Jennifer Hudson (L); Aretha Franklin.Photo: Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic; Michael Stewart/WireImageJennifer Hudsonmay be finished portrayingAretha Franklinfor her biopicRespect, but the Queen of Soul is never far from her mind.In a new cover story forVariety, the 39-year-oldGrammyandAcademy Awardwinner says Franklin is “still with me, almost every day in some way.““Sometimes, while taking pictures with someone, I’m like, ‘Oh wow, I’m smiling like Aretha,’ " Hudson said about her experiences. “Or, ‘That response was more Aretha-like.'““You identify little things like that in yourself that are still there,” she continued.According to the star, Franklin’s influence has even bled into her fashion sense — and enhanced her musical ability!Jennifer Hudson (L) and Carole King forVariety.Matt Sayles for Variety (Jennifer Hudson); Kirsten Shultz for Variety (Carole King)“A lot of my own personal wardrobe now isthings that resemble things that shewould wear — a lot of fluffy, furry little jackets with leopard prints and things like that that helped me embody her character at times,” Hudson said.“And I still do the piano [after learning it for the film]. I’m still trying to master it. Guess what? The song I can play the best, so far, is’Natural Woman.‘I’m going to do it for you one day,” she added.Hudson went on to reveal that while filmingRespect, “what was most important” to her “was holding onto [Franklin’s] faith” and “her gospel roots, which are mine also.“She explained, “We needed to open up the doors of the church, as we say. Even as you listen tothe different songs in the film, yes, other genres were a part of her background, but the base was always the gospel. And so I just wanted to tie up the bookends.“RELATED VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Talks Playing Aretha Franklin as Trailer forRespectDrops: “A Dream Come True"Hudson previously opened up toInStylefor the magazine’s August cover story, in which she reflected on howrelating to Franklin’s life story— specifically, “as a person who has suffered a lot of loss” — helped her portray the late soul legend. (Franklindied in 2018 of pancreatic cancerat age 76.)While the star didn’t touch on specifics, there are scenes inRespectthat deal heavily with grief and pain, including the death of Franklin’s mother Barbara (Audra McDonald) and the singer’s abusive relationship with her first husband, Ted White (Marlon Wayans).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.For Hudson, personal losses have included that of her motherDarnell Donersonand brother Jason,who were found fatally shotin 2008, inside the house she grew up in on Chicago’s South Side.“In that moment, it clicked with me like, ‘Is this what she saw in me?'” theAmerican Idolalum said of her musings about why Franklin wanted her on board. “Because we parallel in so many ways through our life stories and the things we’ve been through and experienced.“Respectpremieres in theaters Aug. 13, with the soundtrack being released on the same day.
Jennifer Hudson (L); Aretha Franklin.Photo: Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic; Michael Stewart/WireImage
Jennifer Hudsonmay be finished portrayingAretha Franklinfor her biopicRespect, but the Queen of Soul is never far from her mind.In a new cover story forVariety, the 39-year-oldGrammyandAcademy Awardwinner says Franklin is “still with me, almost every day in some way.““Sometimes, while taking pictures with someone, I’m like, ‘Oh wow, I’m smiling like Aretha,’ " Hudson said about her experiences. “Or, ‘That response was more Aretha-like.'““You identify little things like that in yourself that are still there,” she continued.According to the star, Franklin’s influence has even bled into her fashion sense — and enhanced her musical ability!Jennifer Hudson (L) and Carole King forVariety.Matt Sayles for Variety (Jennifer Hudson); Kirsten Shultz for Variety (Carole King)“A lot of my own personal wardrobe now isthings that resemble things that shewould wear — a lot of fluffy, furry little jackets with leopard prints and things like that that helped me embody her character at times,” Hudson said.“And I still do the piano [after learning it for the film]. I’m still trying to master it. Guess what? The song I can play the best, so far, is’Natural Woman.‘I’m going to do it for you one day,” she added.Hudson went on to reveal that while filmingRespect, “what was most important” to her “was holding onto [Franklin’s] faith” and “her gospel roots, which are mine also.“She explained, “We needed to open up the doors of the church, as we say. Even as you listen tothe different songs in the film, yes, other genres were a part of her background, but the base was always the gospel. And so I just wanted to tie up the bookends.“RELATED VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Talks Playing Aretha Franklin as Trailer forRespectDrops: “A Dream Come True"Hudson previously opened up toInStylefor the magazine’s August cover story, in which she reflected on howrelating to Franklin’s life story— specifically, “as a person who has suffered a lot of loss” — helped her portray the late soul legend. (Franklindied in 2018 of pancreatic cancerat age 76.)While the star didn’t touch on specifics, there are scenes inRespectthat deal heavily with grief and pain, including the death of Franklin’s mother Barbara (Audra McDonald) and the singer’s abusive relationship with her first husband, Ted White (Marlon Wayans).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.For Hudson, personal losses have included that of her motherDarnell Donersonand brother Jason,who were found fatally shotin 2008, inside the house she grew up in on Chicago’s South Side.“In that moment, it clicked with me like, ‘Is this what she saw in me?'” theAmerican Idolalum said of her musings about why Franklin wanted her on board. “Because we parallel in so many ways through our life stories and the things we’ve been through and experienced.“Respectpremieres in theaters Aug. 13, with the soundtrack being released on the same day.
Jennifer Hudsonmay be finished portrayingAretha Franklinfor her biopicRespect, but the Queen of Soul is never far from her mind.
In a new cover story forVariety, the 39-year-oldGrammyandAcademy Awardwinner says Franklin is “still with me, almost every day in some way.”
“Sometimes, while taking pictures with someone, I’m like, ‘Oh wow, I’m smiling like Aretha,’ " Hudson said about her experiences. “Or, ‘That response was more Aretha-like.'”
“You identify little things like that in yourself that are still there,” she continued.
According to the star, Franklin’s influence has even bled into her fashion sense — and enhanced her musical ability!
Jennifer Hudson (L) and Carole King forVariety.Matt Sayles for Variety (Jennifer Hudson); Kirsten Shultz for Variety (Carole King)
“A lot of my own personal wardrobe now isthings that resemble things that shewould wear — a lot of fluffy, furry little jackets with leopard prints and things like that that helped me embody her character at times,” Hudson said.
“And I still do the piano [after learning it for the film]. I’m still trying to master it. Guess what? The song I can play the best, so far, is’Natural Woman.‘I’m going to do it for you one day,” she added.
Hudson went on to reveal that while filmingRespect, “what was most important” to her “was holding onto [Franklin’s] faith” and “her gospel roots, which are mine also.”
She explained, “We needed to open up the doors of the church, as we say. Even as you listen tothe different songs in the film, yes, other genres were a part of her background, but the base was always the gospel. And so I just wanted to tie up the bookends.”
RELATED VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Talks Playing Aretha Franklin as Trailer forRespectDrops: “A Dream Come True”
Hudson previously opened up toInStylefor the magazine’s August cover story, in which she reflected on howrelating to Franklin’s life story— specifically, “as a person who has suffered a lot of loss” — helped her portray the late soul legend. (Franklindied in 2018 of pancreatic cancerat age 76.)
While the star didn’t touch on specifics, there are scenes inRespectthat deal heavily with grief and pain, including the death of Franklin’s mother Barbara (Audra McDonald) and the singer’s abusive relationship with her first husband, Ted White (Marlon Wayans).
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
For Hudson, personal losses have included that of her motherDarnell Donersonand brother Jason,who were found fatally shotin 2008, inside the house she grew up in on Chicago’s South Side.
“In that moment, it clicked with me like, ‘Is this what she saw in me?'” theAmerican Idolalum said of her musings about why Franklin wanted her on board. “Because we parallel in so many ways through our life stories and the things we’ve been through and experienced.”
Respectpremieres in theaters Aug. 13, with the soundtrack being released on the same day.
source: people.com
