GOODBYE ARETHA FRANKLIN, QUEEN OF SOUL

Photo Credit: Scott Olson/GettyImages

                                                 
                                                   The singer had specific burial requests.

Aretha Franklin, lost her two-year battle with pancreatic cancer two weeks ago. Per her wishes, the Queen of Soul wanted several different outfit changes for her three public viewings, she had three outfit changes for her viewings and funeral — here's why.

Aretha Franklin, revered for her powerful voice and captivating presence onstage, died on August 16 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul championed an era of civil rights, women's rights, and, of course, served as an inspiration for today's most popular artists .

As the world continues to mourn, fans have gathered en masse to pay their final respects to the 20-time Grammy winner.

Adhering to her final wishes, Franklin's family is ensuring that all of the late singer's burial requests are honored.

Speaking with CNN, the singer's niece Sabrina Owens emphasized that her aunt would only want her burial proceedings to be conducted with absolute precision.

"We know that she would have wanted nothing but the best," Owens said. "She gave the best, she expected the best and she would want her fans to have the best."

This includes multiple outfit changes.

"She is presented in a way that reflects her life and her legacy," Linda Swanson, executive vice president of Swanson Funeral Home told the Detroit Free Press of the outfit changes. "She is, indeed, resplendent in repose, as a queen should be."

Her family decided to hold three separate public viewings ahead of her Friday funeral in Detroit.

She wore red as a nod to her honorary membership of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Franklin's first public viewing was on Tuesday in her hometown of Detroit, and her body began lying in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Hundreds of fans traveled to wish their queen, who was dressed head to toe in red, a nod to her honorary membership of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, goodbye one final time.

"Red was one of her preferred colors," said O'Neil Swanson II, owner of Swanson Funeral Home, the team tasked with overseeing the "Respect" singer's funeral arrangements.

The dress was "something she would have selected for herself,"Franklin's niece, Sabrina Owens, told The AP.
For her second viewing, she wore a blue dress

Franklin's family opted for a light, powder-blue dress with sparkling shoes to match for Wednesday's viewing, a change from Tuesday's royal red garment.

She wore rose gold for her final viewing

Many came to her New Bethel Baptist Church viewing. Jeff Roberson/APImages

For her final viewing at New Bethel Baptist Church on Thursday, Franklin was draped in rose gold.

Her team clothed Franklin in a rose gold custom knit gown with pink beaded lace. The suit was accompanied by a custom-made pink South Seas pearl necklace and earrings. Her shoes were rose gold sequin Christian Louboutin heels, the same footwear designer from Tuesday's ensemble.

For her funeral, she also donned gold

For the singer's Friday funeral, which will take place at Greater Grace Temple, Franklin will be dressed all in gold. Specifically, a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels, according to an on-air report from CNN. It's unclear if it's the same dress as Thursday or a fourth and final outfit change.






Here's what you need to know about the funeral.

Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, pastor of Greater Grace Temple, will serve as officiant for Franklin's funeral on Friday. Rev. Robert Smith, Jr., Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, will sit alongside him as co-officiants.

The church comfortably sits 4,000 and Ellis expects attendance to be at maximum capacity. He also revealed that 16 or 17 performers will take the stage, and a full choir of 120 singers will open the service.

Speaking with Nischelle Turner of Entertainment Tonight, Ellis emphasized the intent of giving the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee a proper send off.

"And I've said to the family that Ms. Franklin, she played to a full and packed house everywhere she went. This was her last presentation; it's got to be wall to wall."

Jennifer Hudson, the "American Idol" alum who Franklin personally chose to play her in a future biopic, will sing "Amazing Grace."

The late singer's funeral will be a private gathering of family and friends, however, fans near and far can watch the 6 and a half-hour events takes place via Livestream on Friday starting at 7 a.m. PDT.

The Greater Grace Temple in Detroit will live stream the observances on its website, from the start of the remembrance until its conclusion around noon PDT.

The funeral would air live on TV, Fox News and MSNBC plan to cover the tribute, and CNN will have a crew on site with plans to air the ceremony alongside their other news coverage, according to the Detroit Free Press. BET, BET Her and BET.com. Headline News (HLN)