Aretha Franklin’s Funeral to Be Live-Streamed, Broadcast on TV
Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Music News Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin’s funeral may be invite-only, but all are free to look on at the event via live-stream and broadcast TV.
The music legend passed away earlier this month from pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, according to her oncologist Dr. Philip Phillips. She was 76. Franklin is remembered as the Queen of Soul, an icon for feminism and a leader in the civil rights movement.
The private funeral for Franklin’s friends and family will be held on Aug. 31 at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Mich. It will begin at 10 a.m. local time.
Although the ceremony is not open to the public, the world will be able to honor Franklin, too. Friday’s service will be made available for viewing live online and on television, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The event’s esteemed performers were recently announced in a statement by Franklin’s longtime publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn. Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday and Franklin’s son Edward are some of the most renowned artists expected to perform.
Speakers include former President Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Clive Davis.
The funeral will be broadcast in its entirety on several TV stations in Detroit, including WDIV-TV, WJBK-TV and WXYZ-TV. Nationally, Fox News and CNN will air portions of the ceremony, and the event will also be live-streamed by the Associated Press and therefore open to being picked up by various online media outlets.
Enjoy a Franklin performance from the Paste archives below.