Aretha Franklin‘s family, friends, peers and the global community saluted the late singer’s life during her memorial service on Friday morning (Aug. 31). Inside Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple, fellow musicians like Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, The Clark Sisters, Fantasia and more will pay their respect to the 76-year-old icon through a series of performances.
In an interview with Billboard, Fantasia reflected on the time she met Franklin after she paid tribute to her in 2007:
“She walked around the room gracefully, as Aretha would do — very smooth. She shook hands, gave people one or two words and kept it moving,” Fantasia said. “She finally gets to me, and she looks at me — I’m still crying. And she said, ‘You can sing — but I’m the b***h around here.’ I’m thinking, ‘Wait a minute! That’s not what I was ready for!’ But she was serious. She said it, and I said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’ And I understood exactly what she was saying because she was that in my life, for me. There will never, ever be another Aretha Franklin. That’s what she was letting me know: ‘You’re good, but always know, I’m the head chick.’ And that’s what it is.”
From Detroit to London, people across the seas also remembered the icon.
The pink Cadillacs are out on 7 Mile for Aretha Franklin.
There are more than 100 of them lined up outside Greater Grace for the Queen of Soul’s funeral.
They will go riding with the procession following services this afternoon. #ThisIsHowDetroitDoesIt #RIPAretha pic.twitter.com/sZ2a0QNMKt
— Tyler Clifford (@_TylerTheTyler_) August 31, 2018
At Changing of Guard at Buckingham Palace this morning, Respect paid to Aretha Franklin. pic.twitter.com/UEKa0ekmf5
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) August 31, 2018
View the live stream above as well as the official program below:
READ MORE: Aretha Franklin’s Casket Has Been Removed From Public Viewings