Family, friends and fans of the legendary Aretha Franklin started pouring into the city of in Detroit to pay their final respects to the Queen of Soul long before her funeral started.
The singer's five-hour long funeral service wasn't planned to start until 10 a.m., but athletes, business owners, political leaders and entertainers from all around the country were already filling the pews at Greater Grace Temple before 9:30 a.m. on Friday, according to Detroit Free Press. A number of them are slated to give speeches and perform during the service.
Artists including Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, Chaka Khan, Ron Isley, The Clark Sisters, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Yolanda Adams, Bishop Marvin Sapp, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Holliday, The Williams Brothers & Vanessa Bell are expected to pay homage to Franklin with a musical tribute.
Meanwhile, activities and political leaders like Jesse Jackson, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, former President Bill Clinton, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Bishop T.D. Jakes, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Reverend Al Sharpton, Michigan Representative Brenda Lawrence, Judge Greg Mathis and several others are expected to speak during the service.
Attendees will also hear personal reflections from a number of folks whose lives Franklin greatly impacted including Tyler Perry, Clive Davis, Smokey Robinson, Cicely Tyson, Mildred Gaddis and former NBA star Isiah Thomas. Franklin's family members are also expected to give readings and make speeches during the funeral service.
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple will officiate the funeral while Reverend Robert Smith Jr. will serve as the co-officiant.
Franklin's funeral will be live streamed on TV and online. Michigan broadcast news stations are expected to air the full service while some outlets including CNN and Fox news are slated to air certain segments of the event. The Associated Press is also expected to live stream the funeral.
Franklin died following a battle with pancreatic cancer on August 16. She was 76 years old.
The singer's career expanded nearly 60 years. The Detroiter was just 18 years old when her first hit, "Won't Be Long," charted on Billboard's Hot 100. In the years to follow, 72 of her hits would go on to rank high on the chart.
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