Celebration for a Queen: All-Star cast set to perform at Aretha’s funeral

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Even as the city of Detroit mourns the loss of the legendary Aretha Franklin, one of the more anticipated announcements has been who would be tapped to perform at the Queen of Soul’s funeral next week.

The wait is over as the Associated Press is reporting that an all-star lineup, led by Stevie Wonder, will perform at Aretha’s funeral service next Friday at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple.

READ MORE: Click here to see all of theGrio’s coverage of the wake of Aretha Franklin’s passing

Along with Stevie, other performers will include Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Shirley Caesar, Ron Isley, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, Jennifer Holliday, and Aretha’s son, Edward Franklin.

The service will also reflect Aretha’s strong gospel roots. She got her start singing at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church, which was led by her late father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, and her iconic 1972 performance of Amazing Grace won her a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance.

The Aretha Franklin Choir and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir are also on the program, which was provided to the AP by Franklin’s longtime publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn.

READ MORE: Family of Aretha Franklin planning public viewing at Detroit museum

Condolences have poured in from around the world following Franklin’s passing last week at the age of 76 from pancreatic cancer and worries initially arose this week when it was revealed that Aretha apparently left no will.

Meanwhile, The Detroit News has reported that a court filing in neighboring Oakland County Circuit Court by Aretha’s four sons – Edward, Clarence Franklin, Kecalf Franklin, and Theodore Richard White II – lists them as interested parties, and Aretha’s niece, Sabrina Owens Garrett, as being named personal representative of her reported $80 million estate.