News

Aretha Franklin Is Diva To The End

franklina-1.6936962 NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 07: 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. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

Published: 

"Ain't no way" Aretha Franklin's farewell would be anything less than fabulous. 

Franklin's body arrived at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Tuesday – for the first of two days of public viewing – in a 1940 two-door Cadillac LaSalle hearse.

The vintage ride was used to carry the Queen of Soul’s father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, in 1984, Temptations singer David Ruffin in 1991, and civil rights leader Rosa Parks in 2005, according to the Detroit Free Press

Jeff Kowalsky / AFP/Getty Images

Franklin's body rests in a 14-karat gold-plated Promethean casket, which has a champagne velvet interior. It also has “Queen of Soul,” and “Aretha Franklin,” embroidered in the casket lining. The singer was dressed in head-to-toe red — including, a ruby red dress, custom red earrings, bright red nails and lipstick, and, of course, five-inch, red Christian Louboutin pumps. 

"What we wanted to do is be reflective of the Queen," museum board member Kelly Major Green told the Hollywood Reporter. "It's beautiful. She's beautiful.

“The Queen of Soul is diva to the end."

Fans Of Soul Legend Aretha Franklin Pay Their Respects As Her Body Lies In Repose In Detroit DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 28: The body of Aretha Franklin lies in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin will lie in repose at the museum on August 28 and 29 for the public to pay their respects. The funeral will be held August 31 at Greater Grace Temple. (Photo by Paul Sancya-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)

Paul Sancya-Pool / Getty Images

Franklin died Aug. 16 at her home in Detroit after a battle with pancreatic cancer."

Franklin's funeral will be held on Friday at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

Original article by Peyton Blakemore at iHeartRadio