Aretha Franklin created a road map through her own life experience from being a child music prodigy who grew up with great privilege in a household in Detroit that understood the importance of social protest, racial justice, and community organizing which was centered squarely in the foundation of the Black church — faith, service, and self-actualization. Now, superstar Jennifer Hudson will embody Franklin’s story in the exciting new film Respect, which bows tomorrow in theaters.
Earlier this week on August 8, the film premiered in Westwood at the IPic Theater before a fully vaccinated audience. Before stepping onto the red carpet, Jennifer Hudson paid homage to Franklin with a special outfit worn to a surprise screening last week in Atlanta.
Here are some of those photos. Click on any picture to view the slide show:
David Otunga Jr. and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Brenda Nicole Moorer, Saycon Sengbloh, Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, and Hailey Kilgore 
Kevin Ulrich, MGM Board Chairman, and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Liesl Tommy, Director/Executive Producer, and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, and family 
Ana B·rbara 
Audra McDonald 
Brandon Gilpin 
Brenda Nicole Moorer 
Carol Connors 
Clint Ramos, Costume Designer, and Jason Moff 
Garrett Clayton 
Gilbert Glenn Brown 
Kennedy Chanel 
Kevin Ulrich, MGM Board Chairman, Pamela Abdy, Motion Picture Group President, MGM, and Michael De Luca, Motion Picture Group Chairman, MGM, 
Kimberly Scott 
Lawrence Davis, Hair Department Head, 
Liesl Tommy, Director/Executive Producer, and Jonathan Glickman, Producer, 
Liesl Tommy, Director/Executive Producer, and Marlon Wayans 
Liesl Tommy, Director/Executive Producer, and Tracey Scott Wilson, Writer, 
Marc Maron 
Marc Maron 
Maria Breese and David Dubinsky 
Marlon Wayans 
Marlon Wayans 
Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Michael De Luca, Motion Picture Group Chairman, MGM, Kevin Ulrich, MGM Board Chairman, and Mark Burnett, Chairman, Worldwide Television Group, MGM, 
Rickey Minor and Rachel Montez Minor 
Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, Chairman, Worldwide Television Group, MGM, and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Saycon Sengbloh 
Saycon Sengbloh 
Scott Bernstein, Producer, Jonathan Glickman, Producer, Stacey Sher, Producer, and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Skye Dakota Turner and Jennifer Hudson, Executive Producer/Actor, 
Stacey Sher, Producer, 
Tank 
Tate Donovan and Marc Maron
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Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career — from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom — it’s the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
From a screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson, Liesl Tommy directs and Executive Produces along with Jennifer Hudson, Respect. The film stars Jennifer, Audra McDonald, Marlon Wayson, Marc Maron, Mary J. Blige, Tate Donovan and Forest Whitaker.
The film opens in theaters nationwide Friday, August 13.
