How to watch Aretha Franklin’s funeral Friday
Aretha Franklin’s funeral, being held Friday at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple, will bring her week of tributes to a close with a livestreamed, all-day ceremony.
The service, scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Central Time, is limited to family members, friends and selected guests. Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande are among the many performers lined up to sing at the funeral, with other names including Faith Hill, Ronald Isley, Chaka Khan, Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson.
But the world will be able to watch. National broadcasters including cable network HLN (Channel 11 on Spectrum cable) plan to air Franlin’s funeral in its entirety. The funeral also will be livestreamed, including on and by USA TODAY on Facebook. Nationally, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN plan to air portions of the service live, representatives of those networks confirmed.
The funeral service also willbe aired in its entirety on SiriusXM satellite radio’s Channel 49, the soul-music station that’s been temporarily dubbed “The Aretha Franklin Tribute Channel.” The channel will take calls from listeners after the service.
During Friday’s service, Franklin will be honored by various high-profile speakers, including former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Motown star Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas.
Although Franklin sang at former President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, he and former First Lady Michelle Obama won’t be in Detroit for the funeral. The couple did send a letter, which the Rev. Al Sharpton will read during the service.
After the funeral, Franklin will be buried at Detroit’s Woodlawn Cemetery, alongside late family members including her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin.