Contributed by Scott Lipscomb
R E S P E C T! The famous words from the late Aretha Franklin! She was honored in Detroit this weekend by some of Hollywood’s stars.
A grand unveiling of the Queen of Soul’s handprints in Legends Plaza was the main topic of conversation at the temporary commemorative exhibit on Franklin’s life. The prints were first created during the 2017 dedication ceremony of Aretha Franklin Way in her hometown of Detroit. The music icon is the 31st person to have her handprints included in the Plaza.
Aretha Franklin died in 2018 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.
“Legends Plaza stands as a testament to the worldwide contributions of Detroiters,” Elana Rugh, Detroit Historical Society president and CEO, said in a statement, according to The Detroit News. “We are proud that Ms. Franklin chose to add to her legacy with a permanent display on our plaza at the Detroit Historical Museum, and we couldn’t imagine a more appropriate space for her handprints to be accessible to her fans from Detroit and across the globe.”
Respect director Liesl Tommy and award-winning singer-actress Jennifer Hudson, who portrays Aretha Franklin in the film, both attended the event as well as Kecalf Franklin, Aretha’s son. The highly-anticipated biopic will release in theaters on Aug. 13 and will also star Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland and others.
“We are grateful that everybody is recognizing her and her accomplishments in life,” Kecalf said.
The exhibit features mementos and artifacts from Aretha’s career including album covers, jaw-dropping performance dresses, and more.