01 September 2018
Newsdesk
Jennifer Hudson showed why Aretha Franklin chose her to portray the Queen of Soul in a new biopic by performing a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace at the legend's funeral on Friday (31Aug18).
The Oscar winner took the stage at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan towards the end of the six-hour funeral marathon and brought mourners to their feet by belting out the 1779 hymn, written by English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton.
Dressed in a simple black velvet shirt and jacket and wearing a matching fascinator hat, Jennifer hit all the right notes, backed by the funeral choir.
Chaka Khan, Fantasia, and Ron Isley also added their voices to Aretha's funeral, which kickstarted with Faith Hill's performance of What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Ariana Grande's rendition of the late Queen of Soul's hit (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
In between tributes from Smokey Robinson, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton, Tyler Perry, Cicely Tyson, and music mogul Clive Davis, there were also show-stopping moments from Chaka, who belted out Goin' Up Yonder with the funeral choir, Isley, and Fantasia, who performed Take My Hand, Precious Lord barefoot on the stage.
The service also featured speeches from members of Aretha's family, TV judge Greg Mathis, and Detroit sports legend Isaiah Thomas, who remembered watching his mother courtside at a Detroit Pistons basketball game, sandwiched in between Aretha and Stevie Wonder.
The funeral wrapped up with performances from Wonder and Jennifer Holliday, who sang as the soul legend's gold-plated casket was carried out of the church.
