Aretha Franklin's open casket memorial in Detroit is soon approaching and the Chene Park Amphitheatre event will feature 23 acts to take the stage to pay tribute to the late Queen of Soul. According to TMZ, the August 30th memorial will have a mic for each artist to do an acoustic or live cover of a song with or without an accompanying band. The artists, as listed below, will have to pay for their own air, ground and hotel accommodations, the publication reports.
The Four Tops
Gladys Knight
Johnny Gill
Ron Isley
Kiki Sheard
Kurt Carr
Jean Carne
Doug Carn
Ronnie McNeir
LJ Reynolds
Tasha Page Lockhart
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dr. Bobby Jones
Jenifer Lewis
George Faison
Angie Stone
Raheem DeVaughn
Gracie Franklin
Eddie Franklin
Victorie Franklin
Santita Jackson
Ralph Armstrong Band
As we know, Aretha passed away on August 16th due to pancreatic cancer. "You know, she was my baby. And so we were really, really close and to do anything with her was always a joy," Smokey Robinson said of his relationship with Aretha. "And we had a wonderful, wonderful friendship that lasted throughout her entire life and... up until yesterday, Aretha Franklin was my longest friend on earth. All of our other friends that we grew up with were gone."
