Also performing at the funeral service, which will take place at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, are Stevie Wonder and Faith Hill among others.
- Aug 29, 2018
AceShowbiz - Ariana Grande has been added to the list of acts who will perform at Aretha Franklin's funeral on Friday, August 31. She will join the likes of Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia and Jennifer Holliday to pay tribute to the late Queen of Soul during the service, which will take place at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
A rep for family of the late singer confirms that the Nickelodeon alum is invited to take part at the service after seeing her moving tribute on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". She performed a rendition of the legendary singer's hit "Natural Woman" at the time, earning a roaring applause from the audience.
Besides performers, several people will deliver speech during the service. The list of speakers includes former president Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, record producer Clive Davis and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
Even though the Friday service is limited to invited guests, it will be made available to view both online and on television. The event will be livestreamed by The Associated Press, while local TV stations including WDIV-TV and WXYZ-TV will broadcast the event in full. Fox News and CNN will air the live portions of the service.
The funeral will begin at 10 A.M. local time.
Aretha passed away on Thursday, August 16 at her home in Detroit. Her rep confirmed that her cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type. Hundred of fans gathered on Tuesday, August 28 to honor the late soul icon during her ongoing public viewing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit.
A tribute concert will also reportedly be held on November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. A lineup for the concert, which is allegedly titled "Clive Davis Presents: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin", has yet to be announced.
