Presidents, pop stars bid farewell to Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin feted in massive ‘homegoing’ tribute.

Kay cosmetics saleswoman ist and freedom fighter,” he who drove her pink Cadillac said. “We don’t all agree on SUV for 14 hours from Ala- everything, but we agree on bama to be part of the proAretha.” He added, “She was cession. “She’s just an icon, the soundtrack of the civil a legend, and it’s an honor rights movement.” to just be part of something “Trump said she worked like this and to be able to for him,” he continued. “No, give back after she’s given she performed for ... you DETROIT — Praised by pres- so much to people.” — she worked for us. Areidents and pop stars, euloThe tributes encompassed tha never took orders from gized by more than a dozen Franklin’s outsize role as nobody but God.” preachers, and feted with a a sai n ted gospel singer, The mood of the cerefleet of pink Cadillacs, Arefur-tossing pop diva, symmony swung from somber tha Franklin was celebrated bol of women’s liberation to rollicking as the mournFriday as a musical titan, an and the civil rights move- ers heard early performances empowering feminist and an ment, and hometown hero from Faith Hill, who sang American icon during a marain Detroit, where many of the “What a Friend We Have in thon goodbye that showcased hotels flew their flags at half- Jesus,” and Ariana Grande, a generation of talent who staff. Among the scheduled who performed one of Frankdrew inspiration from her. speakers was a local McDonlin’s signature hits, “(You

Franklin, who died of pan- ald’s franchisee, described as Make Me Feel Like A) Natcreatic cancer two weeks a friend of Franklin’s. ural Woman.” But the bigago at 76, was the “Queen Former President Barack gest heft came from gospel of Soul,” one of the unim- Obama, at whose inauguraperformers like the Clark peachable stars of American tion in 2009 Franklin sang Sisters, and the Williams music. And her funeral, at a “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” Brothers with Vanessa Bell megachurch on the subur- did not attend — he and forArmstrong, who brought the ban-like outskirts of Detroit, mer President George W. room to its collective feet. was suitably regal, with tribBush had been selected by Many of those who utes that were scheduled Sen. John McCain to deliver attended also wore sparkling to go on for more than five eulogies at his funeral in attire, some with fascinators hours by Bill Clinton, SteWashington this morning. on their heads. Their arrival vie Wonder, Smokey Robin- Both sent letters to be read was marked by hundreds of son, the Rev. Jesse L. Jack- to the mourners. people who stood outside son, basketball star Isaiah But Louis Farrakhan, behind barricades. Henry Thomas and others. the 84-year-old head of the Elders, 55, held a sign that

But the ceremony, a traNation of Islam, did attend read, “Aretha Made Amerditional “homegoing” event the service, and was seated ica Great Again.” His wife, in front of thousands, also in a prominent position, in Jenna Elders, said she was underscored Franklin’s a VIP section near the front as enamored with Franklin’s roots in the Baptist church of the church, facing the fashion sense as her music. and in black culture. The crowd and just two seats “This was a woman who church, Greater Grace Temover from Clinton, whom had style, big style,” she said. ple, with room for 4,000 he has harshly criticized. Though entry to the serpeople, had been the site of The Rev. Al Sharpton and vice had been reported to be Rosa Parks’ funeral in 2005 Jackson sat between them. invitation-only, organizers — where Franklin was a feaHillary Clinton was seated ultimately allowed in about tured performer. in another section. Also in 1,000 fans who had waited

“Thank you, Lord, for attendance were Omarosa in line for hours. A block Aretha,” a local pastor, Manigault Newman, the away, several hundred fans E.L. Branch, said in prayer. former Trump aide, and watched the proceedings on “She was first Detroit’s, then Whoopi Goldberg. a giant outdoor screen. America’s, then the world’s.” In his remarks, Bill ClinBorn in Memphis in 1942,

Inside the church doors, ton described himself as a Franklin moved to Detroit an entire wall was filled with lifelong Aretha Franklin fan as a young girl, and by her floral displays from a host of — he and Hillary Clinton, he teenage years had a budding well-wishers, including Bar- said, were “almost groupies” career as a gospel singer. bra Streisand, Elton John, — who came to admire how With her father a celebrity Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, hard she worked. preacher, their home was Tony Bennett, Don King, “The secret to her greatvisited by black luminarDiana Ross and the family of ness is that she took this masies like the Rev. Dr. Martin James Brown. Outside, more sive talent, out of this perfect Luther King Jr. and gospel than 100 of the pink Cadil- culture that made her and singer Mahalia Jackson. lacs lined up, four abreast, she became the composer Franklin soon made her after having served as part of her own song,” he said. way to pop. But it was not of the early morning funeral Earlier, Sharpton disuntil 1967, with her first procession. cussed how Franklin’s aris- recordings on the Atlantic

“Her song, the pink Cadil- try was connected to her poli- label — including smolderlac song, meant so much to tics. “Aretha Franklin was not ing songs like “Respect” — us, we use it at every event,” only an unparalleled artist, that she took on her full role said Joy Bailey Greff, a Mary she was a civil rights activ- as a cultural giant. Ben Sisario

Steve Friess

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