In response to the water crisis in Flint, Aretha Franklin is looking to provide nightly rooms for 25-50 people at the Holiday Inn in Southfield. Flint residents will be pre-screened at New Bethel Baptist Church, her father’s church in Detroit, at a date to be determined. "Detroiters usually come to the aid of Detroiters -- and Flint is certainly regarded as Detroit," Franklin said to Local 4. "Hang in there."

In addition, the Queen of Soul has recorded a public service announcement in support of the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, where she has performed a number of times, and which has been in danger of closing. She says in the spot: "Hi. This is Aretha Franklin asking you to support the Music Hall in keeping great performances and music alive," the Detroit Free Press reports.