RESPECT
Jennifer Hudson plays Aretha Franklin in the brand new biopic RESPECT, out this Friday.
SPIN's Sarina Bellissimo caught up with the singer this week ahead of the film's release.
Jennifer told Sarina that she finds Aretha Franklin incredibly, "empowering."
"My American Idol audition song was an Aretha song so I felt like I could conquer the world in that moment."
"It just gave me a confidence in it," she recalled.
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"She just makes you feel so empowered, you know?" The artist answered.
American Idol
Sarina completely agreed, and then brought the conversation back to Jennifer's 2004 American Idol audition.
The now 39-year-old took part in the show 17 years ago, and never imagined how successful she'd become.
She spoke about this with Sarina, sharing her belief that her life is, "only a story God could write."
"Think about it... I had no idea and then fast forward to now, I'm playing her?" Jennifer said, utterly confused.
"I've always been a fan, and that was me fanning out."
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"Being a fan, singing Aretha Franklin songs, never knowing that she was an American Idol watcher."
Jennifer continued, "And after I was eliminated from American Idol, she actually let me open up for one of her shows, so that alone blew me away."
"And then fast forward two years later, she said, 'Let's sit down about you playing me.'"
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"And then now, I played her? I'm even like, 'Okay, sitting back watching this you would think it was planned.'"
What's next for Jennifer Hudson?
When asked what's next for her, Jennifer responded, "This is probably the biggest project I've ever done... but it's taught me so much."
She said she'd love to apply what she's learned from this experience to whatever she does in the future.
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The singer also wants to, "own [her] artistry, [her] voice, everything, completely."
Jennifer reckons if she can get through playing Aretha in this movie, she can, "get through anything."
Watch the full interview here:
Sarina also caught up with Liesl Tommy, who makes her feature film debut as the director of RESPECT.
She shares how she felt when the film was finally finished, how she prepped for her biggest job interview to date, and much more.
Watch the full interview here:
RESPECT is out in Irish cinemas this Friday 10th September.
