WATCH: Chaka Khan’s Soul-Stirring “Goin’ Up Yonder” Becomes a Defining Moment at Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When Aretha Franklin — the Queen of Soul — was laid to rest on August 31, 2018, Detroit became a city of both mourning and celebration. The Greater Grace Temple, filled with political leaders, civil rights figures, and generations of musical royalty, hosted a full-day farewell for a woman whose voice shaped modern American music.
Among the most resonant moments of the eight-hour service was Chaka Khan’s moving performance of “Goin’ Up Yonder,” a gospel standard that seemed to lift the room and point it toward the heavens.
A Performance Rooted in Gospel Tradition
Khan — the Queen of Funk — stepped onstage in a deep blue ensemble, accompanied by a full gospel choir. Her version of “Goin’ Up Yonder” wasn’t theatrical — it was reverent, soulful, and grounded in the roots Franklin herself always credited: gospel music.
Franklin’s earliest performances came in her father’s Detroit church, and Khan’s choice of a faith-centered hymn served as both tribute and echo, bringing the service back to where Franklin’s musical identity began.
The Fan That Became an Internet Moment
One of the most human details of the day came not from lyrics, but from a fan — a glittering blue handheld fan Khan used onstage. Warm temperatures inside the temple made it more than practical, but sharp-eyed viewers quickly noticed there was something else: song lyrics were taped to the back.
It became an instant piece of shared humor and affection online — a reminder that in a moment of pressure, even legends lean on small tools. Social media dubbed it “the eternal mood.”
A Farewell Featuring Generations
Khan performed alongside a remarkable lineup — Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Stevie Wonder, and others all lifted their voices in Franklin’s honor. It was not a quiet goodbye. It was a concert, a remembrance, a reflection of musical lineage — one in which Franklin served as both cornerstone and bridge.
Former President Bill Clinton spoke of Franklin as someone who “wrote her own symphony,” a sentiment that resonated with the very mix of artists whose careers exist partly because she changed the space they entered.
A Lasting Memory
Chaka Khan’s performance remains one of the unforgettable moments of that day — not just because of her voice, but because of its symbolism.
It was a gospel farewell to a gospel-rooted artist.
It was generational respect on display.
It was — in both grandeur and small relatable detail — a fitting homage to a woman who showed the world how powerful and healing a voice could be.
