someone uses those gifts in ways that enhances humanity. aretha franklin was given special gifts but she used it in a special way. and she would not want us to celebrate her without talking about, she stood for something. she never shamed us. she never disgraced us. she never made us make excuses for her. she represented the best in our community and she fought for our community until the end. [ applause ] i first met miss franklin when i was a teenager. i had become youth director of new york operation bread basket. she would come to the strategy
but what we remember most is that amazing voice, a voice unlike any other that we could all sing too even if none of us could sing like aretha franklin. it combined so many elements of her and of america. she was of detroit, wasn t part of motown but is as good or better than any of the motown singers. she came out of the church, the gospel choir of her father, the reverend c.l. franklin. she could combine gospel with rock and soul. and even opera. she could do it all. that s why she s so much more than an image. and i was so struck by learning something i have not known, she was first of all, she played the piano. her mother was a pianist. she played the piano from childhood. one of her childhood friends saying when she was 5 years old she was on the keyboard. she went and enrolled in julliard in the late 90s because she wanted to refine her
and i say that because when word had went out that ms. franklin passed, trump said she used to work for me. no, she used to perform for you. she worked for us. [ cheers and applause ] aretha never took orders from nobody but god. so, aretha, as you get your rest, my mother passed about six
special edition of velshi & ruhle. time now for andrea mitchell reports. and today the world and detroit bidding a final farewell to the indisputable queen of soul. you heard faith hill. aretha franklin being laid to rest today in her hometown, m moto motown, of course detroit. franklin died at 76 following her battle with cancer. she was brought in the hearse that once carried rosa parks. the streets outside are lined with pink cadillacs in a nod to her hit song freeway of love. the service is about an hour behind schedule. it includes star-studded musical tributes honoring franklin s life and legacy. and of course political tributes. hillary and bill clinton are there. bill clinton arriving to a standing ovation as they avoid at the service.