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Aretha Franklin's funeral: Everything you need to know

Here's everything you need to know about plans to lay the Queen of Soul to rest.
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates Its 25th Year And Honors Founder Sir Elton John During New York Fall Gala at Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 7, 2017 in New York City.

Aretha Franklin's funeral services will span four days, with two public viewings available to her fans and community. Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson are among the many stars slated to honor Franklin with performances at the memorial events. Here's everything you need to know:

Two public viewings

Franklin will lie in state in two locations. The first viewing will take place at Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History from Aug. 28-29. The viewing will run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

A second public viewing at Franklin's lifelong church was announced on Monday. Franklin's body will lie in honor at New Bethel Baptist Church on Aug. 30.

New Bethel, founded by her father, the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, will host its viewing from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 30, a family spokesperson told the Free Press on Monday. The New Bethel viewing was added to help members of the congregation who may face difficulty attending the bigger museum event.

Franklin grew up singing at New Bethel – originally housed at a different site – and remained close to the church through the years, holding gospel concerts and donating to its fund. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a longtime friend of Aretha Franklin's, spoke at the church's services on Sunday.

A free, public concert

Aretha Franklin's life and musical legacy will be celebrated with a free concert at Detroit’s Chene Park Amphitheatre on Aug. 30. The show is expected to include prominent celebrities and performers, more details of Thursday's program have been announced:

An R&B tribute led by musical director Kern Brantley will feature performances by Narada Michael Walden, Ronnie McNeir and Detroit singers including Cherri Black, Steffanie Christi'an, Angela Davis, Gwen Foxx, Beth Griffith-Manley, Kimmie Horne, KIKO, Alise King and L’Renee and Tasha Page-Lockhart.

An all-star tribute, also directed by Brantley, will feature Regina Belle, Raheem DeVaughn, Johnny Gill, Dave Hollister, L.J. Reynolds, Angie Stone, Tweet, Keith Washington and the Four Tops.

A jazz tribute led by bassist Ralphe Armstrong will include Joan Belgrave, Doug Carn, Jean Carne, Thornetta Davis and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

A gospel tribute with musical directors Kurt Carr and Derrick Starks will feature Santita Jackson, Dr. Bobby Jones, LisaMcCaw dancers, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Kierra (Kiki) Sheard and Kathy Taylor.

A dance sequence will be presented by Tony-winning choreographer George Faison.

Other guests will include Tyler Perry, Jenifer Lewis and Judge Greg Mathis.

The show finale will feature all performers doing "Respect."

The show - dubbed "A People's Tribute to the Queen" - will run 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the eve of Franklin's funeral. Free tickets were grabbed up in a matter of minutes Monday morning on Ticketmaster.

A private funeral

Franklin will be laid to rest at Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery following an Aug. 31 funeral at Greater Grace Temple, her family told the Detroit Free Press.

Franklin's family emphasized that the singer's funeral is a private event, but will be made available for viewing live online and television, the Free Press confirmed. Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Ronald Isley, Chaka Khan and Jennifer Hudson are among the singers who will perform at the Aug. 31 service with 19 performers scheduled.

Former President Bill Clinton is among a list of high-profile speakers scheduled for the funeral. Other speakers will include former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Motown star and lifelong Franklin friend Smokey Robinson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and record mogul Clive Davis.

Greater Grace, which seats about 4,000, has been the site of funerals for many notable Detroit figures, including Rosa Parks, Marcus Belgrave and the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs.

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