Jennifer Hudson appeared at the Detroit Historical Museum to pay homage to Aretha Franklin and promote the upcoming biopic about the late Queen of Soul’s life.
The museum unveiled Franklin’s handprints in its Legends Plaza, making her the 31st person to be included in the exhibit, reported Detroit News.
Aretha Franklin was a native of Detroit, and the purpose of Legends Plaza is to display the handprints of Detroiters who have had a worldwide impact. Franklin, inarguably, did just that.
Hudson was joined by other celebrities who will star in the upcoming biopic about Franklin’s life, Respect. The film includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, and Audra McDonald. Of course, Jennifer Hudson will bring her acting chops and her pipes to the lead role of Aretha. The film is slated for release on August 13.
Kecalf Franklin, the late singer’s son, expressed his joy at his mother’s placement in Legends Plaza.
“We are grateful that everybody is recognizing her and her accomplishments in life,” Kecalf said. His family has seen the film and given it rave reviews. This is a good sign. An earlier attempt at portraying the Queen of Soul by Cynthia Ervio was met with protests from her family. Apparently, they felt Hudson did a much better job.
Just as Aretha Franklin broke records and opened new creative doors, the film was directed by Liesl Tommy. Tommy, a South African-American, is the first woman of color to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.
Jennifer Hudson and Liesl Tommy performed the honor of removing the cover from the handprints.
Inside the Detroit Historical Museum, the exhibit displayed some of Franklin’s famous wardrobe pieces, album covers, and other artifacts. The exhibit includes a section dedicated to Franklin’s social justice pursuits. The exhibit will run through the end of the month.
