Underway within the next hour. We will take you there live momentarily. Were also monitoring another great in america, the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin and her ceremony. A fivehour long ceremony is getting under way in chicago. Thats where we have fredricka whitfield. You can hear the activity overhead and see the sea of people filing into the Greater Grace Temple church where the Funeral Service for Aretha Franklin, the worlds beloved queen of soul, will begin in just moments from now. What we have been able to see is besides the motorcade of pink cadillacs who have pulled up, a number of dignitaries and celebrities from the world of music, from sports, from the church, they have all been lining up to go inside the sanctuary there. 4,000 seat sanctuary. You can see it filling up. It will be a day of amazing speeches, eulogies and, of course, song. A former president , bill clinton, Ariana Grande to take to the podium there and deliver their eulogies in celebration of this amazing life of Aretha Franklin in the sanctuary. Earlier, arethas 24 karat gold plated casket arrived at the church. You see right there. We have learned that her final outfit change is a gold dress and gold shoes. Ryan young is amongst the crowd outside of the church. Ryan, good to see you. Folks are filing in. People started lining up very early, not just today but yesterday. Tell us about that. They did start lining up yesterday. In fact, we moved out a little bit because finally they got the ticket they have been waiting for. They were able to walk in. Some of the women have been here since yesterday. You understand there was a small rumor they might be able to get in. The fans are going to get a chance to be inside this funeral. It means so much to them. Think about this, one woman was talking about this, this is probably the greatest generation for them. When you think about the civil rights mochl, a lot of people put Aretha Franklin there. They love her and what she stood for. The idea that Jesse Jackson has been talking about, there were days that Martin Luther king needed money. He would call her father and aretha would go on tours and raise money for the Civil Rights Movement. Thats something thats really stood out. Especially here in detroit. Detroit has had tough times. Aretha never left. The two are now intertwined like unbelievably. We have seen the thousands of people over the last three days line up, sing, cry and actually endure, because its been very hot here. A lot of the people who were showing up are on walkers. They need respirators. The idea the city has shown out for her in such a way and the world is talking about aretha fra fra franklin. We can see hundreds of pinch cadillka pink cadillacs. They are this direction. They are lined up for that procession. Jesse jackson waved at the crowd. They wanted to be a part of this. You understand that connection because so much of this is a conversation. She was there for dr. King when he died. Now people feel like they want to be here for her. You understand this generations changing and its connection to so much history in this country. Ryan young, thanks so much. Appreciate it. Lets talk more about the funeral that is about to get under way. An incredible tribute for the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. Joining me, three people who knew her, activist and radio host joe madison, a critic and writer, Makayla Angela Davis and Aretha Franklin biographer, david ritz. Glad you could be with me. David, let me begin with you outside of the temple. Just seeing this beautiful outpouring of love. This tribute to Aretha Franklin. Its not just here. It really is city wide. You can feel it in detroit. She is top of mind, shes in everyones hearts here. You know, ive been coming to detroit a long time doing a whole bunch of books on detroit artists. This is different. Why is it different . Well, yesterday i stood in line for two hours to go see the view i viewing of the new church. I have never seen detroit this galvanized and filled with joy and love and exuberance. Now again, whats interesting about that, this woman has died and yet theres joy, not obviously for her death, but joy because shes been our shepherd. What she gave. She has been a good shepherd. And shes given us this musical sort of nourishment that has fed us for years and years. And we are grateful for it. So the party atmosphere, the idea that shes changing outfits four times in four days, is like a glorification of her regal it. I think the reason detroit is so proud right now is she was born in the womb and the wounds, both the womb and the wounds of detroit. The pain of this what detroit has gone through and yet shes a child of the golden age of gospel. She was born in memphis. But then detroit really would be home. This is where detroit bred her. This is where she would make her mark in the gospel community, in the church. At 14, to be recording at 14, and to go from being this amazing musical prodigy to then also symbolize iing the Civil Rights Movement. I mean, to be 16 and to be recruited to be part of the movement of dr. Martin luther king was extraordinary. And people are mindful of that. You talk about this celebratory atmosphere, but theres been and evolution. Immediately after her death, the announcement of her death, there was sorrow, there was pain. People were listening to her music differently. Now it has evolved into almost an appreciation of what she has been able to bring over the years. I also think its a deeply spiritual obviously, she was an activist. So theres a political aspect, an important one because she was an activist at a critical time. Just to interrupt you, live pictures of president clinton and Hillary Clinton arriving there. We know he is going to be speaking. Aretha franklins relationship with the clintons is quite extraordinary. She performed at both of his inauguration celebrations. He would invite her to the white house, to the rose garden for gospel performance. There was a very respectful relationship. He was already a huge fan of Aretha Franklin before he became president. Wasnt ed he wanted to make sure she was welcomed to the white house. Talk to me about what you believe his message will be. I dont have any idea what he will talk about. He was great in the documentary. He is a jazz guy. He plays. He has a deep love and respect for her. I think one of the most interesting things as were looking at him about her music is that she took this holy gift, she took this sacred gift that she had and here is whats important, she applied it to all music. Because she had a progressive dad who was a minister who also believed that gospel music or the spirit of gospel music was applicable to all genres. And he encouraged her to sing all genres. Joe madison, we so appreciate what you have been bringing, especially since her passing, playing nonstop Aretha Franklin and interspersing it with history, beautiful anecdotes about her life. You are a friend of Aretha Franklins. Might as well call you a historian of Aretha Franklin as well. How was it to jump off davids point about her father, a man of the cloth, a man of the church, but he did have a willingness, if you will, to allow a very young Aretha Franklin to spring from music of spirituality, gospel music into jazz and r b. Can you add to that level of independence that perhaps Aretha Franklin was granted at a very early age to apply her amazing versatility of music and song . That shouldnt be underestimated. Because many people know that theres this division, often times you will find gospel singers that will not sing, quote unquote the devils music. The fact is that i think i heard barry gordie once say that Aretha Franklin could sing the abcs and it would be a hit record. Joe madison, i apologize for interrupting. Let me go back to the newsroom. I will take it from here. We are continuing to monitor what is happening inside the capitca Capitol Rotunda where guests are arriving to honor the late senator john mccain. Im told that is his mother, 106 years old. This is roberta mccain, who is planning to participate not only in todays ceremony, but the weekend ceremonies as well. This Service Today being one of several for senator mccain as he is remembered as a war hero, a sixterm senator, a giant of that legislative body and also a man who many people considered a friend. Politicians on both sides of the aisle, somebody who taught a lot of life lessons to all of us, showing his courage as his time during a prisoner of war. We will monitor the images. We will hear from speakers coming up here within the next hour. We will hear from both paul ryan, the house leader, of course, as well as the House Speaker, and then Mitch Mcconnell, the majority leader in the senate who didnt always agree with the positions that john mccain took. He was known as a maverick for many reasons. But oftentimes, sticking to his conviction, whether that was along the party line and often going against his party, going against his best friend. Lindsey graham has spoken about how they didnt see eye to eye. We see people from all sides of the aisle, all walks of life who have been touched by senator john mccain now coming to pay their respects. He will lie in state today as soon as this ceremony gets under way around 11 00, through the evening. So that members of the public can also come and visit the late senator and pay their respects. I want to go live to sunday lca hill. Senator mccain worked in this building for 35 years. First over in the house of representatives, then over in the senate. So certainly, a lot of people, you see them starting to filter in. Many people who have worked for him, his staff, members of congress from both the house and senate coming out today to pay their respects. We will hear from leader mcconnell, speaker ryan and remarks by vicepresident pence who will speak on behalf of the white house. Of course, today i think we will feel the absence of President Trumps presence here at any of these Memorial Services. Of course, mccain let it be known to people as he was planning his funeral proceedings, the services over the course of five days, that he did not want President Trump at any of the events. We will hear from vicepresident mike pence this morning. We did see roberta mccain, 106yearold mother of john mccain, be wheeled in earlier, just a few minutes ago. Certainly, many past staff members, members of the president s cabinet will come. Its notable senator mccain has not been up here on capitol hill for the past year, since he was diagnosed with brain cancer last summer, the last time he was up here on capitol hill was in december of last year. Of course, one of his parting memories here on the hill was that very memorable last vote that he made when he gave that thumbs down on the floor of the u. S. Senate, voting against his party, really bucking the white house voting against the repeal of the Affordable Care act. Lots of memories up here that many people, of course, will be sharing over the course of the ceremony. We are looking at live images inside the capitol. Thank you for that. Thats the first used to hold the coffin of president abraham lincoln. Thats what you are seeing there, that black platform. We are told its a base of rough pine boards nailed together and covered with a black cloth. Now we have been told that that was not john mccains mother who was wheeled in. We will monitor. Shes expected to be there. Our apology for not getting that right. Many, many people coming in to pay their respects from around the world, from around the country and, of course, people who are very, very close to senator john mccain. We will continue to monitor developments there of the nations capitol today as we honor the life and legacy of senator john mccain. Were back in just a moment. Pah that will never work. No, no, no, nah. A bulb of light . . Aha ha ha a flying machine . 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Let your perfect drive come together during the final days of the lincoln summer invitation event get 0 apr on select 2018 lincoln models plus one thousand dollars bonus cash. This is a celebration of life and the legendary Aretha Franklin. Inside the sanctuary here at the Greater Grace Temple church where we are outside, inside you see former president bill clinton, his wife Hillary Clinton, you see Jesse Jackson. There are a host of dignitaries spanning on genres of American Culture from politics to music to spirituality. They are all here to celebrate the life of the queen of soul. Today we are going to hear a eulogy coming from a variation of people, from the former president to Jesse Jackson there, smoky robinson, Stevie Wonder will be eulogizing, former nba detroit piston who i spoke with last hour, Isaiah Thomas. He said his heart is full. He is hoping he can get through it. As will Shirley Caesar who will perform. She performed with Aretha Franklin whether they were teenagers in detroit and grew up together singing, even both invited to the Obama White House and performing there. She, too, says her heart is very heavy today. We are feeling that from so many people who know her, love her. At the same time, this is a time of celebration for so much that she gifted to everybody. You see right there, Isaiah Thomas in the shot. So much she gifted to the word through her music, through her philanthropy. Lets talk about so many ways in this she has touched lives. Back with me Makayla Angela Davis, joe madison and david ritz. Joe, before the break and before, of course, we are celebrating the lives of two huge american titans today. In washington, john mccain and here in detroit, aretha fra franklin. Pick up from when you were talking about how she also symbolized a level of independence. She was able to be in the church of her dad singing gospel, but then branch out, taking her talents to so many variations of music. That was part of the daring. Aretha franklin once said to me, what really makes an individual great is you have to be authentic, original and daring. She was all of that. Its interesting sitting here going between mccain and franklin, between aretha and john, the so many parallels. The one parallel that you can see is look at the adversity of people, the two of them have brought together. That is what it should be remembered as we celebrate these two lives. These individuals had a sense of humanity. Aretha franklin didnt just stop with Martin Luther king junior. Aretha franklin would help helped angela davis when she was in jail. When we were doing Voter Registration and get out the vote efforts with the naacp, she would send contributions to make sure that the work got done. We were marching across the country. Her diversity in music also reflected her diversity in life. Thats what you are actually seeing. My goodness. Joe, thats a beautiful point. As you are speaking to that, we are seeing pictures of people that symbolize everything that you just said. We saw faith hill who will be performing on the program today. It was faith hill who was invited to be on Aretha Franklins album that she coproduced and that was called aretha, a woman falling out of love. Aretha franklin spoke so highly of faith hill saying she was fabulous, just simply fabulous. We see the back of Ariana Grande who will perform today. So many folks were taken by surprise from her rendition of natural woman when she appeared on Jimmy Fallons show shortly after Aretha Franklins death. Of course, we smichaela, talk t about, what compelled Aretha Franklin to be so involved in the Civil Rights Movement and to have a grasp of that at such an early age, to be 16, to be engaged in the movement . For her song respect to symbolize kind of the mantra of the Civil Rights Movement, too. I think a lot is the house and the city in this she was raised. There were civil rights leaders in her house. There was god in her house.