How Taylor Swift Honored 'Irreplaceable Force' Aretha Franklin During Detroit Concert

Days before the iconic singer is set to be laid to rest, Swift asked her concertgoers to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul with a moment of silence.

"Last week, we lost an irreplaceable force," she told her fans in between sets. "Aretha Franklin 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 where, no matter what you said, no matter what glowing positive thing you said about her, it would be an understatement. Words could never, ever describe how many things she did in her lifetime that made our world a better place. And this is her home."

"I would like it if we could have a moment of silence so that every single one of us could reflect on our love and respect for her and everything that she did in her life," Swift continued. "So if we could please cut the lights, we'll have a moment of silence for Aretha. We love you, Aretha."

Franklin died Aug. 16 at the age of 76 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Tuesday marked the first of a two-day public viewing, held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world have shown up to pay their respects.

Franklin's body was dressed in a red suit and matching pumps and placed in a gold-plated, completely open casket. The casket's lining spelled out "Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul," in gold thread.

On Friday, Franklin's family will hold a private funeral service, which will be streamed online and on television.

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