Taylor Swift pays emotional tribute to Aretha Franklin as she makes tour stop in star’s hometown

Swift honoured Franklin at her show
Silence: Swift held a moment of silence during her show in tribute to Franklin
PA
Safeeyah Kazi29 August 2018
The Weekender

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Taylor Swift paid an emotional tribute to Aretha Franklin on Tuesday night while playing a show in the Queen of Soul’s hometown of Detroit.

Franklin died at the age of 76 on August 16 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Delicate singer honoured Franklin by holding a moment of silence and requesting the lights to be switched off in her memory.

Speaking to the audience, Swift explained: “She did so much for music, she did so much for women's rights, she did so much for civil rights.

"She was one of those people, no matter what you said, no matter what glowing, positive thing you said about her, words could never ever describe how many things she did in her lifetime that made our world a better place."

The 28-year-old continued: “This is her home. I would like it if we could take a moment of silence so that every single one of us could reflect on our love and respect for her.”

The stadium then cut the lights resulting in resounding silence from the crowd.

Swift finally concluded with: “We love you Aretha.”

The singer's gold-plated open coffin was placed on display for hundreds of grieving fans at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Fans of the singer travelled from across the length and breadth of the US to see her lying in state, dressed in red from head to high-heeled shoes, legs crossed at the ankles.

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