RESPECT CYNTHIA ERIVO
She Transforms Into Aretha Franklin
Jennifer Hudson isn’t the only powerhouse taking on the role of Aretha Franklin this year. Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning artist Cynthia Erivo morphs into the Queen of Soul for NatGeo’s four-episode extravaganza, Genius: Aretha follows the late singer’s life.
Aretha marks the third season in the cable network’s Genius anthology series. The first season followed Albert Einstein, and the second focused on Pablo Picasso.
Based on the trailer — watch it by clicking the image at the top of the article — we get a glimpse into Franklin’s home life with her first husband, Ted White (played by Malcolm Barrett). Franklin was an icon, but she didn’t put her whole life on display. That made it more challenging to piece together the details for this biopic. Erivo said she relied on the music and different interviews to portray Franklin.
Erivo has a personal connection to Franklin’s work, as well, citing her as one of the reasons she started singing to NME magazine: “She’s part of the tapestry of the voice I have. The music I’ve learned and the performances I’ve done, she inspired a lot of it. She’s one of my heroes and I hope I can do justice to her achievements.”
Along with Erivo and Barrett, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, and T.I. round out the players. With such a fantastic cast and Erivo at the forefront, we know this is a can’t-miss event.
Genius: Aretha airs for four straight nights on the NatGeo network starting on March 21.
