Aretha Franklin will be laid to rest on Friday, August 31 at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan, and Ariana Grande has just been confirmed as one of the performers. The 25-year-old joins musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Faith Hill, Shirley Caesar and Chaka Khan, who were already set to perform.
The 25-year-old was one of the first musicians to pay tribute to the late Queen of Soul, performing a rendition of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” with The Roots while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the day after the 76-year-old’s death. The “God is a Woman” crooner allegedly “broke down in tears” as soon as she left the stage, as she was still incredibly emotional over the icon’s passing.
Aretha’s rep, Gwendolyn Quinn, says the “Respect” singer’s family was touched by Ariana’s performance on The Tonight Show and therefore wanted her at the funeral.
AG met AF a few times over the years and fondly remembers a time when the legend casually gave her a phone call.
Ariana recalled on the talk show, “”She called me one time and she goes, ‘Hi, it’s Aretha!’ And I go, ‘Franklin??’”
She also added, “It’s an honor to have met her and we’re going to celebrate her.”
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