(CNN) — Aretha Franklin’s funeral was an farewell fit for a legend. Between the star-studded appearances and heartfelt tributes, here’s how family, friends and famous fans said goodbye to the “Queen of Soul.” Presidential tributes Former president Bill Clinton joked that he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were “Aretha groupies.” Clinton added that Franklin, who performed at his first inauguration in 1993, “lived with courage” and “cared about broken people.” “I just loved her,” he said. Former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also wrote letters that were read during the service. “She made important and lasting contributions to American music with her gospel-inspired style and distinctive voice,” Barbara Sampson read on Bush’s behalf. Obama added in his letter: “Aretha lifted those of millions, empowering and inspiring the vulnerable, the downtrodden, and everyone who may have just needed a little love.” Smokey Robinson’s touching goodbye Saying goodbye to a person he called his “oldest friend,” Robinson’s very personal speech gave a glimpse into his relationship with his childhood friend. “I know you’re celebrating with your family and our neighborhood friends who are all gone. And you’re going to be a featured voice in the choir of angels,” he said. While not among the official list of performers, Robinson also sang a few bars from his ballad “Really Gonna Miss You,” visibly moving some of Franklin’s family members. Filmmaker Tyler Perry, acting legend Cicely Tyson and music executive Clive Davis were also among the many speakers. Standout performances With a lineup that included Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and Ariana Grande, Franklin’s funeral had enough heavy-hitters to populate the lineup for a music festival. Nothing less would be expected for a musical great’s celebration. Wonder sang “As” after delivering a speech that emphasized the power of love. “We need to make love great again,” Wonder said. Hudson brought mourners to their feet with a powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Earlier in the lengthy ceremony, Grande performed her take on “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” the 1967 song written by Carole King that became one of Franklin’s signature hits. Performers like The Clark Sisters, Chaka Khan and Yolanda Adams also entertained the crowd. Jennifer Holliday closed the service. A tribute fit for the ‘Queen’ Early in the ceremony, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his intention to propose naming Chene Park, a 5,000-seat waterfront amphitheater, after Franklin, a move that drew huge cheers from those in attendance. “Our beautiful waterfront jewel will be Aretha Franklin park and when performers from generations to come from around the world come here they will be reminded they are performing at the home of the “Queen of Soul,” he said.<doc-sep>The author and sociologist Michael Eric Dyson, who attended the funeral, said outside that Ms. Franklin’s connection to people was built on more than that fabulous voice. “She represented a soul music tradition,” he said, “that really dug deep into the roots of gospel to tell the world the agonies, the ecstasies, the joy, the griefs of what it meant to be a woman, a black woman, a woman struggling for self-definition and humanity in a culture that refused to acknowledge our existence.” [Listen to 20 essential Aretha Franklin songs.] Born in Memphis in 1942, Ms. Franklin moved to Detroit as a young girl, and by her teenage years had a budding career as a gospel singer. With her father a celebrity preacher, their home was visited by black luminaries like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Ms. Franklin, following the path of Sam Cooke, soon made her way to pop. But it was not until 1967, with her first recordings on the Atlantic label — including smoldering songs like “Respect” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” — that she took on her full role as a cultural giant, adored not simply as a supreme vocal talent but also as a symbol of civil rights and women’s empowerment. “She was born in Memphis, Tenn., on the Mississippi River, and she understood the pain of segregation and rejection,” Mr. Jackson, a longtime friend, said in an interview in advance of the service. “Her gift was a spirit that penetrated, from ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘I Never Loved a Man’ to ‘Respect.’”<doc-sep>The bishop who officiated Aretha Franklin’s funeral, Charles H. Ellis III, apologized Friday to Ariana Grande for how he touched her onstage and a joke he made about her name. Accompanied by her fiance Pete Davidson, Grande traveled to Detroit to attend the ceremony and perform one of Franklin's signature hits, "(You Make Me Feel Like) "A Natural Woman," which she previously sang on the "Tonight Show" on Aug. 16 shortly after Franklin's death. After Grande's performance, Ellis , the officiant leading the service, brought the singer to the podium, where he cracked a joke about her name sounding like a Taco Bell menu item and awkwardly greeted her on stage. Images of the moment showed Ellis’ hand holding Grande well above her waist, with his fingers pressing against one side of her chest. The preacher apologized in an interview with The Associated Press at the cemetery where Franklin was interred late Friday. "It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast. … I don’t know I guess I put my arm around her," Ellis said, adding: "Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize." He added: “The last thing I want to do is to be a distraction to this day. This is all about Aretha Franklin.” Many people posted close-up images of the moment on Twitter, tagging it #RespectAriana. Ellis also apologized to Grande, her fans and Hispanic community for joking about her name. "I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community," Ellis said. "When you’re doing a program for nine hours you try to keep it lively, you try to insert some jokes here and there." Grande's fiery rendition even moved her ex-boyfriend, Big Sean. The rapper was also in attendance at the funeral and was spotted swaying to Grande's singing and giving her a standing ovation when she finished. After her performance, Grande laughed at Ellis' comment, hugged him and told the crowd, "I love you, Aretha" before leaving the podium. Some Twitter users were up in arms over Grande's funeral attire, criticizing the singer for wearing a minidress to church. "Ariana Grande baby that’s not what you wear to a funeral," one user tweeted, with someone else comparing her outfit to "how you look when you come straight to church after being out at the club." Grande also had her defenders, with some fans arguing in favor of her sartorial choices. "If Ariana Grande's dress makes anyone uncomfortable, I'd suggest you check that demon within yourself and not blame that young lady for YOUR perverted mind and or the perverted minds of others whom for whatever complicit reason you choose not to check instead," read one pro-Grande tweet. Twitter also had plenty of jokes about Davidson's presence at the funeral, with people puzzling over why, besides being Grande's plus-one to the event, he got an invitation in the first place. "Ok we all have limits and my limit is Pete Davidson sitting VIP at Aretha Franklin’s funeral," one user tweeted. Another wondered, "Can you imagine being at #ArethaHomegoing...looking over and seeing Pete Davidson?" But there was no doubt on social media that Ellis was too close during his awkward Grande embrace from the podium. Contributing: Associated Press<doc-sep>“I’ve got to apologize because I have to brush up,” he said shortly after calling Grande back to the podium. “My 28-year-old daughter tells me, ‘Dad, you are old at 60.’ When I saw Ariana Grande on the program, I thought that was a new something at Taco Bell. Girl, let me give you all your respect.”<doc-sep>
Controversial Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan’s presence at Aretha Franklin’s funeral today drew strong reactions from the online community. Farrakhan was given a seat of honor on the pulpit at the funeral, flanked by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Bill Clinton, and MSNBC commentator and activist Al Sharpton. Farrakhan did not speak at the event. The Franklin/Farrakhan relationship dates back several decades, according to a statement Farrakhan made after her death. ‘In 1972, when I was minister in New York City, Temple No 7, the police attacked our mosque. Within a few hours, Aretha Franklin came to the mosque, to my office, and said that she saw the news and came as quickly as she could to stand with us and offer us her support,’ Farrakhan wrote. ‘She asked me if Rev Jesse Jackson had been there to show support. I said, not yet. She said, he’ll be here within 48 hours. Rev Jackson came and stood with the Muslims. ‘We marveled at her show of courage, fearlessness which was rooted in her profound love for her people and her desire for justice for us. ‘Her activism, her selflessness caused her to stand with Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement as she joined the struggle of our people for liberty, equity and justice. Farrakhan tweeted the statement calling Franklin: ‘Our Queen And Our Giant In The Black Struggle.’ The Nation of Islam also handed out free copies of its newspaper, The Final Call, which featured a Franklin tribute on the cover. His presence at the funeral was a hot topic online. I love Aretha Franklin and this big tribute is wonderful to see, but Louis Farrakhan? His views on Jews, gays and immigrants show a complete and total lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Someone should call him an Uber the F out of there. #ArethaFranklinFuneral — Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) August 31, 2018 @ArianaGrande singing tribute to The Queen funeral in Detroit with @LouisFarrakhan Rev Jax @ALSHARPTON_REV and Pres @BillClinton …The conspiracy Folks probably gonna have a field day speculating-but the fact is that Aretha Franklin ushered this moment of cultural reSpect for US — Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 31, 2018 Dumbfounded at image of an anti-Semite like Louis Farrakhan prominently seated on dais @ Aretha Franklin's funeral service. Her song "RESPECT" became Civil Rights Era anthem; seems so antithetical to what Farrakhan stands for. I'm sure there's reasonable explanation for it … — James A. Gagliano (@JamesAGagliano) August 31, 2018