Photo by David Guralnick for The Detroit News
Aretha Franklin now has her very own street in her hometown of Detroit.
On Thursday, the Queen of Soul was honored with her very own street named “Aretha Franklin Way.” The area is at the heart of a performing arts district in Detroit.
“It’s a dream come true,” Franklin, now 75 years-old, said during the ceremony. “What a magnanimous honor to bestow after coming up in the streets of Detroit.” Along with the street sign unveil Franklin headlined the inaugural Detroit Music Weekend festival, performing a free hour-and-50-minute show to 14,000 people, and received a key to the city from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
In an interview with Billboard, Franklin said that the performance may be her last in her hometown.
“I hope not, but it’s possible,” Franklin said. “It’s still moving in that direction. It’s winding down. There’s a warranty on everything. Fifty-four years of traveling and flying…can be very tiring. I’m not happy, exactly, about doing something that you’ve been doing for 54 years that you really, really love. But nothing lasts forever.”
READ: Tribeca 2017: Opening Night With Clive Davis & Aretha Franklin Was Epic
Earlier this year, Franklin performed at Tribeca 2017’s opening night alongside Barry Manilow, Jennifer Hudson, Dionne Warwick, Carly Simon, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Franklin closed out the night’s festivities and performed two songs, “Natural Woman” and “Freeway of Love.”
READ: A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg Will Have A Street Named After Him
According to Franklin’s website, she still has several tour dates left for the year, including one at this year’s Toronto Jazz Festival. Watch videos of the street sign unveiling below.
Detroit street named in honor of Aretha Franklin
Watch as Detroit honors Aretha Franklin by renaming a street in downtown after her. It's at the corner of Brush St. and Madison Ave.
Posted by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 on Thursday, June 8, 2017
Detroit street named in honor of Aretha Franklin
Watch as Detroit honors Aretha Franklin by renaming a street in downtown after her. It's at the corner of Brush St. and Madison Ave.
Posted by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 on Thursday, June 8, 2017
Source: WXYZDetroit.com
The post Aretha Franklin Honored With Street Naming In Detroit appeared first on Okayplayer.
