The service will take place on August 31
The line-up for Aretha Franklin‘s funeral service has been revealed, with Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson among the performers.
The soul singer died earlier this month (August 16) after suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, according to her oncologist Dr. Philip Phillips. She was 76.
A private funeral open only to friends and family will take place at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on August 31 and the event’s performers have now been revealed.
As well as Wonder, Hill and Hudson, Fantasia, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday and Aretha Franklin’s son Edward are also expected to perform.
Notable gospel stars, including Marvin Sapp and Vanessa Bell Armstrong will also be performing while The Aretha Franklin Choir and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir are also on the programme.
Stevie Wonder will perform at the ceremony
Fans will be able to pay their respects to the music icon during a public open casket viewing in her hometown of Detroit.
Her body will lie in repose between 9am and 9pm on August 28 and 29, where mourners will be able to attend the open casket viewing at the city’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
In a statement following her death, Franklin’s family said: “We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.”
Ariana Grande performed an emotional cover of ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ when she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the day of Franklin’s death (August 16). The singer also recalled meeting Franklin, saying: “We sang at the White House and she was so sweet and cute. It’s an honour to have met her.”
Liam Gallagher also paid tribute to the late star during his set at Chelmsford’s RiZE Festival. He dedicated Oasis classic ‘Live Forever’ to her and displayed photos of Franklin on the big screen during the Beady Eye track ‘Soul Love’. Gallagher also described her as having had “the best voice in the world”.
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