DETROIT: Queen Bey dedicated her performance with husband, Jay Z, to the Queen of Soul drawing a thunderous roar from Aretha Franklin’s hometown of Detroit.
The Detroit Free Press reports the moment came early in the show Monday night at Ford Field with Beyoncé saying, “We love you” and thanking the ailing 76-year-old for her “beautiful music.”
Opening the show, DJ Khaled got the crowd excited when he played one of Franklin’s biggest hits, “Respect.”
A person close to Franklin, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not allowed to publicly talk about the topic, told The Associated Press on Monday that the singer is seriously ill. No more details were provided.
Fans and friends, including Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott, have offered prayers and well wishes to the iconic soul singer.
Beyoncé honors ailing Aretha Franklin at Detroit concert
Beyoncé honors ailing Aretha Franklin at Detroit concert
Lebanese singer Fayrouz’s second son dies just months after his brother
- Hali Rahbani’s passing described as ‘painful loss’ to family
- Elder brother, composer Ziad, died in July last year
LONDON: Hali Rahbani, the son of renowned Lebanese singer Fayrouz and her late husband, composer Assi Rahbani, has died at the age of 68.
Lebanon’s Minister of Information Paul Morcos announced the news on X. He described it as a “painful loss for a family that has given Lebanon and the world an invaluable artistic and humanitarian legacy.”
Rahbani’s death comes less than six months after his brother, Ziad, the acclaimed composer and playwright, died at the age of 69.
Hali, who had physical and intellectual disabilities, was confined to a wheelchair and was cared for by his mother. He was last seen in public in July at his brother’s funeral in Beirut, which was attended by thousands of mourners.
Fayrouz, 91, had four children with Rahbani. The elder of her two daughters, Layal, died in 1988 at the age of 29. Her second daughter, Rima, born in 1965, is an artist and singer.
The Rahbani family were key figures in Lebanon’s golden era of musical theater from the late 1950s to 1975.
