people she touched around the world, she still could not escape death.

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But Friday’s service featured those who knew and loved Franklin best, such as her childhood friend, singer Smokey Robinson, who took to the stage and spoke directly to her.

As the last of Franklin’s family members took their seat, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who officiated the service, asked the congregation to stand and applaud them. NPR’s Cheryl Corley reports from Detroit.

Victorie said watching her perform was “the best feeling in the world”. She also listened a great deal to Jim Reeves and the soulful ballads of many African American musicians like Otis Redding and the more dramatic James Brown. An arrangement from singer Sam Moore included a card that read, “You know I always adored and loved you to bits and pieces”. Even when she was quite ill and will go on and off a long medication which kept her in bed at least twice a week, Mrs. Josephine Hawawu Amodu was known to break into a dance whenever her health would permit.