Two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo stars as Aretha Franklin in “Genius: Aretha,” for the third season of the Emmy-winning National Geographic “Genius” anthology series, premiering Sunday March 21 at 9/8c.
A phenomenal actress as well as a Grammy-winning singer, Erivo serves up stunning renditions of the Queen of Soul’s hits in the series. Portraying Franklin’s father C.L. Franklin, veteran actor and Emmy-winner Courtney B. Vance, gives us an outstanding performance along with Pauletta Washington, as Rachel, Aretha’s paternal grandmother.
“Genius: Aretha” explores Franklin’s musical genius, long career, and immeasurable impact on music and culture worldwide. It shows Franklin, the gospel prodigy and outspoken civil rights champion, who went on to become one of the world’s bestselling musical artists of all time, with more than 75 million records sold globally. “Genius: Aretha” is the first-ever authorized scripted series on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is showrunner and lead writer for the series while also serving as executive producer along with television and film veterans Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Also executive producing are legendary hit-record producers Clive Davis and Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman. Emmy-winner Anthony Hemingway directs and also executive produces. Watch trailer below!
The eight-episode anthology will be rolled out, two episodes at a time, across four consecutive nights, beginning Sunday March 21 on Hulu and culminating on Aretha Franklin’s birthday, Thursday March 25th. All eight episodes will be available to stream on March 25th.
Additionally, don’t miss National Geographic’s podcast series “The Making Of,” which will release the first of three “Genius: Aretha” themed episodes, featuring in-depth interviews with individuals from both in front of and behind the camera. The latest episode features the series’ cinematographer Kevin McKnight, costume designer Jennifer Bryan and choreographer Dondraico Johnson. They discuss the process of recreating and honoring key and iconic moments in Aretha Franklin’s life that are featured in the series. “The Making Of” podcast is hosted by the celebrated entertainment journalist Stacey Wilson Hunt and is available to stream on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and other podcasting platforms.
The full cast of Genius: Aretha includes: Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; the Emmy-winning Courtney B. Vance (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) as Aretha’s father, C.L. Franklin; Malcolm Barrett (“Timeless,” “Preacher”) as Ted White, Franklin’s first husband and business manager; David Cross (“Mr. Show,” “Arrested Development”) as legendary music producer Jerry Wexler, who guided Franklin as she developed into a confident singer and commercial success; Patrice Covington (“The Color Purple”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (“Oklahoma!,” “The Big Sick”) portray Erma and Carolyn Franklin, respectively, as Aretha’s sisters and frequent background singers, who supported and collaborated with their famous sibling; Steven Norfleet (“Watchmen,” “Dynasty”) as older brother Cecil Franklin, who stepped in as Aretha’s manager following her divorce from Ted White; veteran actress Pauletta Washington (“Beloved,” “She’s Gotta Have It”) as Aretha’s nurturing and loving paternal grandmother, Rachel; Omar J. Dorsey (“Queen Sugar”) as James Cleveland; Marque Richardson (“Dear White People”) as King Curtis, Kimberly Hébert Gregory (“Vice Principals”) as Ruth Bowen; and introducing Shaian Jordan as young Aretha Franklin, aka Little Re.
EPISODES INCLUDE:
RESPECT
Sunday, March 21, at 9/8c
Desperate for a hit, Aretha travels to Muscle Shoals in 1967 to record her first album with Atlantic Records. After suffering the loss of her surrogate mother, Little Re braves her first solo in 1953, in her father’s, C.L. Franklin, church.
UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG
Sunday, March 21, at 10/9c
Struggling to find her sound, Aretha catches the attention of Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records in 1966. Meanwhile, Little Re has her first touring experience on the Gospel Circuit in 1954 with C.L. Franklin and meets her idol, Clara Ward.
DO RIGHT WOMAN
Monday, March 22, at 9/8c
Aretha juggles her music career and her commitment to the civil rights movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr., in 1967 and 1968. Meanwhile, Little Re leaves behind her newborn child to return to the Gospel Circuit in 1955, meeting with music legends James Cleveland and Little Sammie Bryant.
UNFORGETTABLE
Monday, March 22, at 10/9c
Aretha is featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1968, but she’s devastated when the article focuses on the scandalous details of her personal life. Barbara Franklin and Young C.L. Franklin struggle to establish themselves in Memphis in 1941, before Little Re is born.
YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK
Tuesday, March 23, at 9/8c
Aretha, inspired by Angela Davis and the Soledad Brothers, records her protest album “Young, Gifted and Black” in 1970. Despite Jerry Wexler’s uncertainty, the album is a success. Barbara Franklin makes a decision that has a devastating effect on Little Re in 1951.
AMAZING GRACE
Tuesday, March 23, at 10/9c
Aretha records her best-selling live Gospel album “Amazing Grace” in 1972 at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, ignoring her sibling’s pleas to record instead at New Bethel with their father, C.L. Franklin. Little Re discovers that she’s pregnant with her second child, forcing her to leave school. While pregnant, she records her first album at New Bethel in 1956.
CHAIN OF FOOLS
Wednesday, March 24, at 9/8c
As the Queen of Soul enters the age of disco, Aretha will do anything to remain relevant—including stealing an opportunity from her sister Carolyn. She receives a GRAMMY nomination but is ultimately snubbed from winning the award. While at the ceremony, she meets with Arista founder Clive Davis. Meanwhile, Jerry Wexler leaves Atlantic Records, and he and Aretha part ways.
NO ONE SLEEPS
Wednesday, March 24, at 10/9c
Despite significant emotional losses, including a second divorce and the death of her father in 1984, Aretha pushes herself artistically and triumphs. She begins a successful career at Arista, with the help of Clive Davis, and in an unforgettable GRAMMY performance in 1998, she solidifies her eternal reign as the Queen of Soul.
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First Look Teaser Of Cynthia Erivo In Genius: Aretha
Oscar Nominee Cynthia Erivo Stars As Aretha Franklin In ‘Genius: Aretha’
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