Aretha Franklin's funeral returns to her gospel roots


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Detroit: A Detroit church swelled with gospel music on Friday for the funeral of Aretha Franklin, driving mourners to their feet to clap and sing ahead of tributes to the Queen of Soul by former US President Bill Clinton and singer Stevie Wonder.


“Come on, this is a church service, lift your voice!” Bishop Charles Ellis III, the officiant, exhorted the congregation at the Greater Grace Temple, as the choir and orchestra swayed behind him.



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The crowd grew louder, its ranks bolstered by singers including Chaka Khan and Ariana Grande, who came to pay musical tribute to Franklin following her death from pancreatic cancer on August 16 at age 76. Before the golden casket was closed, Franklin’s body could be seen dressed in gold sequins.


“She had the voice of a generation, maybe the voice of a century,” Clinton said, describing himself as a Franklin “groupie” long before he became president. Closing his remarks, Clinton held the microphone to his smartphone and played Franklin’s 1968 hit Think over the church’s speakers.


Former president Bill Clinton poses for a photo with singer Ariana Grande and her partner Pete Davidson during the funeral service.

Former president Bill Clinton poses for a photo with singer Ariana Grande and her partner Pete Davidson during the funeral service.


Photo: AP

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