Aretha: The Home Going Celebration

What...??

Apparently she is in an open casket. and her feets are showing. And she's smiling.....

[quote]a solid gold casket!!!!

Good.

[quote]People waiting all night to see her.

Good.

Miss Aretha is laid out in scarlet pumps. I feel a little tearful about that detail.

yasss aretha!

Well, hell! And I love the flowers. Aretha had style.....all her own.

I've never seen a casket fully opened like that. I just.

If you’re white, OP, this thread reeks of cultural misappropriation.

Time was you got to be careful 'bout summer funerals. Got to get them in the ground soon as possible. know whut i mean?

I hope the nurses in the congregation will be serving snacks during this 20 hour funeral service. Bitches will be falling out from low blood sugar gurl!

Or better yet they just need a open buffet. Ree would've loved that!

Checked the local station on facebook, WDIV and there's a steady stream of people going through to salute our Queen.

How are you all holding up. Detroit is in for storms tonight. I hope all those poor people standing in line are not run away by the rain. I bring you gossip to pass the time as we observe our wake for our Queen!! First Ariana Grande is going to sing at Aretha's funeral. In the church.

But even more important, fashion information. Yes. Our Sister Aretha, our Queen will have a wardrobe change!! Right now she' s wearing her red satin Louboutins and a red sequin and lace dress all ruffles and elegance. But tomorrow, the undertaker/seamstress has promised us a surprise wardrobe change!!!!!!

Re is here but she's not here.

Miss Warwick has been giving us the lowdown all week, sugar.

Ree is going to reach out that golden casket and snatch Miss Grande's fake ponytail right off.

^^ JUMP TO IT, ReRe!

You do know Glynn Turman, on his 3rd marriage, (to a woman) with 3 children, stopped by to sit with Our Queen before she crossed over? He said he knew she could hear him even though she could no longer speak. He just wanted to pay his #RESPECT.

Patti La Belle was not invited to come but she was not not invited. Dionne's true whereabouts are not know at this time.....

So. According to the news on her home town TV station Aretha had a kid when she was 14 and another when she was 15. I know people have speculated about how old she was but the hometown station and the journalists who knew her best confirmed it.

R17 She was 12 not quite 13 when she gave birth to kid one. So they either had the dates wrong or tried to pretty it up a bit. She was quite young.

The rumor has always been that her father was the father of both of the first two kids.

Well, R18, we who grew up in Detroit and were aware of the Franklins knew that like a lot of Preachers, Rev. Franklin had a weakness for young boys. We're talking 14, 15, 16 yr olds. In fact he got shot during a robbery by one of his former tricks. he liked "pretty boys." Don't come 'round him if you were homely or worse.

If the rumors about Turman were true, R19, then it all kinda makes sense.

There were several preachers I knew of who liked the boys. Rev. Jones, Rev. Nicks, Rev Franklin were among them. Lots of Gay choir directors who used to hit on the young men in the choir too. We're talking high school age. Once you hit 23-24 no one wanted you.

A gold-plated casket, not solid gold. Even Re Re ain't got that much scratch.

r19 spilling all the Church tea

Her handbag should be in the casket with her.

This thread is USELESS without MISS WARWICK!!

R25 You know Miss Warwick never profit shares. The thread by Herselfeses is here

R26: Bless you!

R19 = Sister Odell.

What you say! R28! Nothin' funnier then all the sistahs at the church chasin' after the preacher. They'd wait on them hand and foot, volunteer to help with everything, and then some. But some a' them preachers weren't studyin' on no wimmin. Huh..

Aretha has made it safe to be gaudy again. Nothing will compare to the midnight ride of James Browns casket.

You do know Aretha and Jesse Jackson had a "special relationship" for a time? They remained very close and he would call her and pray with her over the phone very often over the years.

R11, she’s apparently going to get TWO wardrobe changes. On Thursday, she will be in gold, and on Friday, for the televised service (starting at 10 am EST) she will be in a gown (color not yet announced).

Costume changes for a corpse? This is entirely new to me.

She has been dead 12 days. How are they keeping her from getting “ripe”?

They should just hire the guy who does Lenin and keep her on display. Fits her aesthetic here.

Per the Detroit Free Press the casket is gold plated ..

Maybe that's why they have 800 roses, R34. It's about 90 degrees here too this week.

R37, are you in Detroit??? You must go to the Museum if you are! Go! Go into the Light!!!!!

R34, she's embalmed, ya dummy.

Lord if they change her clothes please don't mess with her hair! We all saw the same shot of her in the casket, from the back, but it looked as if she had shorter hair. I hope so.

I saw her alive and cherish it, R38. I'm just gonna relax and watch it online with all of you here, my only friends.

They're taking all kinds of liberties when they get her naked. Morticians be weird ...

I wonder if any celebrities will show up and stand in line.

I hear they gave her a tummy tuck ..

Aretha has arrived at the church!

My Catholic family always inflicts open coffin funerals on us. I find them to be in the most appalling taste. And who wants to remember someone as a corpse.

You are all HORRIBLE and your Home Going will be straight to HELL!

UPDATES

At 8:30 a.m. on the day of her funeral, more than 100 pink Caddies are expected to file in outside the church and owners will be permitted to attend the private funeral, the church’s first lady Crisette Ellis said.

Artists expected: Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Ron Isley, Chaka Khan, Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson

Speakers include Smokey Robinson, one of Franklin’s childhood neighbors from Detroit’s north end, along with Clive Davis, her one-time record company boss, Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of the Potter’s House in Dallas, Rev. Jim Holley, pastor of Detroit's Historic Little Rock Baptist Church, and actress Cicely Tyson.

Political figures expected: Among those confirmed is former President Bill Clinton. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also were invited, but as of Friday afternoon, they had not confirmed.

Political figures expected to address the Celebration of Life include former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Gov. Rick Snyder, Mayor Mike Duggan, U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, and the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

The eulogy will be delivered by the Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta. Ellis will serve as co-officiant, along with the Rev. Robert Smith, Jr., pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church.

An invite for G. W. Bush but not Oprah?

I'm sure Oprah was invited. No doubt in my mind. She may even come. But Oprah would not want to highlight her attendance especially if she is not speaking. Thank goodness Cicely Tyson is speaking because aside from the two local politicians, she is the only woman who will speak. All the others are performing.

George Bush probably won't attend, but I bet Obama will try to get there. The fact that they have no confirmation wither way tells me he is trying to work it out.

Now a bit of personal gossip. Aretha was hard on women. She wasn't a woman hater. But she was very tough on women. You had to show her something. She expected more from women in terms of their behavior. Good thing she had no daughters. She insisted you prove to her you were authentic and that you were a "good "person. She'd look at any woman with a jaundiced eye, just waiting, expecting them to play games and back stab and be petty and shallow.

Male or female, you had to EARN her trust, which few people, male or female ever did. She could be very moody and "sour." She'd sometimes come to a social event, and just sit there, not speaking. Watching. When she wanted to she could wither a person with a murderous "look." I remember asking someone at a social occasion what was "wrong" with her, who peed in her cornflakes, and the response was, "Nothin' that's just Aretha. That's how she gets sometimes." So you were never sure which Aretha would come.

She set up those barriers because she didn't want to be so approachable. So accessible. She was paranoid about being misused or taken advantage of. And yet, her sons and her sister in law could get damned near anything they wanted from her. She supported her sister in law after her brother died. Cecil had kids so she helpedraise them too. When I think of her, she attracted hangers on like flies to honey. She reminded me of prize fighters who always have those entourages of losers around them. Parasites.

But, on the other hand, when her barriers were down, she was very accessible and very kind. I think with Aretha you had to had history. You had to have a reference point. Something happened between her and Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother. It was long before Whitney died. But they fell out. Aretha seemed "difficult" but there was a logic to it. She was definitely one who had been abused and was wary of people.

So those are my insights as a very fringe person who knows people who knew people.

I see they've chosen one of the hideously tacky gold plated coffins that got started with James Brown, then Michael Jackson.

"She has been dead 12 days. How are they keeping her from getting “ripe”? "

Fabreeze. Lots and lots of Fasbreeze,.

There is no story of funerals to compare to the saga of James Brown. None. Yes, his gold casket set the standard, but you have got to read about James and his funeral, and racing to the Apollo with the casket so he could lie in state at the Apollo. But that's another story. The Guardian and the Telegraph have great stories, too, and this one in GQ is SO worth reading as we prepare to say farewell to Aretha.

Suffice to say James had a lot of kids, and wives and mistresses and they were all fighting about where to bury him. So he had no burial and no real true funeral per se' for...maybe two months? He was "lying in state" a lot. But not buried. It ought to be a movie.

[quote]lying in state this morning, in a solid gold casket!!!

Honey, if it were solid Gold it would be worth millions and you would need a forklift to lift. Plus they would need a full time guard at the cemetery.

Just heard on WWJ (Detroit radio news station) that the Franklin family specifically asked that pictures NOT be taken of Aretha in the casket. They are not happy with TMZ. At least they didn't show her face.

I love that so many people have come to pay their respects. It’s really touching.

The last time Aretha was seen in public she looked very frail. I can't imagine she looks any better right now.

Amazing she made it to 76 after chain-smoking those Kools all those years.

For those of you who've never smoked, Kools are the strongest, most toxic cigs. Worse than Marlboro Reds.

My ex's granny smoked Kools unfiltered for years. She was in her 90's when she passed. I had no idea they ever sold unfiltered Kools.

God I loooooved my menthol cigs. And no one would take it when they asked to bum one and I told them it was menthol. Those were the days.

DIANA...WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU.

It’s morbid but I want to see what she looks like in the casket.

Eww. it's not really morbid except in Aretha's case I don't want to, because either they've over corrected and it doesn't even look like her, or they undercorrected and it looks terrible. She was certainly showing signs of poor health in her last appearance in pubic. She looked terrible.

Well, I imagine the pubic was equally bad, but I was refering to the "public" not the "pubic." Poor dear.

I wonder if I was in Detroit if I would go. I love Aretha Franklin but I hate open caskets. It would be a difficult decision.

They said she was down to 95 pounds but in the coffin she still looked kind of big? I don't understand.

I could never smoke menthols back when I used to smoke, they made me feel ill.

I smoked Newports, then Benson hedges menthol. Couldn't smoke Kools. Tried them. But I quit smoking 16 years ago. I know I will till pay for it one day. I exercise and try to eat right and take my vitamins, but I wish I'd never started. When I quit I got horrible headaches during the menthol withdrawal.

I know if I were in Detroit I would definitely go. I loved her. Saw her in person. Aretha is "family."

I wouldn't be surprised if Michelle Obama comes to her funeral with Oprah. Michelle will speak on behalf of Barack and herself. That way Barack can keep it fresh for his turn at McCain's funeral Saturday. Clinton is not speaking at Mc Cain's funeral. I hope Hillary shows up with Bill. But Hillary is definitely going to be there for McCain's funeral. You know she is. Rub salt in Trump's ass crack. Any bets on how long Aretha's funeral will last?

Costume changes for a corpse?

I'll bet Jane Jacket wishes her tours lasted this long.

Tomorrow night's free concert will be televised. With all the celebrities coming into town I bet people show up who aren't even expected. For the people lucky enough to get tickets it'll be one hell of a home going Eve celebration!!!!

four hours plus.

And someone in the comments:

"The funeral lasts for a week but she didn't have time to make a will?"

So if you really wanted to watch you could sip faith Hill and start with Ariana Grande at 11 AM. I don't care about the local politicians. ALthough I guess the preachers who will be preaching will be something to see.

I meant "skip" Faith Hill, not sip her.

Madonna will speak at the funeral service about her experience directing the movie "W.E."

Taylor Swift was not invited. Not even as a guest. So she is having a display of her fabulous gowns arranged in an exhibit in the parking lot across from the Church. Aretha said she wore "fabulous gowns."

It's unbelievable tacky that the Obamas are skipping the funeral after she performed in the bitter cold at his Inauguration.

This is a taste of what we'll see Friday.....

Aretha sure looked good .....

I know, R79.

Is the family just waiting on the highest bidder for a picture of her in the casket?

There is no confirmation yet that Obama is not coming. I'm thinking he may send Michelle.

It would be good if the Clintons, the Obamas and the Bushes all show up. She was a cultural icon.

Also to show solidarity in these volatile times.

Aretha will be wearing three different outfits. She'll be buried in one of them. Will someone try to sell the other two outfits? I hope not.

Eww! Gurl. They'll probably have embalming fluid stains on the back. In fact I read that undertakers cut the outfits down the back then slip them on the deceased and crudely sew them up in back.

Everybody should be smoking the Kools in solidarity with Aretha.

Aretha's outfit for today is "baby blue chiffon, with matching shoes." No pictures yet.....

[quote]Aretha will be wearing three different outfits. She'll be buried in one of them. Will someone try to sell the other two outfits?

I'm sure they will go to a museum, This is an amazing cultural event - there is only one Aretha. No one of her stature is behind her.

[quote]Eww! Gurl. They'll probably have embalming fluid stains on the back ..

Who cares - she's dead. She's going out in style and I love it !!!

Three outfits is so EXTRA

Over the top amazing!!

I went yesterday and it was interesting and not a long wait in line. They kept it moving. Outside it was almost the feel of a concert. They had a DJ playing Aretha’s songs. There were people selling Aretha tea shirts, buttons, small framed pictures and a really fabulous souvenir book that had wonderful pictures, a pretty thorough biography and a bonus cd with her 20 #1’s all for $10. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t buy at least 5 of them. Everyone that seen it wants it. One friend noticed that the price printed on the book was $39.00. What a bargain!

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is close to the DIA. Detroit has a fabulous museum district. I had lunch in their cafeteria which was pretty wonderful and inexpensive. In the museum shop they were featuring Annie Leibovitz’s fabulous picture of Aretha. The DIA has a fabulous collection of French Decorative Arts. After browsing the beautiful Sevres Porcelain, Beauvais Tapestries and Reisener furniture I decided to pay my R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to The Queen Of Soul one last time.

Actually during lunch I saw the picture from the Daily Mail Online and couldn’t remember if Aretha was wearing a long dress or knee-length. There was a longer line than before but it still moved pretty swiftly and before long I was inside and it was a long red dress. I have caskets fully open but I have never seen anyone’s legs crossed at the ankles.

She actually looked pretty good considering how sick she was and her up and down weight. Her hair was short and jet black and she had red earrings on the same vibrant shade of red. The inner lid of her coffin had “Aretha Franklin” and under that “The Queen Of Soul”. The flowers were an unusual but beautiful color of pinks and lavenders. I’d never seen that color combination before. Outside there was a vintage Cadillac. It was quite an experience and I’m glad I went. Anyone who has the chance to go you won’t regret it.

I meant I have seen caskets fully open.

Well, bless you R93, and thanks for sharing. I've been to the DIA many times and now that I live in the middle of a cultural desert, somewhere south of Ohio, I miss it.

Will Patti Labelle hand out samples of her Sweet Potato Pie to mourners?

Thanks, R93 for your first-person account.

The crossing of the ankles is to keep away evil spirits.

Patty is going to cater the event along with Paula Dean.

Le Bron James will be there. Obama is not coming neither is Michelle but he is sending a letter to be read during the service.

You’re welcome, I wish that I knew how to post pics here. Of course I don’t have any from inside the museum but you might get a sense of the atmosphere.

To add to what R100 posted, Michelle Obama was photographed vacationing in Mallorca.

Looking at pictures of the mourners, the fashion statements are definitely on display. Yes there are the ordinary every day people, but some of the sistahs have driven 14 hours to be there and they are styling.

I'll be disappointed if Obama doesn't show. Aretha was an American icon.

Well, R104, prepare to be disappointed. The official word from his spokesperson came down this afternoon.

Shame on Michelle. They could have at least sent Michelle's mother and the girls ..

Gurl... this funeral program is already at least 3 hours long, and Obama probably knew it would be. After all those performances, tributes and the official eulogy everyone would probably forget he was even there.

Obama chose McCain's funeral over Aretha's funeral.

Obama is still lazy.

And you know the holy ghost will show up several times, people falling out like Jim Jones up there after every song. That will make the service even longer.

Yes, thank you for your report, R93. I think this funeral is in line with the old-time way of saying goodbye: the open casket, lots of visitors, lots of music, days of carrying-on. Death is faced; life and fabulousness are celebrated.

I remember watching Whitney's service on tv. It went on forever.

Michelle is out of the country. But honestly, Aretha died on the 16th. I think they have planes that can get you back and forth efficiently and there has been sometime to plan for this. I am very disappointed. Aretha did a lot to support Obama. A lot.

They had two weeks lead time to deal with scheduling. That's all I'm saying. I sincerely hope Hillary comes along with Bill.

You can bet her family will “sneak” a pic to the National Enquirer. This would be too good to pass up.

That is an unusual casket pose. She looks comfortable.

r113 you also have to think about the logistics too. Secret service detail for the Clintons and Obamas would cost more. The City of Detroit is already going to be putting out a lot of money to make sure everything is safe as well.

I'm guessing Hillary will make it. It's not like she's doing anything special: just lying around shifting her weight from side to side before she finally gets out of bed to pee. She will enjoy the diversion. I wonder if she still fits into any of her "nice" clothes. May have to wear another caftan or the curtains - definitely something very loose ...

But I like Hillary. She almost got it right ..

I hope Melinda Brown Duncan will be there as a special guest. She was probably a huge Aretha fan! RESPECT DETROIT

[quote]you also have to think about the logistics too. Secret service detail for the Clintons and Obamas would cost more. The City of Detroit is already going to be putting out a lot of money to make sure everything is safe as well.

Well the logical thing would be for the Clintons and the Obamas to share a hotel room. It would be fun !! They could have breakfast in the coffee-shop and go swimming in the pool. Bill would probably try to fuck Michelle and I don't know how this would end up ...

Do you think Bill ever lets guys suck his dick? He is such an sex junkie ...

Michelle attended TWO Beyonce concerts this summer, yet she can't go to Aretha's funeral??? This is beyond rude of them. Michelle has literally been on vacation all summer long. She was in Europe in July, and now she's back in the Mediterranean! Must be nice. I guess she has to spend her time somehow, because she hasn't been doing anything to actually help people since she left the WH.

[quote]Michelle attended TWO Beyonce concerts this summer, yet she can't go to Aretha's funeral??? This is beyond rude of them. Michelle has literally been on vacation all summer long.

Well this is slightly off topic r121 but do you think the Obamas have a strong marriage? They seem to spend a lot of time not together. A LOT of time.

r122 If I were Barack I think I would want someone more fun to be with. Michelle is sort of snarky and she made a nice first lady but maybe she should be thinking about night school or take up an expensive hobby ...

"Home Going".....oh, brother. That is some corny black churchy shit.

I'm home going swing low sweet chariot ..

r124 is just jealous that no one will give a fuck when she drops dead!

Way down on the Swanee River I am Home Going When I drop dead no one will give a fuck but I don't care because I'm Home Going

[quote] She has been dead 12 days. How are they keeping her from getting “ripe

You have heard of embalming haven't you?

[quote]I'll be disappointed if Obama doesn't show. Aretha was an American icon.

I agree, unlike that stupid chick who lip synced her way through the Star Spangled Banner, who both Obama and Michelle thought was a female role model, Aretha actually sang live at Obama's inauguration.

They absolutely should attend and it's very arrogant and bad taste if they don't!

If Bush goes, will he dance? He has a thing for dancing and having a joyous ole time at funerals.

Bush is sending a letter to be read. You can blame the McCain family for this mess. they could have waited a week and done it next week. Obama was selected to not just make remarks, but to actually do the big send off for McCain. The McCain family could have chosen a different date and scheduled things not to conflict with Aretha instead of bumping right into it.

Oh, BTW: Hillary is in some kind of back brace. For the past couple years I thought she was wearing some kind of bullet proof vest which they all do when out in a mob, but in Hillary' case it's a back brace . When she was sitting in her house and doing an interview about McCain she was wearing it. Yuo don't wear a bullet proof vest in you own house. She has some kind of issue with her spine. I just wanted to clarify this for those of you mocking her girth.

Queen Aretha has been snubbed!

If the undertaker had known about the scheduling problem, and that the McCains would sabotage our Queen, he probably would have extended the visitation until after Labor Day.

If the Obamas snub Aretha that wouldn’t be good. I think if the Obamas don’t go then the sitting president should be there. It would be interesting and good tv.

It's incredibly arrogant of the Obamas not to pay any respect to Aretha.

I wouldn't call it arrogant, but I do think ingratitude and insensitivity are a fitting description. I believe a lot of what the Obamas have been up to is courting high dollar supporters for the Presidential Library and the Foundation they've established. Thus, courting Jay Z and Beyonce' who are long time supporters. We know, of course they'll get support from a lot of wealthy donors. But there's wealth and then there's wealth. The Carters are worth billions.

Aretha has left the building! They removed the casket from the Museum late last night and hauled it over to the church. Might make a quick stop to get her changed and ready for her final performance. or they may wait and do that this evening, because tomorrow morning she will be going to a different, larger church for the big celebration.

What an appalling, primitive, disrespectful culture.

FF r138 into DL oblivion.

I could never be an undertaker. My mother even fired her hairdresser because the guy had an arrangement with a few funeral homes and did the hair of the deceased!

I knew a hair stylist who did the same. He'd drop a Quaalude and work on the deceased.

Well they say your hair and nails keep growing after you die. I never understood that, but you need a good stylist!

[quote] Hillary has some kind of issue with her spine. I just wanted to clarify this for those of you mocking her girth.

I was mocking Hillary's girth and I enjoyed doing so. Hillary gave the USA Trump by her self-indulgent obsession with being president. I have no respect for her and I will mock her everytime I get the opportunity. I wish the Clintons would go far far away and just stay there, This includes Chelsa and her ultra rich husband. If they do this I won't mock them anymore.

[quote]Well they say your hair and nails keep growing after you die. I never understood that, but you need a good stylist!

Well I've been dead for almost a year and my hair grows like crazy. But the nice thing is I'm dead and I can be daring and style it anyway I want. Bruce my hairdresser takes a lot liberties with my lifeless body but I don't care. My hair always looks wonderful,

r144 there are actually lots of dead people on DL - we meet for lunch on Tuesdays if you want to join us. It's very informal !!

I think a lot of people get discouraged after death and let themsevles go. You may not be able to stop the rot, but you can manage it better!

I try to keep a stiff upper lip and so far it hasn't;t fallen off. Thanks for the warm wishes !! What you you doing later this week? I'm busy on Tuesday but otherwise have no commitments ...

You know, in a generation or two, few people will know who John McCain was; everyone will know who Aretha was.

R148, exactly! Obama chose the wrong funeral.

R93 you were REPRESENTING!

Obama is lazy and, as usual, chose wrong. Michelle is in it for the vacations.

All the "racist" criticism from when they were in office continues to be true.

I can't wait for the home going. The Obamas are old news. No one care about them. Queen Aretha Franklin will be immortal.

[quote]I was mocking Hillary's girth and I enjoyed doing so. Hillary gave the USA Trump by her self-indulgent obsession with being president. I have no respect for her and I will mock her everytime I get the opportunity. I wish the Clintons would go far far away and just stay there, This includes Chelsa and her ultra rich husband. If they do this I won't mock them anymore.

Get some help, dear. They have no idea who you are. They never will. And they are happier for it.

[quote]Hillary gave the USA Trump by her self-indulgent obsession with being president.

How dare a woman run for president, right R143. The crazy BernieBro who would blame the women for being raped.

No, R143 is the classic BernieBro who "blames Clinton for losing by not voting for her".

The anti-Obama, anti-Clinton posts on this thread are obnoxious and obvious trolling.

[quote]R143 is the classic BernieBro who "blames Clinton for losing by not voting for her".

Of course I voted for Clinton. She would have made a terrible president but anything is better than Trump. She was a deeply flawed candidate but her massive sense of entitlement pushed her forward. She ran a lousy campaign and she lost. And if she had won by now she would have screwed up 15 times.

All you Hillary girls stayed a little long at the party. It's been almost two years and you're still worrying about someone calling her fat. I have zero sympathy for Hillary. She screwed the Democrat party with her overweening ego and now we are paying the price. Grow up girls - time to move on.

Three hours. Wow. I hope they get a potty break.

[quote]She ran a lousy campaign

Trump was hardly ever ahead of her in the polls. You are an idiot R157.

R159, Trump was always ahead but the polls did not reflect that fact. Many people who voted for Trump were too embarrassed to publicly admit they were going to vote for Trump. Even the exit polls on election day prove people lied in order to save face. Not everyone who voted for Trump is a MAGA-waving deplorable.

Well she lost big-time in the Electoral College and she lost many states that Obama had carried so I think you are the idiot. But this thread is about Aretha, and and you haven't said anything original, and I'm not interested in debating you.

I read an article from a black man in Detroit, and he said that judging from the program, the funeral will easily last 10-12 hours! He was laughing at the scheduled times for various speakers and performers. I think he's probably right.

It's interesting that Mariah Carey, who claimed to be so very close to Aretha, wasn't even invited to the funeral, much less asked to perform. And this is after she had an emotional meltdown on Twitter the day Aretha died.

R163, do you need an invitation to a funeral though? I can understand her not being asked to perform; her voice may not be in great shape.

The fact that she won the PV by 3 million proves my point R161. She also got as many votes as Obama did in 2012 and beat Trump's ass in all three debates.

Obsessive and obnoxious BernieBros just can't face the fact that the election was stolen from her.

Apparently you can't face the fact Hillary lost and are blaming everyone but her.

More information: Our Queen, Aretha, was today resting at her father's church New Bethel Baptist Church on Linwood in Detroit. She wore a floor length gold gown covered in rose pink and sequins. Matching shoes, of course. She was glorious, and Rev Jesse Jackson who came in to town Wednesday, remained close following her to church.

We don't know if Mariah was invited or not nor do we now if she was asked to participate. Now I must go online to find the Memorial Concert going on right now with Gladys Knight and NOT Dionne or Patti La Belle.

Apparently you the Russian troll, can't face the fact that the election was unfair, tampered with by Putty, that democracy in the US is under attack and that Trump is an illegitimate president.

But sure, Hillary suffers from entitlement.

STOP messing on Miss Aretha's home going thread with your politics bullshit take that mess outta here

Mariah, Oprah, Angela Bassett, Chaka, Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson and others attended Whitney's funeral without being part of the ceremony. I expect Mariah to be there and many famous white singers too. Aretha was a monumental voice and something so much more personal to most people's experience of her voice. Her death means something. Someone great has left us and people can feel that.

R129 They did not think Whitney was any kind of role model. Barack never mentioned her after she died, and Michelle said that she had told her daughters Whitney's story meaning how she destroyed herself with drugs.

Mariah has her Vegas residency this weekend. Those dates are planned far in advance, and given that the shows are struggling as they are with attendance, I don't think Casears would just let her cancel last minute.

Patti has a prior gig as well, and said that she wouldn't be able to be there.

Oprah is going to be there. Whoopi Goldberg as well.

The big question is where's Cissy Houston?. One of the longest of Aretha's professional associations and certainly the most historical.

Whoopi's going to Aretha's funeral? I wonder if she'll truck on over to DC for McCain's funeral. After all, she works with Meghan on The View and has been kissing (both) McCains' asses since Meghan started working (read: screeching) at The View.

Why should Cissy go? Aretha didn't bother going to Whitney's funeral, yet somehow found the strength to perform that night in concert.

Aretha was so unique and I loved her completely from "I never loved a man." My friends and I would play the album through dancing to every song and flip it and do same on the other side. I can still hear the progression by looking at the list below. Later - more albums and more dancing. I was living in San Francisco and the whole city was playing her songs. I wasn't old enough to get into regular dance clubs but there were gay teen dance clubs the biggest being "The Big Basket." I went to the "Basket" almost every night and danced to almost ever song.

Side one 1.t"Respect"tOtis Reddingt2:29 2.t"Drown in My Own Tears"tHenry Glovert4:07 3.t"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"tRonnie Shannont2:51 4.t"Soul Serenade"tKing Curtis, Luther Dixont2:39 5.t"Don't Let Me Lose This Dream"tAretha Franklin, Ted Whitet2:23 6.t"Baby Baby Baby"tAretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklint2:54

Side two 7.t"Dr. Feelgood"tAretha Franklin, Ted Whitet3:23 8.t"Good Times"tSam Cooket2:10 9.t"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"tDan Penn, Chips Momant3:16 10.t"Save Me"tAretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, King Curtist2:21 11.t"A Change Is Gonna Come"tSam Cooke

R174 Aretha had leg issues and couldn't make the back and forth commute.

And much like with Mariah, Radio City is not a venue you can afford to cancel out on.

I just noticed Carolyn Franklin wrote (or co wrote) a couple of the songs on "I Never loved a Man"

Carolyn also wrote Angel, probably one of my Aretha favorites.

I love Whitney Houston's voice above all, but her funeral was a mess. It was moving because of Costner and the terrible grief of her tragic life and beautiful voice but the "entertainment" underperformed and cousin Dionne acted like she was calling a charity bingo. Some front row fighting between Bobby and Cissy and who the fuck knows. Whitney lived a messed up life of lies and enablers and villains. Her homecoming reflected that.

Aretha is a queen, in name and truth. Some people are old and wont sound their best, but everyone will bring their best. It is a bit much. Frankly, she deserves it and the country needs to see it. Glory.

R165 = Jews and their numbers.

Jews and their babbling about Russians.

If the pallbearers lift Aretha's casket onto their shoulders, as opposed to carrying her at their hips, then you know she was a "made" woman just like Whitney.

[quote]The fact that she won the PV by 3 million proves my point. She also got as many votes as Obama did in 2012 and beat Trump's ass in all three debates.

Well we disagree and there's no point in continuing this conversation. I'm enjoying the Aretha comments she was such a big part of my life.

This is the perfect occasion to refresh yourself and lift your spirits with a little Diamond Diana before entering the church. I dropped a bottle off for Retha yesterday

How many devices are you posting from, R182? I just want to make sure I don't see your posts.

Best of luck to you. Go in Peace !!

Were Whitney still alive, I bet she would give us one hell of a casket dance.

[quote]STOP messing on Miss Aretha's home going thread with your politics bullshit take that mess outta here

Tell that to Vlad @ R143, he started this and is still all over this thread.

3 costume changes? When Cher dies, she'll have even more than that at her funeral, plus several wig changes as well!

Apparently that shameless CUNT Ariana is trying to profit off of our beloved Miss Aretha.

[quote]It's unbelievable tacky that the Obamas are skipping the funeral after she performed in the bitter cold at his Inauguration.

I totally agree!

I am just glad Aretha had class and never palled around with shady Nazis like Farrakhan.

Farrakhan is one of the speakers and why not? I'm really impressed with who they chose and who wasn't picked for popularity sake. If anyone saw Ariana sing Natural Woman on The Tonight Show the night Aretha died, you know why she won't be singing at the funeral. Not because she can't sing, but because she doesn't understand.

Faith Hill recorded a duet with Aretha that was never released, but Aretha liked her and Faith is a great singer to be honest. There is a good reason for most everything scheduled, including the corpse crossed legs.

Farrakhan is attending a tribute concert, not the funeral.

Ariana Grande will definitely be singing tomorrow at 11 AM unless the opening ceremonies run a bit longer than scheduling permits. I suspect we will see many famous people. Le Bron James will be there for one thing.

I doubt Minister Farrakhan was invited. He probably called to try to fit in. It's amazing how tacky a lot of so-called celebrities are at a time like this. They just want to make sure they can be seen.

I once went to an exclusive event, and there was a VIP Cocktail party before it, and I was at the party and as we walked over to the ballroom for the event following the cocktail party there were all these so called movers and shakers standing around the lobby chatting people up. they didn't buy a ticket, they weren't at the head table, but they wanted to make sure they "networked" the event.

Ariana will NOT be singing Natural Woman. Hopefully never again. Kelly Clarkson is the one who should perform that song. She covers Aretha all the time in her concerts and she understands her music better than any singer under 40.

Farrakhan will attend the funeral, but I don't feel like arguing. Why can't he attend?

Farrakhan has been announced by the family. What's the big deal?

they went all out, high heeled red pumps , costume changes and a gold casket.

totally over the top and completely appropriate.

Louis Farrakhan the Black Nationalist Black Muslim leader was implicated in the murder of Malcolm X. yes. Check it out. He is the David Duke of the Black Muslims. I seriously doubt Aretha would have wanted him at her event. Someone in her entourage probably knew him and he found a way to insinuate himself into the proceedings.

Don't lay your troubles on mine R198. Who killed Sam Cooke?

Do you think fights will break out amongst the colored folk not allowed entrance to the funeral ?

Farrakhan is a Nazi, a racist, a homophobe and on top of all a Trump supporter.

They're admitting 2000 members of the public to the funeral itself. They have to be in line by 8:30 AM .The funeral is taking place at the Greater Grace Temple and it's pretty big. Google it. There will be no fighting.

Sam Cooke was busted in a motel with another man's woman. He got shot either by her husband or his other girlfriend. I forget. He was a pretty thang.

r201

and, i shit you not,a scientologist.

Yes, I know about Farrakhan. Do you really think that in her long life of personal, political and musical activism that Aretha did not come to know him? Why can't he attend her funeral? Bill Clinton ain't afraid of him. Obama is, ha.

Aretha as far as I know never had any affiliations with the NOI.

Aretha apparently spent the night with Sam Cooke when she was very, very young.

I would have, Sam Cooke was amazing and gorgous, still one of my favorite singers of all time.

*gorgeous

Yes, of course. Famously so. Aretha loved that pretty Sam Cooke. That's why Halle Berry was supposed to play her in the biopic, but Halle too old now...

Jenifer Lewis brought the house down at the memorial concert. Marc Shaiman played piano.

Jennifer Hudson has the chops to sing "Natural Woman." Aretha hand picked her to play the lead in her biopic. Was Jen invited to the funeral?

Aretha Tribute Concert - Live Stream

YES she did. I love Jenifer Lewis and some more here do. That's my point. They are not choosing people based on fame or regular values of popularity but on criteria that we don't know. Class, talent, sentiment, authenticity, heart and spirit. Jenifer is a great god damn entertainer and nothing like most of the others on the bill.

Smokey looks great, no matter the surgery. He moves well, sounds strong and knows how to fend off TMZ while taking a commercial flight to celebrate Re.

Yes, r211. Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia are both singing tomorrow at the funeral. Those of us who know, done knew before. There is no other Aretha and never will be, but those two ladies can do her SOME justice.

Kelly Clarkson can too. She won American Idol from some standout Aretha covers and she loves her everyday still. I don't know why Kelly is not included in the celebration, but that's ok. Even Whitney couldn't handle Ain't No Way the way that Kelly can.

[quote] Tell that to R143 .. he started this and is still all over this thread.

I'm really flattered you pay such close attention to my posts. I think my original post about Hillary at r118 is funnier. Also Hillary is mentioned in r120 - it's sort of silly but fun …

... and here you are again asshole R143=R216 and who know how many more Russian troll accounts you have, trying to derail this tread.

haha - you are amazingly preceptive. I am a indeed a Russian troll and I've been sharing my love of Aretha. Even us Russian trolls love Aretha. and yes - is my sworn duty to derail this thread. I've chosen humor. I hope to make you laugh !!

I highly doubt ANY of Aretha's secular hits will be performed in the church house of all places!

People, this is going to be the HOME GOING of all HOME GOINGS! Get ready for some preaching and shouting til your wig falls off.

The Clark Sisters are on the program and I'm sure they will be bring the house down with Fantasia, Jennifer and the rest.

I'll be shocked if Carole King isn't there tomorrow.

Tyler Perry is speaking tomorrow.

For those of you suggesting Aretha personally had some interest or friendship with Minister Farrakhan, I have to say, she would be appalled at the suggestion. The Black Muslim NOI, had people strutting around outside her church passing out their newspaper attempting to seem mainstream. And for years the neighborhood around her church has been a base for them, they even have a temple not too far from New Bethel. There are a lot of Black Muslims living in that neighborhood, and the women even showed up to go to Aretha's wake. Aretha had no problem with individual people who embraced that religion. But Aretha lived and died a strong Baptist and her Baptist faith meant everything to her. She is defined, personally by her faith and her church experience. So there is no way she would have courted or expressed any interest in the NOI or Farrakhan, who is a separatist. I'm sticking to my theory that someone in her entourage knew someone from the NOI and Farrakhan himself wormed his way in like the parasite he is.

Attencion, mes amis!!!!!! Miss Maxine Waters, the very honorable Maxine Waters Congresswoman from California is in the house!!! She's in church waiting to take her seat visiting, chatting and being MAXINE.

Where are you watching? Got my coffee and cigs. Ready!

I went to WDIV TV a local NBC affiliate in Detroit. Go to their facebook page they are live streaming

Tell me if it works. If not go to the Detroit Free Press and they have a link to a live AP feed.

Gladys Knight is there. Clinton is there with Jesse Jackson, Jennifer Hudson just arrived.

Thanks. The Det roit News website has a direct link. Working nicely. Want to give D Town hits.

And mayhem ensues.

R228 WTF ?? No mayhem ensuing in Detroit, child.

Is that Tyler Perry?

Eirc Holder is there, Tyler Perry, Sharpton, all milling around gossiping. Love it. Love the live cam inside the church. Wish I was a lip reader. No Hillary. Faith Hill is getting ready

Bill Clinton, first Black President. Hillary is moving around nicely sans back brace today.

Oh fuck. Somebody let Whoopi in.

I didn't see Hillary. I thought I did but it was Senator Stabenow who has a similar hair do.

Smart Detroiters set up a jumbotron screen outside so people who can't get in, can watch and participate. Shit. Just like the Queen.

Hillary is there.

What is Aretha wearing today?

Any sighting of Oprah?

Trump's head must exploding...the "Fake media" is covering not only John McCain's funeral but a beloved black woman's star studded funeral too.

More than 100 pink cadillacs LOL!

[quote]What is Aretha wearing today?

They actually said she is in a gold dress and shoes.

I can't let Ree go without the help of DL.

Ariana Grande and her boyfriend SNL Pete Davidson were hugging Hillary and posing with her. I LOVE IT> Hillary is IN THE HOUSE!!!!!! So Aretha has TWO PRESIDENTS at her funeral. Yaass Yaass.

Ariana Grande looks STUNNING!

Can you queens tell me who I'm seeing? Miss Warwick, please, if you're here, hon.

Just saw Whoopi Goldberg sitting in the audience and so is Martha Reeves from Martha & the Vandellas.

Did Tyler Perry bring his beard

Faith Hill looks too botoxed.

Pete Davidson looks stoned.

First video

Pete Davidson looks sick. Literally. His complexion is grey and waxen. I've seen Meth heads who looked healthier. He won't be around long.

Tyler is sitting with Whoopi. LOL!

Something is very wrong with Jesse Jackson. He had a lot of trouble getting out of his seat to greet people and seems sedated.

Hillary looks lovely.I love her tunic. Saprkly grey ish Black.

Fucking Farrakhan is on the dias. Aretha has a following among Black Muslims I guess. Must have been family member who got him in.

No Oprah and Gayle so far?

This is magnificent. Historic.

If you're keeping track of the outfit changes:

[quote] On Tuesday, at Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Queen of Soul wore 5-inch patent leather Louboutin pumps that matched a tea-length ruby red dress made of lace — with a full tulle skirt and chiffon overlay.

[quote]On Wednesday, at the Charles Wright, it was a powder blue dress and matching shoes.

[quote]For the final public viewing, at New Bethel Baptist Church Thursday, the Queen of Soul was dressed in a rose gold custom knit suit with pink beaded lace. She also wore a specially made pink South Seas pearl necklace and earrings. Her shoes were rose gold sequin Christian Louboutin heels.

[quote]On Friday, Aretha Franklin was dressed in a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels for her funeral at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

Liza Minnelli is there!

Bill Clinton should stand next to Jesse Jackson all the time. Clinton looks positively robust and healthy compared to Jesse.

The police thing is odd.

Yeah, it is. Especially the pregnant one in the front....

R253 are you serious? I can't imagine Liza subjecting herself to the marathon of a Black Funeral for a dignitary. They all last for hours. And there are never enough toilets.

R254, we were saying the same thing. Jessie Jackson looks very unhealthy

How common are open-casket funerals in the USA? I'm British and the only person I've ever known who had an open-casket funeral was my great-aunt, who was American.

So just found out you can watch the entire funeral on Headline News the CNN affiliate. HLN station where ever you are has All Aretha All day. Yyaass!!

The local coverage is better because they have stories.

Which local coverage? Detroit News? Or CNN affiliate?

Floral arrangements include Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Elton John, and the family of Otis Redding.

Any local, Detroit News, Detroit Free PRess WDIV, WXYZ, are all local. The HLN is CNN cable affiliate o it's national. I'm impressed HLN is doing that.

Whats the significance of white dresses?

R259, open casket is pretty common. Though usually it's only the top half that is open. But, that's usually only at visitation. Not sure I've ever seen an open casket at the church. One of the camera angles I've seen today looks like the casket is open again.

For those asking about local coverage, we're watching the Fox 2 affiliate. The other local TV stations are probably covering too and doing live feeds on websites/facebook.

DL doesn't do Fox.

It’s also on BET.

The choir i glorious and I love the piano.

BET streaming or TV?

BET cable channel

The Bounce Network has it OTA. In LA, this is 34.3

Beautiful.

Thanks for BET tip. Much nicer on large TV screen.

No one is speaking to Farrakhan. Al Sharpton's seat is adjacent and he can't move far enough away.

Cameras are different on streaming vs TV. Church must be loaded with cameras.

BET & HLN are cable. and yes it's much better on the large screen. I am also grateful because CNN and the rest are at the Capitol in D.C. with Paul Ryan & McConnell and Pence to do the ceremonial for McCain. A sea of white faces. Ugh.

Cicily gots her hat ON!

Watching HSN...Peabo Bryson sounds so gay and phony...

OMG, that is a glorious hat. You go, Cecily!!!!

Zzzzz

Carole king just walked past. Watch for Oprah.

Not really the same R267. This local station used to be part of CBS. There's probably some chain of ownership, but it's nothing like Fox News.

I'm loving this choir and music! Though I do wish they'd get going with the service..

BET is broadcasting commercial free, bitches!

Why is it taking so long to close the damned casket. there are like 80 people standing there.

Its a metaphor for letting go slowly.

Big Sean is there. Lord, the drama!

I like the choir quaking

The prescher with the red vest on leading the singing is Rev. Bishop Ellis. This is his church.

Clinton knows how to be a successful politician.

Obama never got it.

Wow jesse is back down there with the casket instead of being on the dias.

When they closed the casket lid, you could see a bit of her glittering gold gown.

Hillary looking lovely.

Hillary seems a decade younger than Bill, both in terms of appearance and mobility. She looks like she could teach a Jazzercise class at any moment.

Hillary looks a decade younger than she did during the campaign. Good for her.

I can't even say how glad I am Hillary is there.

I knew Oprah wouldn't show up.

Oprah should have attended. With humility if that's possible.

Are we sure Oprah isn't there? She was supposed to come.

Of course Hillary and Bill Clinton showed up. They are treated like royalty by old black folks. During her 2016 campaign she would often go to a black church during any campaign low point.

Don't start.

Umh, umh, umh ... yezz law'd

Faith Hill sounds patently awful.

Sing it Faith!!! Whitey

Who’s the hot guy sitting behind Tyler Perry?

Let the pretty white gal do her thing for Re

Faith Hill . . . That’s a big “no.”

How in the hell did Faith Hill end up there? She was awful and the crowd ain't buyin' it.

Tyler wants that young stud on his lap. Yum.

Off key. But she loved Ree and Ree loved her.

I thought she was wonderful! Faith and Aretha were friends and Faith loved her, has been singing her praises all week. Regularly covers her songs. So STFU.

We in church now.

Shhh

Will someone please tell otherwise-still-handsome Bill Clinton to *close his mouth* when he is sitting in repose. Good Lord! He's lettin' it hang open like some GOOBER sitting out on the front porch of the local mercantile store.

If that's your level of taste, God bless, R311.

Tyler's going to score some good dick today.

I hope that Ariana hides her crack pipe.

O damn, now I gotta go to Aretha Franklin Park.

It's not about "taste" today, R314. Today is about the people who had a relationship and a love for her. Abut authenticity. And Faith Hill is also a religious person and so was Aretha. I don't have to love her music to respect Faith Hill. She's a good woman.

How many homos in the house?

We may never know, R319.

Half the room is on the down low.

Ariana! Oh, lord, she is singing Natural WOman, in a mini skirt. Awful.

Calm down, R318. This is Datalounge and snark is the coin of the realm.

Ariana Grande is here to remind us that Aretha’s power, range, and her great diction were practically unique.

What a fucking inappropriate EVERYTHING from Ariana Grande. Aretha would never have sung that song in a church, first of all. And her attire was plain disrespectful.

Al Sharpton's face was fucking priceless. And if looks could kill, Jesse Jackson would be charged with murder.

Was that Louis Farakhan sitting on the end?

Grande's garb was inappropriate but I honestly don't think she knows how to dress any other way.

Yass Al, praise Aretha!

Smokey smelling cookies

FYI the Daily Mail is also broadcasting the entire service live. Also, at the changing of the guard ceremony today at Buckingham Palace, the Welsh Guards Band played RESPECT in honor of Aretha's funeral.

I love Smokey Robinson.

Beautiful, Brits.

she thought she was too good to stand in line, she cut the line, right in front of me! I asked her, "are you aretha franklin?", she said "yes"

good thing the shit she wanted was all sold out. not available. can't always get what you want honey, no matter who you are. huge entourage too.

Well it's about fucking time!!!! The Clark Sisters are killin' it!!! Gospel to. the. bone.

OK I'm watching online and the feed is fine. WDIV is still up and Vanessa Bell Armstrong is killin' it. A classic.

Ariana represents the current pop crop. I guess she was the best of the bunch.

I'm a little worried that Bill may flip out. He has already wiped his face with both hands a couple of times.

Is that Mary Wilson sitting next to Whoopi Goldberg?

Maybe. It would make sense for Mary Wilson to be there.

I'm more concerned about Jesse Jackson who cannot seem to figure out what to do. He stood upp at one point just staring. then he walked out for a while. Then he sat, tried to get up, Sharpton & Clinton helped him, then he was repeating the cycle.

Fave TV show!

Jesse has Parkinson's, which is exacerbated by stress. All this hoopla is stressful no matter how you cut it.

I can't believe they haven't brought Clinton on yet!

Is JHud there?

Yesm she's there. I think Bill Clinton is trying to stay alert. I've seen him gossiping with the Bishop .

This granddaughter is sweet. But she should have removed her sunglasses before stepping up to the alter.

Somebody tell me about the white frocks.

Did y’all catch the Rev. Al Sharpton’s burn of Trump? Something about “teaching Trump the meaning of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. “ It got a standing ivation.

Aretha's niece and her grandchildren are grounded, smart, and very cool people. I'm impressed.

Why aren't Bill and Hillary sitting together?

because he is up on the stage with the dignitaries who are making speeches. I hope Bill calls Hillary to the stage. Show her some love.

Who is this non singing fool? So lousy.

Beautiful rendition of Mercy Me by Aretha’s son. Love.

He’s not young himself; Aretha had him when she was 14.

Sorry I didn’t realize it was her son. But still, awful. His emotions got the better of him.

But Hillary's sitting on the stage also, R347. Same front row just further to the side.

I'm exhausted already.

Will MSNBC carry live coverage all day?

I see how this works. By the end the sentiment is just bury her already.

MAXINE WATERS

Did people upthread think Obama had a "choice" in funerals to attend?

He was asked months ago to deliver McCain's eulogy. I'm sure he would have gone to Aretha's homegoing if he could have, but him picking her funeral over John Mc's would have been against protocol - not to mention handing the Trump deplorable pieces of shit more reasons to claim he was a bad president.

Is Jennifer Holiday gonna be performing “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”?

No, R358, Aretha is.

This opera singer with Ave Maria is really excellent. I remember the Brazeal Dennard Chorale. he was family. They sang classical music and he was an authority on Black Classical composers going back to the 1800s.

People understood the Obama's had prior commitments. It is just a shame that they couldn't be there for this, because it just feels right having the first African American President and First Lady help send her off.

Also the Obama's, Farrakhan, Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in one stage together would have been truly something.

Doesn't seem right to keep Bill waiting this long. He's ancient and not well.

Bishop Marvin Sapp has one hell of a voice . Singing right now. Damn.

The first black President is there. He’s sitting next to Jesse Jackson.

Did I miss Fantasia?

Is Oprah there? Gayle?

You don't keep a former President waiting this long. Really bad form.

I think the whole thing's been a drag so far, really expected more and better music.

You know, I have to give Hillary & Bill credit. They didn't just show up when it was time to make a speech. They went to the funeral to honor the deceased. So many VIps are so damned important. They run in and out staring at their watches. Clinton has never done that. He shows...RESPECT

I thought this Erik Holder guy was Stedman when they were showing him in the beginning.

I'm not watching right now. But is Hillary they're too?

Oprah snubbed Queen Aretha! I wanted to see what Oprah would have worn.

Funeral Program page 1

Funeral Program page 2

That Michigan Senator is doing both funerals

Lazy Obama

Both Clintons look awful.

Hillary looks lovely, but Bill does appear depleted of energy.

Is Bill OK?

Bill, don't stroke out at the Queen's funeral...

Is Bill medicated?

Bill is rambling and disjointed and Hillary is slouched down in her chair with her hands in her pockets.

Bill does look ill - but he can still give a great speech

And Hillary looks fine

Bill talks like he has a mouth full of marbles or ill-fitting dentures.

If Obama couldn't appear at both funerals, then Michelle should have been at Aretha's funeral. That would have been a lovely and meaningful gesture.

OK. He pulled it together. How you doin baby?

Bill is doing fine. He is talking to his audience and he still got it. he's a spellbinder.

Bill’s hand is shaking.

“She kept getting a little bigger every day.”

Ariana sang Natural Women because she was asked to do so by Aretha’s family, BTW.

Bill clearly has a form of dementia. When he speaks from his own experience, observations and feelings, he is incredible, but he stumbles at transitions or if he loses his place. Sadly, I know a lot about this.

I’m waiting for Madonna to share her memories of Madonna

Meds do that. Have you had by pass surgery?

Chaka Khan is gonna sing!!!!!!

Audrey Dubois Harris has a magnificent voice, and that piano player is killin' it. Sorry, I enjoy the speeches but I'm here for t he music. They really didn't need Ariana Grande she is kind of irrelevant.

Will the family squabble over her legacy/cash? James Brown’s family is still squabbling and he’s been dead for over a decade.

Interesting to me there are no younger generation black artists. Why isn't Kanye there? Or Drake? These people are standing on Aretha's shoulders.

Or did she specifically not want them?

Say what you want about Clinton, but when he gets up to a podium, he can really deliver.

That said, I can't believe he is going to be able to sit there much longer without having to pee!

Gladys Knight reveals at Franklin funeral she has pancreatic cancer

Any photos of the 100 pink Cadillacs? That's what I wanted to see!

I guess the Clinton's left.

Judge Mathis was just awful. Some of these people should have never been involved. Ugh.

Shirley Caesar was outstanding.

R397, check the video in this link

Do you, dear?

OK. It's going on 3 PM. Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Holiday, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and that incredible Black Preacher from North Carolina (or is it South caraolina) who gives an amazing speech. So I'm going to say 4:30.

Chaka with the lyrics taped to her fan

She sounds great!!! And Maxine is feeling her feels!!!!

Yes Chaka looks and sounds great

Chaka Chaka khan. Wonderful. Ariana couldn't produce that resonance if her ponytail were on fire.

Where's Whoopi and Al Sharpton?

Damn. I'd love to go to a church and hear that kind of music one Sunday. Not for 6 hours but maybe for one or two. It would be like going to a free concert.

The funeral started late, It was after 11 AM so this is about 4 hours. So far.

Ron Isley doing that

Holiday and Hudson! A battle of the Effies perhaps ?

Ron Isley got me tearing up, and normally I don't care for him. I love "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," and he is doing it beautifully.

Well, that was awkward. I was yelling at the TV, "someone go help Jesse put that microphone on the stand!"

I was waiting for him to drop it.

Rev, Barber is setting the house on fire. Great Preacher!!!!!!!

R408, pop into your local AME Baptist church on Sunday morning. But don’t expect to go unnoticed. Because your presence will be made known to the congregants. If that’s a good thing, enjoy. If that’s a bad thing, you’ve been warned.

Did the Obamas send flowers at least?

Very surprised at them.

Here’s Fanny. MSNBC is showing her but talking over her.

Here we go. Fantasia. She knows how to church real good.

Love that Jesse Jackson spoke of how few votes cost Hillary Michigan. And all the world will be in love with night....

Fantasia is ready y'all. Some of you don't like her, but you're about to.

Fantasia is churching!!!! They gonna have to lead her off because she has transported herself to another level!

I do think combining Precious Lord take My Hand and You've Got a Friend was a good solid arrangement.

Damn, theyre already 3 hours over schedule.....this will go on til 7 easy

This is so insanely long.

Ariana sounded like shit, her boyfriend is ugly as sin and a druggy, and they're both underdressed. Put a tie on him and her skirt needed to be at least below her fingertips.

A bit much if you ask me. But then, blacks have always spent their money on clothes and cars, so Aretha didn't disappoint.

Cicely! Wearing the hell out of that hat!

Pete was there? Did he shoot up in the church bathroom?

Eric Holder is still there. I oved Jesse's saying about how long the lines are for funerals and how short they are at the polls.

My God, Cecily Tyson is magnificent!

She is but what the hell is that thing on her head??

Mother Tyson: I need these absolute best fune hat ever for Aretha.

Hatmaker: Say no more, Sis.

Is Diana there? Patti?

Diana sent flowers. Did the Obamas send ANYTHING? Even a video "we can't be there" tribute?

A gust of wind and Cicely Tyson is going to Sister Bertrille right off that stage.

Cecily had the MOST incredible hat!!!!!

Fuck you, Clive.

Not a funeral, it's a circus

Aretha liked Clive. And Aretha died rich.

Cicely is a goddess, straight up.

Magnificent.

What'd he ever do for Nippy?

R434, why are you here? Why are you watching?

Her funeral, her money, her beloveds.

I'm sure everyone will be thrilled with your five-minute funeral.

I don't know how rich she really was. I hope it's true. I don't think it's anywhere need $80 Million like they're claiming. She is worth a lot now, but Aretha was notorious for not paying her bills and taxes and being in debt. So while she may have been wealthy she had a serious cash flow problem and she was supporting her entire family. Her sons, grand kids, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews, cousins, etc.

Expect wig and weave pulling for rights to her image and music sales.

Cicely Tyson wore a pre-approved hat from Aretha ! Baby that thang is covering the whole church with the blood of Jesus

R430, did you miss the letter?

Just saw the Uber Racist imam farrakhan in the front row. WOw! What a turn off.

Where's Quincy and Eminen and Kid Rock?

To answer your question 438, because it's like watching a car wreck, you just want to see how bad it really is.

Where’s The Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent?

Where’s the “I Don’t Like Mens No More” guy?

So was Dionne there or not? Pattie Labelle?

Was Johnny Mathis there? Lionel Richie? Carole King?

Clintons jetted out of there after Bill spoke but Jesse Jackson still hanging in, Parkinson’s and all.

Just saw that Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, and a few others sent floral arrangements.

R444, Eminem is busy dropping his new album (with his usual homophobic slurs!) today.

Cicely Tyson came to slay heaux that don't know.

MISSION SUCCESSFUL

Fantasia tore that shit

UP

^ The girl can sing and she has some great tunes out there. Chaotic life though. She should be more successful.

Who is this Harpo looking motherfucker giving the sermon now?

Fantasia has the chops but she screams too too much. She reminds me of another talented singer I knew who had some hits but then faded. They could have resurrected their career if they'd have worked with a vocal coach and took some advice. Sometimes you can't tell an artist any damned thing. And yeah, Fantasia has a very chaotic life. She looked wonderful today. She looks like she is not doing drugs anymore.

The vile preachers are showing up. I'm checking out.

Cannot Stand Michael Eric Dyson. He's a big phony. I met him, went to a few of his lectures. Huge ego. Loves to hear himself talk. And talk. And talk.

I just spied DL icon Jenifer Lewis.

I applaud the selection of lovely pinks and lavenders for the roses surrounding the bier during her viewing. SOOOO much more tasteful and young than a bunch of traditional funereal re or white flowers. It actually LOOKS fragrant and sweet in the photos.

Michael Eric Dyson spitting fire. “this orange apparition, lugubrious leech, foolish fascist..dimwitted dictator” on and on. Dayum.

Jennifer Hudson singing Amazing Grace. This could be the finale.

Patti LaBelle performed last night at a memorial concert in Detroit.

Gotta say. A lot of these younger singers with powerful voices think all you have to do is scream and shout and they fail to understand and appreciate the expressiveness and the shadings of a true soul/gospel singer. Jennifer Hudson starts loud, and has no where else to go. Check out how expertly Chaka Khan and some of the other established groups worked that audience.

Jennifer Holiday and Yolonda Adams have yet to perform.

R462, Steve Wonder is the finale, according to the program.

I would love to have had the concession stand for this event! Maybe a food truck right outside.

They need to do the house version of some of these songs - speed it up a little!

When do these poor people eat? Is there a buffet out in the lobby to nibble on throughout the day?

^^Megan McCain

Why the pink cadillacs? Springstein sang it first, then Natalie Cole.

" We goin' ridin' on the Freeway of Love inna pink Cadillac...."

This is just excessive at this point. Wayyy too long. That audience (what’s left of it - they just showed it and the place is half empty) must be numb.

Stevie won't notice.

R470 Different songs

I feel bad for the orchestra & the choir. they haven't peed all day. No food, no water....

Any new pics of open casket please

Most people don't know that Aretha's "R-e-s-p-e-c-t" is a cover of the song by the original artist, Otis Redding on STAX Records.

They also don't know that Aretha was born in Memphis, her father and mother native Mississippians.

I’m sorry but I had to shut it off...most of the performances were a letdown and some of the speakers were a tad too pompous. Except for Bill Clinton. He’s a womanizing sleaze, but man, can he speak.

Hudson was a disappointment today, but she can calibrate her performances much better than that. Her voice has a sharp unpleasant edge when she shouts too much, but she has a glorious voice when she takes the time to shade her singing.

Is it over yet?

R479, thanks for posting that. I don't like the harshness, that "sharp, unpleasant edge."

No the guy from Georgia is still eulogizing. I started cooking. My dinner is almost ready.

No, R80. We lost Jesse and Clinton’s long gone but Farrakhan still hangin in there.

Well, soon coming up on 7 hours. I thought 5. but 7 is more like it. Then they go to the cemetery for the graveside burial service. ...which, fortunately will NOT be televised.

Aretha needs a costume change.

R480 Yes, it's over.

This preacher going on about black on black crime and telling black people to stop killing black people. Also smokin crack and drunk all the time. Odd place for this.

Presumably the production values will be higher at the televised tribute that Clive is throwing at MSG in November

r93 Thank you for the details. I wish I could have been there.

It was sweet of you to give us that fine report.

It is my understanding that Obama and George W. are SPEAKING at McCain's funeral tomorrow. They both sent excellent letters which were read aloud. MSNBC listed a lot of the celebrity tributes including Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart, Elton John, and so on.

I stuck with until Fantasia, with the shoes off. I just couldn't.....and I notice that half the church was emptying out as well.

While some of the speakers have strayed into inappropriate political statements, this dude is totally off the subject. What does Aretha Franklin have to do with black on black crime and the plight of black America?

Though he was just dissing Aretha's father, which likely isn't going well with the rest of the family.

My mom said that he's been talking for almost an hour.

[quote]Hudson was a disappointment today, but she can calibrate her performances much better than that.

According to the performers, they couldn't hear themselves performing because of the loud band in the back and they had no monitor to hear themselves. They were all winging it the best they could. It was horrible conditions.

When are they gonna do the hologram thingy with Aretha, Whitney, Michael, Prince and Jimi Hendrix? After this fame whoring pastor is done at 7pm?

Church looks pretty full to me. I sure would've got me a food truck over to the place if I was in detroit. Not packed but a very decent crowd.

BET just caught a woman in the audience passed out cold. Thise poor people.

R493 Can I be included? I'm not really busy.

Half the band is nodding off too. This guy is STILL shouting. OMG Talking about “turning black America around.”

Are people laughing at Reverend Williams? He's hijacked the memorial and it's ended on a low note thanks to a Trump level narcissist. Oh, and he gave Chaka the stink eye. Looked her up and down and turned his head in disdain. But that didn't faze her. She parked herself right in front of him and kept on wailing. Love that bitch.

Farrakan wouldn't have been this tiresome. Of self-involved. Get the goddamned hook.

Oh mah guh! This man is sucking the life out of the room. Aretha gonna be mad.

They're not laughing. They're talking about how totally disrespectful he's being. Especially when he started talking about how a black woman cannot raise black boys by herself ... ummm Aretha was a single mother of 4 boys!

Why was Fan running around with that wiglet in her hand? It was creepy. I obviously missed something when I stepped outta the room. Who'd she snatch bald-headed????

He practically cleared the room. It's like the Sharp Objects finale. You will have to scroll through the credits to see Stevie Wonder perform.

I keep watching the blonde violinist right behind the podium. She must be ready to slit her wrists.

"No one told me it was going to be this looooooooong!!!"

At least the black orchestra members are used to black funerals and know they take all day and all night.

Cue the keyboards....Stevie on deck! Ugh. Finally

Stevie will be very anti-climatic. He can't sing at all anymore. I love Ms. Gladys. They've all known better days. Walk On.

Damn, Gladys Knight sounds great. My god, you would never know that was from a 74 year old woman.

Gladys is nailing it. That, my children, is how it's done.

Oh look, a song the white people know!

Gladys sounds pretty great and she looks so pretty. She isn't pushing her voice where it can no longer go. A pro.

R508 took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you, Gladys. Man, Tyler Perry, and Cecily Tyson are among the VIPS who have toughed it out.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. looks so sad. he has a mental illness and had to be hospitalized. he is clearly unwell.

I thought Jesse's fat ass was just being grumpy but I think he can't see - he looked sick.

Was that Miss Jenifer Lewis in the audience?

This sad harmonica is so bittersweet. Finally some real feeling.

Jenifer Lewis, Shirley Caesar, Valerie Simpson and Stevie have toughed it out too.

That's a huuuuuuuge harmonica, Stevie.

He's playing The Lord's Prayer on his harmonica. Awesome.

Jenifer Lewis and Valerie Simpson are there too R5111. Roland Martin. The Rev. Jackson is heroic.

The beautiful Our Father on the harmonica. Lovely. Don't sing Stevie.

Stevie preaching. “Black lives do matter. All lives matter.”

George Michael and Mary J. Blige did Stevie's "As" that he's singing right now.

Stevie stills sounds great and that harmonica piece was so beautiful.

Stevie still got the pipes. Brought the crowd back to life!

If she left a proper will, her grandson could get that mole removed from his cheek tomorrow. Go Stevie!

This made me LOL

This is the most EXTRA THING I have ever seen in my life

This funeral is so long Aretha’s been reincarnated already.

I've been edging myself since 9am for THIS finale? Let down, right down.

It's pretty terrible to be honest. But they are trying their best. BET will put on a tribute to Aretha that will be much more musically satisfying and The Grammys will probably do a two hour celebration like they did for Whitney.

Nevertheless, this is what Aretha wanted for her Home Going. I love her and all of you too. Peace.

How about that choir though. Truly sublime and the best part of the whole thing.

OK. This is IT. they are getting ready to take Aretha from the church....hold.....hold....hold...

Annnd the peoplpe said AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

Did Jennifer Hudson change wigs? I can't be bothered to remember half a what just happened today.

Fantasia grabbed somebody's weave and was singing with it while barefooted. Jennifer Finale (Holliday?) sounds pretty good.

OK. Thanks Jennifer Holliday. No, really. thanks. 'K? The choir and the orchestra are about ready to eat the sheet music. Dear God...take us home. Please.

Bless everybody who stayed and tried to keep the energy good. If some of those obnoxious preachers could have kept it to 15 minutes everybody wouldn't have looked so exhausted and deflated. But this girl has to stop screaming like Linda Blair. She scaring everybody.

Damn. We can close this thread out with just a bit more gossip. I'm so fucking over this funeral. Will someone please stick a cork in Jennifer's mouth? Trouble is this is her finale. She is all fresh and ready to sang her heart out. (Boy has she lost weight. I remember her from back in the day. I guess she's "not goin'"

Slow's BBQ on Michigan Ave is going to be wall to wall.

Jennifer Holliday’s hurting my ears. Why must they screech at the top of their lungs like that?

They are trying to "feel the spirit"

Goodbye Aretha. Thank you for the beautiful songs you've left for us.

💕.

The DM still has the live feed out in front of the building. The traffic leaving is more enthralling than most of today's speakers.

Is it really over now?

I feel like I just binge watched a show on Netflix. Now what? This thread came to a crashing halt and now I'm sad.

Just tuned in at the end of local coverage in Detroit & there was talk of some celebrity (either at the service or unable to attend) being very ill. Don't have the time (or interest) to go over this thread, so perhaps it's already been addressed. Anyone know who the celebrity is?

Where is the internment?

R545 Gladys Knight said she had the same disease as Aretha but DL thinks she just has dementia.

Woodlawn Cemetery, R546. This service was so damn long I almost read "interment" as "interminable."

Thanks, R547.

You should have gone upstairs for a nap as I did

Now we wait for all the casket shots in the tabs.

You're welcome, R545.

What did everyone think of Ariana’s performance? I thought it lacked depth and a hard edge to the song. She sang a pretty version. Jennifer screamed too much for Amazing Grace. I wasn’t sure I would have known the song had I not known beforehand. I’d give them both an “A” for effort.

Another change of clothes before she's buried?

Haha.

R552 I'm R547. Why are you saying your welcome for me? I would have gotten around to it. Your welcome R545

Your. Oh, dear.

The twitter page doesn't exist. What was it?

R556, no I thought it was R546 thanking me for my post at R548. Apologies.

^messing with you. Sorry Mary at R556. I'm exhausted. I was at a very very long funeral today. You're welcome.

Aretha will be interred in the Main Mausoleum at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetary. I hope the family builds a private mausoleum for Aretha.

A gold-plated casket and easy entry to a mausoleum is a tad too enticing for the Detroit grave robber.

Twitter is MAD about that Jasper fool. And yes, Miss Gladys wasn't even supposed to perform, but she got up after that sick eulogy to heal the spirit. I love her.

Ariana's dress was too short for either (a) attendance at a funeral; (b) attendance at the Greater Grace Temple; (c) both. If this was any other Sunday, one of the old church aunties would have come and put a lap scarf over her legs.

This beautiful photo is the cover of the new issue of Vibe.

That can't be a print copy. I was sent the last issue of Vibe maybe 6 years ago.

It's a digital issue. Sorry.

So glad I am a nobody and wasn’t invited to Aretha’s funeral.

Is it finally over?

She’s home?

I watched ALL DAY at work. This has to be a record long service, even for Baptist funerals. But Aretha would've wanted it that way!

The Clark Sisters are my favorites as always. Ron Isley went out of his way to mention how much Aretha loved Karen and I bet she did. Twinkie was killing it even though you couldn't see her. I wish they could've done at least 3 songs in place of some speakers that really didn't need to be on the program.

I also wish they would've had more contemporary acts but I'm sure we will be seeing Aretha tributes for the next year and beyond.

The guy who kept droning on and on making Aretha's service all about himself reminded me of that pastor who did Harry and Meghan's wedding.

Some here are erroneously sayin the homegoing was held at a Baptist Church. It was at an Apostolic Church, a type of oneness Pentecostalism.

Ha, Jenifer Lewis never did get her meds right. She was funny last night at the concert though.

Louis Virtel is a funny bitch too.

Nice words from Hills. She looked great today.

R574 Funny? That ain’t no adjective you use for a cunt! To call her 13 year old niece who’s trying to comfort her a bitch is pure nastiness.

I guess you think you are funny R577? Calling Faith Hill "whitey" and using the C word? I'm sure Jen Lewis didn't call her niece a bitch. It was a s t o r y, get it? She's a performer.

[quote]How about that choir though. Truly sublime and the best part of the whole thing.

Yeah, that choir was amazing!

McCain v Franklin a 2018 funeral battle? I love both of them dammit. I hope the mashup at the end of the year is done well and links their worth

I watched the entire thing today as well; now I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

I did too, R581. The only thing missing was the food. Damn they usually have great food after a seven hour funeral.

I thought that Greg Mathis was an ass. Totally had nothing to say. Babbled. The Governor was useless and uncomfortable. Babbled. One Aretha's nephews lives in ATL. I wonder if he was responsible for inviting that preacher who did that atrocious hour long insulting Eulogy rant. I read somewhere that he also preached at Aretha's father's funeral. I

if I could go back in time, I would have eliminated the Governor, and there would have been no Faith Hill, no Ariana Grande, no Fantasia, no Jennifer Hudson. No Michael Eric Dyson either, and no Isaiah Thomas. No Preacher from Atlanta to take an hour to insult everyone with an inappropriate speech. Smokey, Stevie, Clive Davis, Tyler Perry all knew Aretha for many years The rest of the musical performances should have been all the gospel singers. Clinton, Jesse, Cecily Tyson, all fine. That would have reduced the funeral to about four hours.

Yeah I watched til it was done, done, done, as Pastor Blowhard said. I wouldn't have missed it but I've heard enough caterwauling to last me a year. Is Vanessa Bell Armstrong ill? I almost didn't recognize her. Hope she's okay.

I agree 100% r582. They should've had a separate private service like Michael Jackson did, and spared the public from some of these speakers and singers that we didn't need to see.

I spotted some fine brothers in congregation. I totally would've been working the room in a nice fitted suit that showcased my booty!

So who was the hot piece seated directly behind Miss Tyler Perry?

Chaka Khan was the best performance.

Were gays allowed in the church?

R588, there would be no choir if they didn't let gays in.

Was Miss Chaka wearing an André Leon Talley original frock?

No doves???

r586, Aaron O'Connell from his show?

Jenifer Lewis and Angie Stone singing back-up for Stevie. But who are those other women? and what happened to the Yolanda Adams performance? she was seen in the audience.

The “fune” jokes on twitter kept me quietly howling with laughter at my desk today. Thank you Aretha.

Yolanda pulled out because the performing conditions were terrible. All the performers were furious about it, too. They got out of there as fast as they could. That's why the performances were poor.

r593 Yolanda did perform but it probably got lost in this service that went on ALL DAY

WOW, R592, just WOW!

I could have sworn I spotted Sister Patterson from VH1's I Love New York in the audience.

The woman with the grey braids singing with Jennifer Lewis and Angie Stone was Martha Reeves from Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Did anyone sound as bad as Mariah did at MJ's memorial?

Miss Angie Stone = D'Angelo's baby mama