Rapper Takeoff was tragically shot and killed at the age of 28 on November 1, 2022. He was part of the award-winning rap trio Migos along with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, famous for hits like 'Bad and Boujee' and 'MotorSport.'
Bryant was a major public figure with friends in the sporting and entertainment industries alike. His funeral drew celebrities from every walk of life. Basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan made speeches, while some of the best singers alive paid tribute through song. Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Christina Aguilera all sang heart-wrenching ballads. Beyoncé performed her songs 'Halo' and 'XO.'
Fisher touched the lives of many and was a beloved character in Hollywood. Many of her famous friends held a memorial at her home, including Meg Ryan, George Lucas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Meryl Streep. Streep led the group in a rendition of Fisher's favorite song, 'Happy Days Are Here Again.'
Taylor left specific instructions that she be fashionably late to her own funeral, so her coffin was brought in 15 minutes after the official start time. Her grandson, the artist Rhys Tivey, sang 'Amazing Grace' that day, but a private memorial service was also held later that year. Her close friend Elton John paid tribute by singing his song 'Blue Eyes.'
During his career, he formed close friendships with countless legendary vocalists, many of whom performed at his funeral. Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Usher, and Alicia Keys all sang hymns or songs dedicated to Vandross. They all came together around the piano to sing his hit song 'Power of Love/ Love Power' at the end of the ceremony.
Diana shared a passion for this cause with Elton John, and they became friends as a result. In a break from tradition, John was allowed to perform at the royal funeral. He rewrote his song 'Candle in the Wind' for Diana and donated all the proceeds for the new version to charities that were close to her heart. He promised never to perform that version of the song again unless asked to by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, stating that it was “a memento of grief and love for her.”
Kobe Bryant is remembered as one of the best basketball players of his generation. He spent a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships and playing as an All-Star 18 times. In January 2020, he tragically died in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others.
Michael Jackson was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Nicknamed the "King of Pop," Jackson is still up there with some of the best-selling artists of all time. He had mostly retired from public life by the time of his death in 2009, due to multiple allegations of child abuse. He died at the age of 50 after overdosing on sedatives administered by his personal doctor.
Elizabeth Taylor rose to the top at a time when an actor's fame and persona were carefully crafted by their managing studio, but Taylor refused to fit the mold. She became one of the best-known and most respected actresses of the 20th century. Famous for films like 'Cleopatra' (1961) and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' (1967), she was also notorious for her eight marriages. She dealt with many health problems throughout her life, and passed away of congestive heart failure in 2011 at the age of 79.
Luther Vandross was a coveted backing singer who performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, and David Bowie, before finding success as a solo artist. He became an R&B legend in his own right with songs like 'Never Too Much' and 'Here and Now.' He suffered from diabetes and hypertension, and sadly passed away at the of 54 following a heart attack.
Aretha Franklin had a voice like no other. It earned her the title of "Queen of Soul," along with a top 10 spot in Rolling Stone's list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time.' Her songs 'Respect' and 'A Natural Woman' are as beloved today as they were when she first released them in the 1960s. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 76, following a battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer.
The legendary comedian Joan Rivers was a pioneer in her field. She became the first woman to host a late-night talk show and was loved (and loathed) for her brash sense of humor and acerbic wit. Rivers was famous for her satirical red carpet interviews and wrote 12 best-selling books. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 81 and received a posthumous Grammy for her audiobook, 'Diary of a Mad Diva.'
Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave musical tributes at her funeral, with Aguilera singing James' most famous hit, 'At Last.'
Franklin's life was celebrated in a Homegoing ceremony, a vibrant tradition in African-American culture that focuses on the deceased being welcomed home to heaven. The event was open to the public and included a concert featuring more than 40 celebrities. Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and Smokey Robinson were just a few of the musicians who sang.
Michael Hutchence was the lead singer and founder of the influential Australian rock band INXS, famous for songs like 'Need You Tonight' and 'Never Tear Us Apart.' Hutchence was found dead in 1997 after taking his own life.
Luckily, Joplin had already made a will. One of her dying wishes was that her friends hold a memorial bash in her honor, and she even allocated funds for the open bar. Bands such as the Grateful Dead (pictured), Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Big Brother & the Holding Company all jammed together to celebrate the late legend.
The Jackson family was famously musical and produced The Jackson 5 and Janet Jackson in addition to MJ. Naturally, his family sang for him at the massive funeral, which had an estimated 17,500 attendees and a further 2.5 billion viewers watching the broadcast. His brother Jermaine sang 'Smile' by Charlie Chaplin, which was reportedly one of Jackson's favorite songs.
His friend Chester Bennington, lead singer of the band Linkin Park, performed Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' at Cornell's funeral. Sadly, Bennington also took his own life a few weeks later on what would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.
His premature death was a shock to the music industry. The funeral was labeled a celebration of life and included performances from many of his contemporaries, such as Justin Bieber, who sang his song 'Ghost, and Chloe Bailey, who sang Beyoncé’s 'Heaven.'
A funeral is usually a somber occasion, but when a musician or actor dies, it can be a little different. Such famous creatives often touch the lives of many artists who then come together to celebrate their achievements and cultural impact. This means that music often plays a significant role, far beyond the traditional hymns and organ music. When a famous musician passes away it's even more vital to the proceedings. What better way to pay tribute to a music legend than sending them off with a concert for the ages? Singers like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson had funerals that would put Coachella to shame!
Click through the following gallery to see which celebrity funerals featured incredible performances from famous artists.
There were further performances from Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Usher, John Mayer, Jennifer Hudson, and many more. They sang some of Jackson's own songs like 'Will You Be There' and 'Human Nature.'
Houston was a friend to many other greats, including Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys, both of whom sang at her funeral. Keys sang 'Send Me an Angel,' and Houston's own rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' was played as her coffin was carried out of the church.
The funeral was attended by Hutchence's friends and family members as well as his many ex-girlfriends, including Kylie Minogue and Paula Yates. His friend Nick Cave agreed to perform at the funeral as long as the cameras were turned off out of respect for the family. He sang his heartbreaking song 'Into My Arms.'
Sources: (Funeral Guide) (Cake) (Ranker)
Legendary singer Etta James passed away in 2012 at the age of 73 after a battle with leukemia. She faced many difficulties in her life, but still achieved countless accolades and has gone down in history as one of the most important singers of all time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame deemed her "one of the greatest voices of her century" and says she is "forever the matriarch of blues."
Musical memorials: artists who performed at celebrity funerals
Find out which celebrities were sent off by the likes of Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John
CELEBRITY Music
A funeral is usually a somber occasion, but when a musician or actor dies, it can be a little different. Such famous creatives often touch the lives of many artists who then come together to celebrate their achievements and cultural impact. This means that music often plays a significant role, far beyond the traditional hymns and organ music. When a famous musician passes away it's even more vital to the proceedings. What better way to pay tribute to a music legend than sending them off with a concert for the ages? Singers like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson had funerals that would put Coachella to shame!
Click through the following gallery to see which celebrity funerals featured incredible performances from famous artists.