Aretha Franklin
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Detroit Bishop Apologizes for Comparing Ariana Grande's Name to a Taco Bell Item and Grabbing Her Breast
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III apologized to Ariana Grande for grabbing her breast during a hug and his insensitive joke about her name after she sang at Aretha Franklin’s funeral Friday, according to the Associated Press. Ellis, who officiated the funeral service, was quickly blasted on social media for his behavior. After Grande performed, Ellis…
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The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace Pays Its Respect to Queen Aretha
For whatever issues they have (and there are many: colonialism, imperialism, Brexit, etc.) one thing that I will always love about the Brits is their love, esteem and admiration for black—specifically African-American—music. From the Rolling Stones paying homage to the blues men of Chess Records (and going to Chicago to sit at the feet of…
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Livestream: Aretha Franklin’s Funeral in Detroit
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is being laid to rest today in Detroit in what will be a star-studded celebration of her life, music and legacy. Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Bill Clinton and Stevie Wonder are just a few of the luminaries who will pay their R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to…
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The Schedule for Aretha Franklin’s Funeral Is the Most Optimistic Schedule I’ve Ever Seen in My Entire Black Funeral Life
They gon’ lay Aretha Franklin’s burdens down in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 31. And it’s going to happen in tremendous fashion. Her body has already seen outfit changes fit for a woman whose fashion stylings were as much a part of her charm as her take-no-prisoners attitude about the industry. Queen Aretha is being sent…
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Fit for a Queen: Even in Death, Aretha Franklin Makes a Fashion Statement
As mourners filed past Aretha Franklin lying in repose on the first of a two-day public viewing at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, they were likely comforted to see that the Queen of Soul, avid lover of luxury, was to be buried as she lived—in high style. As reported by USA…
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Mourners Can Pay Their R.E.S.P.E.C.T. to Aretha Franklin Today in Detroit
Tuesday morning marks the first day the public can pay tribute to legendary singer Aretha Franklin in Detroit, Michigan. Starting today at 9 a.m. and running through Wednesday at 9 p.m., Franklin’s body will lie in honor at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in a gold casket. As the Detroit Free press…
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No Respect? Ahead of Her Funeral, PETA Asks Aretha Franklin's Estate to Donate Her Furs
Aretha Franklin’s funeral doesn’t take place until Friday, August 31, but already, precious pieces of her reportedly $80 million dollar estate—which Franklin left without a will in place—are in demand. Case in point: Last Friday, August 24—just over a week after Franklin’s death at 76 on August 16—animal protection organization PETA sent a letter to…
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Blacks Are Not a Monolith, But I'll Bet Al Sharpton Misspelling 'Respect' on Live Television Made Every Last One of Us Cringe
On the list of unsolved mysteries I have stored in my brain, one near the top is why Warren G didn’t go back and punch in a bar with the correct spelling of the word “next” in his song “What’s Next.” For whatever reason, the version that went to mastering and to the three million…