Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton & Other Stars Mourn Aretha Franklin At Detroit Funeral
Feb. 25 2019, Updated 11:44 a.m. ET
Aretha Franklin was laid to rest in her hometown of Detroit on Friday morning, August 31. From 9:00 am on, guests including Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, and Bill and Hillary Clinton began arriving at the Queen of Soul’s funeral at the Greater Grace Temple. Check out RadarOnline.com's gallery to see more.
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Viewers watched in awe as Grande took the stage
Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson were seen speaking to the former president and wife Hillary Clinton as the “Breathin” singer waited to perform.
Deceased Aretha Franklin is wearing a glittery gold gown and matching heels as she lies inside her golden casket.
She passed away peacefully, after a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Longtime friends like Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson prepared speeches and musical performances to honor the fallen legend. Bill Clinton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Smokey Robinson are also set to speak.
Boxer Thomas Hearns was one of the first celebrities to show up at the glamorous ceremony, followed by Clinton, Hudson, actor Tyler Perry and The View host Whoopi Goldberg.
Guests arrived in white Cadillacs and black attire.
"It's sad. Of course it is. We lost the Queen. And she is my sister,” Gladys Knight told Hulu at the ceremony. “I didn't want her to suffer. And it’s not our business, it’s the Lord’s business and he calls us when it’s time for us to come home.”
“I'm honored to be here to remember her today. We had some good times, we learned together, we grew up together,” she continued. “We shared the fact that we had the same disease.”
RadarOnline.com readers know Aretha Franklin, 76, died this August 16 inside her Detroit home, surrounded by her loved ones
While it is a private funeral, fans are also paying tribute to the singer outside of the venue.
RadarOnline.com has learned dozens of pink Cadillacs are lined up around Detroit in honor of Franklin's 1985 hit single "Freeway of Love.”
"We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac,” she sings in the track.
Franklin’s family members and loved ones stood over the coffin for one last look at the late star.
Her coffin was decorated with gorgeous light pink roses as viewers sat in mourning.
Smokey Robinson looked dapper as he paid tribute to his now-deceased friend.
Crisette M. Ellis and Hillary Clinton sat front row at the ceremony.
Musician Martha Revees was just one of the singers who showed up to honor the music icon.
Jennifer Holliday celebrated Franklin’s life by gushing about her to reporters at the funeral, and wearing a bright purple suit for the occasion.
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Celebrity guests smiled as Faith Hill took the stage to perform one of her hit songs in Franklin’s honor.
Black-ish actress Jennifer Lewis made a touching speach about the legend.
Michigan Governor Rich Snyder also spoke at the star-studded funeral.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spoke at the event as formed President Bill Clinton cheers him on.
The Clark Sisters wore gorgeous matching black dresses during their joyful performance at the funeral.
R.I.P. Aretha Franklin.
