DETROIT – Detroit could soon become home to a significant cultural landmark honoring some of America’s most legendary music icons, including the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
LaMont Robinson, founder and CEO of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Foundation, announced on Thursday (Aug. 28) a proposed project for Hart Plaza: a life-sized statue of Franklin surrounded by the National Music Walk of Fame.
The Walk of Fame will celebrate influential artists from all musical genres — including rock, R&B, blues, gospel, hip-hop, country, and jazz — with engraved plaques embedded in the plaza.
Robinson also plans a high-profile annual induction ceremony designed to attract national and international visitors to Detroit each year.
He has already engaged city officials about using Hart Plaza as the Walk of Fame’s future home and hopes to secure formal approval in the coming months.
Plans call for announcing the inaugural class of inductees by the end of 2025, with the first enshrinement ceremony scheduled for summer 2026.
Early names being considered include Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Beyoncé.
The estimated cost of the project is between $125,000 and $175,000, to be funded entirely through private donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
Discussions with local leaders are ongoing, and excitement is building as Detroit looks to amplify its legacy as one of the world’s greatest music cities.