The late Queen of Soul's casket was interred in a mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit on Friday evening.
- Sep 3, 2018
AceShowbiz - Aretha Franklin was laid to rest at a Detroit cemetery after her star-studded funeral on August 31. The casket of the Queen of Soul was interred in a mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit on Friday evening.
Her family and close acquaintances reportedly arrived at the cemetery after a 10-mile processional through her hometown from Greater Grace Temple. She was laid to rest near the graves of her father Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, her brother Cecil Franklin, and her sisters Carolyn and Erma Franklin.
She was buried in a gold dress and sparkling pumps. She had a wardrobe change during her two-day open casket viewing at the Charles H. Wright African American Museum in her adopted city of Detroit, Michigan. On the first day of the viewing, Aretha's body had been dressed head to toe in red, wearing a lacy ruby gown with Christian Louboutin heels, complete with matching nails and lipstick. She donned a pastel blue dress with matching stilettos on the second day.
An eight-hour service of songs, sermons and speeches was held earlier on Friday, during which Faith Hill, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder performed musical tributes. Former president Bill Clinton delivered a moving speech. Civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton also spoke at the ceremony and read a letter from former President Barack Obama.
Opera singer Alice McAllister Tillman, Audrey DuBois Harris and Chaka Khan were among other performers at the funeral, while Tyler Perry, Cicely Tyson and music mogul Clive Davis were among the mourners. While the funeral was billed as closed to the public, an estimated 4,000 fans gathered inside the church for Aretha's final bow.
Aretha will be further celebrated at an all-star tribute concert on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and Elton John are among stars billed as performers at the concert.
