Aretha Franklin funeral set for August 31

Aretha Franklin will have a private funeral attended by family and friends in her hometown of Detroit on August 31 preceded by two days of public viewings.

Aretha Franklin's funeral is set for August 31 in Detroit.

Aretha Franklin's funeral is set for August 31 in Detroit. Source: Getty Images

Aretha Franklin's funeral will be held on August 31 in her hometown of Detroit.

The late singer's publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn, said on Friday that the funeral, to be held at Greater Grace Temple, is limited to the Queen of Soul's family and friends.

Public viewings will take place on August 28 and 29 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History from 9am to 9pm.



Franklin will be entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, along with her father Reverend CL Franklin; sisters Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin; brother Cecil Franklin; and nephew Thomas Garrett.

Franklin died on Thursday at her home in Detroit from pancreatic cancer. She was 76.

Earlier singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder has teared up during an interview on CBS This Morning while recalling the last words he spoke to Franklin on her deathbed.

He said he had plans to collaborate on new music with Franklin.

"We talked about doing some music as recent as two months ago, and we had been talking about it," Wonder said on Friday.




"There was a song that I had written called, The Future. And we were gonna, you know, write - you know, sing it together."

Wonder trailed off and choked up, adding, "I thought I'd cried my last tear." He went on to recall his final interaction with Franklin leading up to her death, then stopped to compose himself again.

"I've got to get it together because I wanted - I did want to see her - so I decided on Monday I would go," he continued.

"I flew out from LA to Detroit and went to see her and spoke with her. She wasn't able to speak back, but her family felt that she could hear me. And so I just said all the things that I've always said and told her to say hello to my sister."

Wonder's sister had died this year as well.

A file image of Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin
Singer Stevie Wonder has talked about visiting Aretha Franklin just days before she died aged 76. (AAP)


 


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