Last week, Aretha Franklin’s death rocked the world. Although the legendary singer had lived a long fulfilling life, no one was ready to say goodbye. Almost immediately after news spread about Aretha Franklin’s death, most fans were asking one question: when would the funeral be?
As expected, there was a private service scheduled for the “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” singer’s immediate family but fans have wondered would there be a public opportunity to pay respects. Now, that question has been answered and it may just be the silver lining most have been hoping for.
Aretha’s Public, Open-Casket Viewing:
According to NME, the schedule for the legendary signer’s upcoming public viewing has been released. Fortunately for fans, there will be multiple opportunities to pay respects and say goodbye to the Queen of Soul. Check out the viewing schedule that has been set for the beginning of next week:
Fans will be able to pay their respects to the star in her hometown of Detroit next week, where her body will lie in repose. Between 9am and 9pm on August 28 and 29, mourners will be able to attend the open casket viewing at the city’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Demands For Privacy:
The decision to have a public, open-casket viewing may come as a surprise to most fans simply because we all know how Aretha felt about her private life. She wasn’t one to let too many into her personal life. Privacy was a top priority for the famed singer and she had no problems clappin’ back at people who attempted to invade her space. So, why was Aretha so sensitive about keeping a lid on her personal life? Well, it has been reported that her first marriage back in the 60s may have been the reason for that. According to Fox News, David Ritz – the author of Aretha’s 1999 memoir – shed light on previous rumors about her personal life and how she worked to maintain the public image she’d created.
“There were stories of her being a victim of domestic violence and she didn’t like that,” he explained. “She didn’t like the image of her being a beaten woman. She loved the blues but she didn’t want to be seen as a tragic blues figure. She put out a picture of her having a happy home and happy children and everything was rosy and any stories to the contrary really got her mad.”
He continued, “She’s not atypical in her privacy, she’s just extreme,” said Ritz. “I think her strategy for emotional survival was an idealization of her life in general. When you tend to idealize things, you don’t have to deal with a lot of the tough realities.”
In fact, when the cancer rumors began circulating back in 2010, Aretha Franklin not only refused to answer any questions but she made it clear all aspects of her personal life were not up for discussion. She even went a step further and admitted there are things she didn’t even discuss with her immediate family. Those things stayed between her and her doctors. “I don’t have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors,” she said in an interview with JET, adding, “The problem has been resolved.”
In the wake of the tragic loss, Aretha’s family has also requested privacy as they grieve. “We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
