Dignitaries, celebrities, friends and family have gathered in Detroit to say their final goodbyes to the ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin.
The US singer died at the age of 76 earlier this month.
Her golden casket was officially closed this afternoon as mourners began to fill Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple for the funeral.
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Tyler Perry, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Ariana Grande were all in attendance at the memorial service.
Grande performed (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman with the Aretha Franklin orchestra.
Ariana Grande performs during the funeral service for Aretha Franklin, 31-08-2018. Image: Paul Sancya/AP/Press Association Images
Former presidents George W Bush and Barrack Obama sent their condolences.
Franklin died on Thursday 16th August after a long battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Franklin announced her partial retirement last year, saying she would release one last album and perform at "some select things."
It emerged in recent weeks that the singer passed away without leaving a will.
Smokey Robinson blows a kiss during the funeral service for Aretha Franklin, 31-08-2018. Image: Paul Sancya/AP/Press Association Images
At the funeral service this afternoon, her granddaughter Victorie Franklin said: "When I was young, people would ask 'What is it like to be Aretha Franklin's granddaughter?' and I'd shrug my shoulders and say, 'I don't know, she's my grandma.'"
"You felt every emotion in every note and watching her on stage, I knew that performing was something I was born to do.
"I love you Grandma and I'm going to make you proud."
