The Queen of Soul is getting a send off worthy of her incredible life and legacy.
Aretha Franklin is getting a send off worthy of her incredible life and legacy.
The Queen of Soul's celebration of life will run for six and a half hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday. As previously reported, artists like Faith Hill, Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson and more will be paying tribute to the legend with thoughtful performances.
Franklin's own music will be played during the viewing from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m. Hill will then kick off the celebrity performances at 10:40 a.m. Grande will perform at 11 a.m., followed by a performance by The Clark Sisters. Former president Bill Clinton will speak at 12:05 p.m. Various acknowledgments and reflections will be shared until 12:36 p.m. when Chaka Khan will perform.
From 1:15 to 1:30 p.m., stars like Tyler Perry, Cicely Tyson, Clive Davis and Smokey Robinson will share their personal reflections on Franklin's life. Hudson will perform a Sermonic Selection at 2 p.m., before Stevie Wonder's musical tribute at 2:35 p.m.
Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, pastor of Greater Grace Temple, will serve as Officiant with the Rev. Robert Smith Jr., Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, as Co-Officiant for the service. Watch live below.
In an interview with ET's Nischelle Turner, Ellis said the 4,000-seat church will be filled "wall to wall." "It's wonderful to live your life that when you are no longer here -- that individuals feel you made that great impression on them, you meant that much to them, that they will do anything they can to move heaven and earth just to get where you are just to pay respects," he said. "That's an awesome thing."
The Word Network will live stream the event here. See the full schedule below:
8:30-9:50 a.m. Viewing: Recorded Songs by Aretha
9:30-9:50 a.m. Musical Prelude: Aretha Franklin Orchestra
9:50-10:00 a.m. Lighting of Candles: Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.
(The seven candles at the head represent the seven stars, which are the angles. The seven candlesticks at the foot represent the seven churches. We feel that we are living in the days of Revelation. Rev. 1:20)
10:00-10:20 a.m. Processional: Clergy, Ministers and Family
10:20-10:25 a.m. Prayer of Comfort: Dr. E.L. Branch, Pastor, Third New Hope Church
10:25-10:40 a.m. Scripture of Comfort:
10:25 a.m. Old Testament: Bishop T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House, Dallas, TX
10:30 a.m. New Testament: Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Triumph Church
10:35 a.m. The 23rd Psalm: Bishop P.A. Brooks, Pastor, New St. Paul Tabernacle Church
10:40-10:45 a.m. Musical Tribute: Faith Hill
10:45-11:00 a.m. Remarks:
10:45 a.m. Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
10:50 a.m. Brenda Jones, City Council President
10:55 a.m. Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan
11:00-11:05 a.m. Musical Tribute: Ariana Grande
11:05-11:10 a.m. Musical Tribute: The Clark Sisters
11:10am-11:15 a.m. Acknowledgments and Condolences: Barbara Sampson
11:15-11:20 a.m. Musical Tribute: The Williams Brothers & Vanessa Bell Armstrong
11:20-11:40 a.m. Family Reflections: Vaughn, Cristal, Victorie & Jordan Franklin
11:40-11:45 a.m. Family Musical Tribute: Edward Franklin
11:45-11:50 a.m. Obituary: Sabrina Owens
11:50-11:55 a.m. Musical Tribute: Alice McAllister Tillman
11:55-12:00 p.m Musical Tribute: Audrey DuBois Harris
12:00-12:15 p.m. Personal Remarks:
12:00 p.m. Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General
12:05 p.m. Former President, William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton
12:15-12:19 p.m. Musical Tribute: Pastor Shirley Caesar and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
12:19-12:36 p.m. Personal Reflections:
12:19 p.m. Greg Mathis, Retired Judge, 36th District Court, Detroit, MI
12:23 p.m. Brenda Lawrence, State Representative, 14th Congressional District
12:27 p.m. Rev. Donald L. Parsons, Logos Assembly Church, Chicago, IL
12:31 p.m. Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network
12:36-12:41 p.m. Musical Tribute: Chaka Khan
12:41-12:51 p.m. Musical Tribute: Ron Isley
12:51 p.m. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition
1:00 p.m. Dr. William J. Barber, II, Pastor, Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsborough N.C
1:05 p.m. Rev. James Holley, Retired Pastor, New Light Missionary Baptist Church
1:10-1:15 p.m. Musical Tribute: Fantasia Barrino-Taylor
1:15-1:30 p.m. Personal Reflections:
1:15 p.m. Tyler Perry
1:17 p.m. Cicely Tyson, Actress
1:20 p.m. Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music
1:25 p.m. Smokey Robinson, Recording Artist
1:30-1:34 p.m. Musical Tribute: Bishop Paul Morton and Yolanda Adams
1:34-1:53 p.m. Personal Reflections:
1:34 p.m. Mildred Gaddis, Radio Personality
1:38 p.m. Isaiah Thomas, Former NBA Player, Detroit Pistons
1:42 p.m. Ron Moten, Personal Friend, Franchise Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants
1:48 p.m. Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University
1:53-2:00 p.m. Musical Tribute: Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
2:00-2:05 p.m. Sermonic Selection: Jennifer Hudson
2:05-2:35 p.m. Eulogy: Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Atlanta GA
2:35-2:45 p.m. Musical Tribute: Stevie Wonder joined by National Artists
2:45-3:00 p.m. Committal and Recessional: Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
Franklin died on Aug. 16 from pancreatic cancer. She was 76. See more in the video below.
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