"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."
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
