Aretha Franklin Had Three Outfit Changes For Her Viewings And Funeral
David Redfern/RedfernsAretha Franklin had one of history’s most star-studded celebrity funerals.
Aretha Franklin wasn’t called the “Queen of Soul” for nothing. After skyrocketing to fame with hits like “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” the singer made a name for herself as both an artist and an activist.
When she died in 2018, it was clear that her funeral would not be any ordinary affair.
As the New Yorker reported, Franklin’s funeral was billed as “A Celebration Fit for the Queen.” It began at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, where Franklin had performed at the funeral of Rosa Parks in 2005.
More than 100 pink Cadillacs flooded the streets before lining up outside of the megachurch. Franklin’s body was carried to and from the service in a vintage 1940 hearse that had previously carried both Rosa Parks and Franklin’s own father, the Reverend C.L. Franklin.
With a litany of guest speakers and singers including Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Tyler Perry, and Stevie Wonder, Franklin’s funeral was one of the biggest events of the year, as was befitting of the late singer.
But it was the days leading up to the funeral that stood out, as Franklin was dressed in four different outfits for her open-casket viewings. In the end, she was buried in a gold dress and sparkling pumps.
