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Aretha Franklins family planning open casket public memorial in Detroit

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Flowers and tributes are placed on the Star for Aretha Franklin on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, August 16, 2018, following the death of music icon, legendary singer and "Queen of Soul" loved by millions whose history-making career spanned six decades. - Franklin, who died at age 76 on August 16, 2018, influenced generations of female singers with unforgettable hits including "Respect" (1967), "Natural Woman" (1968) and "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968). She passed away at home in Detroit from advanced pancreatic cancer. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Thousands of fans are expected to attend the forthcoming memorial (Picture: AFP / Getty)

Aretha Franklins fans will be given the chance to say goodbye to the Queen of Soul.

The family of Franklin, who passed away yesterday (16 August) at the age of 76 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, are planning to hold an open casket memorial in her home town of Detroit.

TMZ are reporting that the singing legends public memorial will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit – the same site where a similar memorial for Rosa Parks was held back in 2005.

The big venue has been selected in anticipation of the thousands of mourners who are expected to attend the upcoming memorial, which will be open to the public.

Sources close to the Franklin family have told the online publication that the memorial will be open casket.

A date has yet to be set for the service, however.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock (8619121s) Aretha Franklin Tribeca Film Festival Opening Night Concert for 'Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives', New York, USA - 19 Apr 2017
Franklin will be laid to rest in her home town of Detroit (Picture: Rex)

Franklins fans have already been gathering at the site of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to pay their respects to the singer.

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Among the items left in honour of Franklin at the site – which was given to the singer back in 1979 – was a gold crown with red velvet padding, and a plaque with featured the iconic lyrics from her version of the song I Say a Little Prayer.

MORE: Patti LaBelle ends Aretha Franklin feud after singers death to remember her sister in soul

MORE: Aretha Franklin only performed Respect 77 times throughout her career

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