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Image: Fans gather outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

U.S. news

Crowds gather in Detroit to pay homage to Aretha Franklin

Fans, dignitaries and musicians say goodbye to the Queen of Soul. The "Celebration of Life" service on Friday capped off a weeklong commemoration for the legend.

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Image: Aretha Franklin funeral

Pallbearers carry the gold casket of legendary singer Aretha Franklin after arriving at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, on Aug. 31, 2018.

Deep in the heart of Motown, a who's who of musical luminaries and political dignitaries gave Aretha Franklin a funeral service worthy of the Queen of Soul.

 

Paul Sancya / AP
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Members of the general public wait in line hoping to attend the funeral services on Aug. 31.

Rebecca Cook / Reuters
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Pink Cadillacs line Seven Mile Road in front of Franklin's funeral on Aug. 31.

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Former President Bill Clinton poses with Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson during the funeral service on Aug. 31.

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Faith Hill performs during Franklin's funeral on Aug. 31.

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Image: Aretha Franklin

Ariana Grande performs during Franklin's funeral on Aug. 31.

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Image: Soul Music Icon Aretha Franklin Honored During Her Funeral By Musicians And Dignitaries

Stevie Wonder performs at the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan on August 31.

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American gospel vocal group, The Clark Sisters, perform at Franklin's funeral on Aug. 31.

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Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at Franklin's funeral on Aug. 31.

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Franklin's family members embrace after sharing stories of the late singers life on Aug. 31.

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Smokey Robinson speaks during Franklin's service on Aug. 31. 

The Motown legend reminisced about first hearing Franklin's voice as an 8-year-old.

Mike Segar / Reuters
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Cicely Tyson speaks during the service on Aug. 31.

Paul Sancya / AP
Image: Fans wait in line outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Fans wait in line outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for Aretha Franklin's public viewing in Detroit on Aug. 28, 2018.

 Franklin died Aug. 16 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

Mike Segar / Reuters
Image: Aretha Franklin's casket is carried into the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit

Aretha Franklin's gold-plated casket is carried into the Wright Museum in Detroit on Tuesday.

Mike Segar / Reuters
Image: Swanson Funeral Home's 1936 LaSalle hearse is parked outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Swanson Funeral Home's 1936 LaSalle hearse transported Aretha Franklin's casket to the museum on Tuesday.

Linda Swanson, whose funeral home is handling services for Franklin, said the singer had covered the funeral expenses of many needy families over the years.

 

Tannen Maury / EPA
Image: A woman becomes emotional as people file past the body of the late singer Aretha Franklin

Fans strolled by Franklin's casket to pay their final respects to the late Queen of Soul.

Paul Sancya / Pool via Reuters
Image: Aretha Franklin lies in state at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Franklin, dressed completely in red, including high-heeled pumps, looked as if she was preparing for one more performance.

She wore earrings, red lipstick and red nail polish, and her hair was cut short. Her dress — with its ornamental elements and sheer netting fabric — was reminiscent of an outfit she would wear onstage and "something she would have selected for herself," her niece, Sabrina Owens, told The Associated Press.

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Image: A woman cries as she views the open casket of Aretha Franklin during a public viewing

A woman cries as she views Franklin's open casket on Tuesday.

Paul Sancya / Pool via EPA
Image: A woman carries a card with an image of Aretha Franklin into the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

A woman carries a card with an image of Aretha Franklin into the Wright Museum, a cultural landmark in Detroit, where Franklin grew up and spent most of her life. 

Mike Segar / Reuters
Image: A fan waits outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

The museum hosted a similar viewing for civil rights icon Rosa Parks after her 2005 death.

Photos: The Queen of Soul's life in pictures

Mike Segar / Reuters
Image: People wait in line outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Many of those in line were from Detroit, but others traveled from as far as Las Vegas and Miami.

Mike Segar / Reuters
Image: Fans gather outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Fans outside Detroit's Wright Museum talked about their memories of the Queen of Soul. Occasionally the crowd bursts into song.

Rena Laverty / EPA
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