Aretha Franklin was laid to rest today in an epic, hours-long funeral that featured dynamic speakers and soul-stirring performances. It was a fitting end to the reign of the Queen of Soul who was known both for her civil rights activism and her amazing voice and legendary career.
Only Aretha Franklin could have a funeral that was at times a Sunday Black Baptist Church service, a revival, a concert, a tribute, a history lesson, a call to arms and family reunion and have it broadcast live to a global audience. (As of this posting, it’s still going on, so we will update throughout.)
Here are some of the highlights from the service.
Cicely Tyson
The Oratory Generation. #HushYourMouth #NeverForget đâđžâ¤ď¸ #QueenCicely #ArethaHomegoing #ArethaFranklinFuneral pic.twitter.com/ny7zlsbye8
â VintageBlackGlamour (@VintageBlkGlam) August 31, 2018
Clark Sisters
WATCH: The Clark Sisters honor Aretha Franklin with a performance of Is My Living In Vain, bringing all attendees to their feet. https://t.co/GLM9ZPOFRm pic.twitter.com/W4KQ3O84Q5
â CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 31, 2018
Shirley Caesar
“Aretha [Franklin] lived good life and I thank God that she did not die in disgrace.” – Pastor Shirley Caesar https://t.co/7n4mAcfdkn pic.twitter.com/E6RFq0ohTa
â CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 31, 2018
Fantasia
WHEW, you all know Fantasia is about to shut it down. I canât. pic.twitter.com/UvooBTQ3dD
â Eric Perry (@actingeric) August 31, 2018
NC SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT FOR ARETHA FRANKLIN!!!!!! PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR, DR. WILLIAM J. BARBER, AND FANTASIA!!!!!!!!! #ArethaFranklin #ArethaFrankinFuneral #ArethaHomegoing #BETRemembersAretha pic.twitter.com/W3xESU9WTp
â Marcus (@marcusuntrell) August 31, 2018
Rev. Jesse Jackson makes a call for action to vote during Aretha Franklin eulogy: “There was long lines at the museum for Rosa Parks, long lines for Aretha, long lines today. We have long lines to celebrate death, and short lines for voting.” https://t.co/qSW5iZgtqR pic.twitter.com/lJqzkrxPeB
â ABC News (@ABC) August 31, 2018
Rev. Al Sharpton
â#PressPlay: Oop! #AlSharpton says he may have misspelled #Respect but #Trump better put some respeck on #ArethaFranklinâs name
Via @abcnewsâ- repost @TheShadeRoomm #TSR #RIPArethaFranklin pic.twitter.com/kAYeg4yV9c
â Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 31, 2018
Yolanda Adams and Paul Morton
“Walking and talking, and walking and waking and walking”…..Paul Morton and the timeless Yolanda Adams #arethahomegoing pic.twitter.com/IXmtkVCvHl
â Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) August 31, 2018
Jennifer Hudson
WATCH: Jennifer Hudson delivers a stunning performance of “Amazing Grace” at Aretha Franklin’s funeral. #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/DnLlBvIUfR
â Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) August 31, 2018
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande pays a musical tribute to Aretha Franklin, singing the Queen of Soul’s hit (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Follow the star-studded funeral on our live blog https://t.co/0QHRExB5Wc pic.twitter.com/G1htH8hN4J
â Sky News (@SkyNews) August 31, 2018
Micheal Eric Dyson
Detroit native Michael Eric Dyson has me screaming, calling Trump an #OrangeApparition #foolishfascist #dimwitteddictator on-point alliteration. âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ #ArethaFuneral #ArethaFrankin #arethashomegoing #ArethaFranklinTribute #ArethaHomegoing #ArethaFranklinHomegoing pic.twitter.com/bb0CuN4e0p
â Paula Neal Mooney (@PAULANEALMOONEY) August 31, 2018
READ A SUMMARY OF THE ENTIRE FUNERAL HERE.
PHOTO: AP
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