Jennifer Hudson sparkles on the cover of Entertainment Weekly‘s latest issue!
The stunning spread arrives in support of her upcoming turn as Aretha Franklin in biopic ‘Respect.’
Within the feature’s inner-pages, the Oscar and Grammy winner opens up being hand-picked by the legend to play her, the latest conversation she had with Franklin, and what folk can expect from the film when it premieres worldwide on January 15.
Hudson didn’t hold back when quizzed about a TV series about Franklin that appears to be running parallel to her production.
Pics and quotes after the jump…
On Meeting Aretha Franklin At 25:
“We met in New York, and one of the first things she said to me was ‘You’re gonna win another Oscar for playing me, right?’ Imagine Aretha Franklin looking you in the face and saying that.”
On Her Last Conversation With Aretha:
“I still have the text chains, so every now and then I look back at them. The last time I spoke to her was Aug. 8, [2018,] and I can honestly say she sang until her last breath. I want to be like that. I want to be 80 years old and still doing what I love to do, you know? Sing my way home.”
On Singing Live During Filming Of ‘Respect’:
“When you prerecord, you’re married to that emotion, that delivery. But then in the scene it’s like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m crying here, where are the tears in the song?’ I like the rawness, the honesty of being in the moment.”
On Upcoming National Geographic Series ‘Genius: Aretha’:
“I know that Aretha was adamant that [her life] be a film. If it’s not a film, it’s nothing. I’m just honored that she picked me to play her. I mean, who can say that? And again, I would have never done it without her wishes.”
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Check out the ‘Respect’ teaser trailer below…