*The color gold was chosen for Aretha Franklin’s final viewing outfit.
Mourners got one final chance to see the Queen of Soul before her star-studded funeral today at Greater Grace Temple, and the legend sported a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels, her fourth outfit change in four days.
Franklin wore red for her first public viewing on Tuesday, a nod to her membership in the sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She wore a baby blue dress on Wednesday and a rose gold gown for a viewing Thursday at the Detroit church where her father was the longtime pastor.
Franklin’s gold dress will match her solid bronze casket (photo above), which is plated in 24K gold and lined with champagne velvet. James Brown and Michael Jackson were laid to rest in similar caskets.
Numerous floral arrangements from celebrities including Sam Moore, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand and the family of Otis Redding were set up in a hallway outside the sanctuary according to the Associated Press.
Among those honoring Franklin Friday are about two dozen owners of Pink Cadillacs who arrived at the church early this morning, the AP reports. The tribute is a nod to Franklin’s ’80s tune, “Freeway of Love,” which prominently featured the car in the lyrics and video.
Aretha Franklin’s white hearse arrived at the church at 8 a.m. this morning, two hours before the service is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. EST. Digital cable channels Bounce TV and The Word Network will carry the service live in its entirety, while cable news outlets MSNBC, CNN and Fox News will dip in and out throughout the scheduled five-hour ceremony. The Detroit Free Press is livestreaming the funeral as well.
Fans have been lined up for hours outside the Greater Grace Temple this morning. Despite the star-power scheduled to perform funeral organizers insist it will be a spirit-filled service, not a show.
View the program 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 angels.
The seven candle sticks at the front to 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 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
11-11:05 a.m. — Musical Tribute — Ariana Grande
11:05-11:10 a.m. — Musical Tribute — The Clark Sisters
11:10-11:15 a.m. — Acknowledgements 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 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Audrey DuBois Harris
12-12:15 p.m. — Personal Remarks:
12 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 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 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
2-2:05 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 p.m. — Committal and Recessional — Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
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