Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson put her three-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use with a stirring performance during the virtual 20th BET Awards on Sunday night.
The Chicago-born 38-year-old sang To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a 1970 Civil Rights anthem originally written by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine.
The late, great Aretha Franklin also recorded a 1972 cover of Nina’s song on her 18th studio album – Young, Gifted and Black.
R&B belter: Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson put her three-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use with a stirring performance during the virtual 20th BET Awards on Sunday night
The track wasn’t only timely, it was directly tied to Jennifer’s upcoming role as the Queen of Soul in the fully-authorized biopic, Respect.
‘You have to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace,’ Hudson said in the new teaser, which debuted during the telecast.
The movie centers on Aretha’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom.
‘How many albums have you had?’ nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (as Dinah Washington) asks her backstage.
Tickling the ivories: The Chicago-born 38-year-old sang To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a 1970 Civil Rights anthem originally written by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine
Not a coincidence: The late, great Aretha Franklin also recorded a 1972 cover of Nina’s song on her 18th studio album – Young, Gifted and Black
Gorgeous green dress: The track wasn’t only timely, it was directly tied to Jennifer’s upcoming role as the Queen of Soul in the fully-authorized biopic, Respect
The Cats actress quietly replied: ‘Four.’
‘And no hits,’ Blige clapped back.
‘Honey, find the songs that move you. Until you do that, you ain’t going nowhere.’
Comedian Marc Maron steps in as her champion Jerry Wexler, the music producer who allegedly coined the term ‘rhythm and blues.’
Hudson said in the new teaser, which debuted during the telecast: ‘You have to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace’
Lit! The movie centers on Aretha’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom
Nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (as Dinah Washington) asks her backstage: ‘How many albums have you had?’
The Cats actress as Franklin quietly replied: ‘Four’
Blige as Washington clapped back: ‘And no hits. Honey, find the songs that move you. Until you do that, you ain’t going nowhere’
‘Aretha, you do talk don’t you? Not just sing?’ he asked.
She replied: ‘I’d like you to call me Miss Franklin.’
Jennifer was seated beside Marlon Wayans, who portrays Franklin’s first husband Ted White, whom she married at age 19.
Hudson – who sang at Aretha’s funeral – was handpicked by the 18-time Grammy winner, who died age 76 in 2018 at her Detroit home from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
‘Aretha, you do talk don’t you? Not just sing?’ Comedian Marc Maron steps in as her champion Jerry Wexler, the music producer who allegedly coined the term ‘rhythm and blues’
She replied: ‘I’d like you to call me Miss Franklin’
Leading man: Marlon Wayans portrays Aretha’s first husband Ted White, whom she married at age 19
‘It’s a huge job, I’m terrified to be honest. But I’m excited. It’s such an honor to do that,’ the American Idol 3 alum said on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan back in 2018.
‘We’ve been actually talking about it for 11 years. Like a year after I won my Oscar, she had me meet her here in New York. We talked about it so now it’s actually manifesting and happening!’
The MGM movie – hitting US theaters in December – also features Forest Whitaker, Audra McDonald, Tate Donovan, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, and Skye Dakota Turner.
RIP: Jennifer – who sang at Aretha’s funeral – was handpicked by the 18-time Grammy winner, who died age 76 in 2018 at her Detroit home from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
Hudson said on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan in 2018: ‘We’ve been actually talking about it for 11 years. Like a year after I won my Oscar, she had me meet her here in New York. We talked about it so now it’s actually manifesting and happening!’
Hitting US theaters in December! The MGM movie also features Forest Whitaker (R), Audra McDonald, Tate Donovan, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, and Skye Dakota Turner
Excited? Respect marks the feature directorial debut for Liesl Tommy – who’s helmed episodes of Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Jessica Jones, and The Walking Dead
Respect marks the feature directorial debut for Liesl Tommy – who’s helmed episodes of Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Jessica Jones, and The Walking Dead.
Meanwhile, Harriet star Cynthia Erivo’s rival production – National Geographic’s eight-episode series Genius: Aretha – postponed its May 25 launch in March due to COVID-19.
The British-Nigerian 33-year-old – who’s an Oscar away from EGOT status – has built her entire career on playing African-Americans.
Not to be confused with: Harriet star Cynthia Erivo’s rival production – National Geographic’s eight-episode series Genius: Aretha – postponed its May 25 launch in March due to COVID-19