Jennifer Hudson's portrayal of the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, follows the late legend's career from a child singing in the church choir to international superstardom.
Here are five things to know:
- Aretha Franklin, who died in 2018, personally chose Hudson to play her. The two met in New York to chat about the possibilities in 2007 after Hudson won an Oscar for her feature film debut in "Dreamgirls."
- "Respect" also stars Forest Whitaker as Franklin's father, Marlon Wayans as her husband and manager, Tituss Burgess as Rev. Dr. James Cleveland and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington. Marc Maron plays Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler and Audra McDonald stars as Franklin's mother.
- Hudson said she felt royal in the 85 costume changes and 11 different wigs she wore to transform herself into the music icon.
- Hudson began singing at age 7 in her Chicago church choir. As a teenager, she performed at wedding receptions and in local talent shows and musical theater. Hudson landed her first professional singing job on a Disney cruise ship as Calliope, the head Greek muse, in a 2003 production of "Hercules: The Musical." Rather than renew her contract with Disney, Hudson decided to audition for "American Idol," where she performed a cover of Aretha Franklin's "Share Your Love With Me."
- Hudson said she would choose 12-year-old Skye Dakota Turner, who plays young Aretha Franklin in the movie, to portray her in a biopic.