France will pay a "national homage" to the legendary rock star Johnny Hallyday with a procession down the Champs Elysees in Paris on Saturday, officials said Thursday.

President Emmanuel Macron will later pay a "brief" tribute to singer at his funeral at the Madeleine church in the centre of the French capital.

The annoucement came as speculation mounted that the singer, known as the French Elvis, would be given a state funeral.

Hallyday, 74, lost his long battle with lung cancer on Wednesday