Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves Attend "Sparkle" Premiere in Detroit

Image courtesy Jordin Sparks via TwitterAretha Franklin was close with the late Whitney Houston, so it's no surprise that she showed up to walk the red carpet at the Detroit premiere of Whitney's final film, Sparkle.

The Detroit News reports that the ***** of Soul, as well as Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, attended the premiere Sunday night. Sparkle, a remake of a 1976 film for which Aretha did some of the music, stars Houston and former American Idol champ Jordin Sparks as mother and daughter. It was shot in Detroit.

"I came out because it was Whitney's last performance," Franklin, who was very close to Houston and her family, told the Detroit News.

Aretha also had praise for Sparks, who's making her movie debut as the title character, an aspiring singer, in the film. Franklin hugged the 22-year-old singer on the red carpet and told the Detroit News, "She was an excellent choice [for the film]. She has a lot of class."

Sparks has posted a photo of her and Franklin on the red carpet on her Twitter page.