Thousands expected to pay tribute to Franklin before funeral

Thousands are expected to honour Aretha Franklin at public viewings ahead of her funeral on Friday.

The late Queen of Soul is lying in state at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Tuesday and Wednesday and at the New Bethel Baptist Church on Thursday, where she performed as a teenager.

Franklin's gold-plated coffin arrived at the museum on Tuesday, surrounded by colourful roses and accompanied by a selection of her gospel recordings.

Inside, the singer wore an ornate red dress and high heels, and was positioned in repose with her legs crossed at the ankles.

Hundreds of people have been lining up outside to pay their final respects, with some travelling from as far as Las Vegas and Miami.

Franklin died from pancreatic cancer on 16 August, aged 76.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History hosted a similar viewing for civil rights icon Rosa Parks when she passed away in 2005.

Paula Marie Seniors, an associate professor of Africana studies at Virginia Tech, said the setting is fitting, as Franklin is "being honoured almost like a queen at one of the most important black museums in the United States".

Franklin's funeral will take place at the 4,000-seat Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on Friday.

Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill and Chaka Khan will all perform.

Former US president Bill Clinton - who was a long-time friend of Franklin - and singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson will also speak at the service.

Former presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama are also understood to have been invited.

The private funeral will be limited to family, friends, dignitaries and special guests - but a large screen is being erected for public viewing according to Bishop Charles H Ellis III, pastor of Greater Grace Temple.

Dozens of pink Cadillacs will also line the streets, in honour of Franklin's 1985 hit Freeway Of Love, according to local media.