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As reports on singer Aretha Franklin's health remain mostly unchanged, she reportedly receives guests at her downtown Detroit apartment in Riverfront Towers, local media say.
Her fellow native Detroiter and music legend Stevie Wonder and political activist Jesse Jackson are among visitors who have stopped by to support the 76-year-old, according to The Detroit News. She's reportedly receiving end-of-life care from hospice nurses.
The queen of soul performs at the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2015. (CBS image)
Area religious leaders have also visited Franklin, an acknowledgement of her deep roots in the Detroit African-American church community. Franklin first gained notice singing before the congregation at New Bethel Baptist Church, pastored by her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin.
New Bethel Baptist saw many visitors as well:
Calley Prezzano of Oakland, California, and Russ Harold, of Brooklyn, New York, friends who were in town for the Jay-Z and Beyonce concert, stopped by the church after learning on Twitter about the singer's illness.
...The empty church looked much like it does most weeks, with a piano and drum set near the pulpit.
The real goods were in a back room, called the History Room, which has photos of Franklin and her father. Photos of dignitaries who have visiting the church, including Mayor Coleman Young, President Barack Obama and Martin Luther King were on display.
Social media streams are heavy with tributes as well, with tweets and other posts from musicians, community leaders and at least one former president:
Like people all around the world, Hillary and I are thinking about Aretha Franklin tonight & listening to her music that has been such an important part of our lives the last 50 years. We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 14, 2018
