Jennifer Hudson to play Aretha Franklin in biopic

Clive Davis announced at his famed pre-Grammy party last weekend that singer/actress Jennifer Hudson will take on the role of Aretha Franklin for a movie surrounding Franklin’s career. Then Davis introduced Hudson and she performed a medley of Franklin’s hits for the invite-only crowd. Davis also revealed that Franklin herself approved J-Hud to play her. “When the biopic of the great Aretha Franklin is filmed next year, the artist anointed by Aretha herself to play her is the next performer. Aretha personally told me that last week,” Davis said of Hudson, who – like Franklin – is a protégé of the famed music mogul. “This artist to us is a transcendent performer. She stops any and every show she’s in. Her voice is truly incredible. When they ask, ‘Where’s the next Aretha, where the next Aretha will come from?’ I say it’s [Hudson]. She’s in the studio right now recording what I hope will be a classic album… she’s in the tradition of Adele, she’s a singer’s singer.” MGM is developing the movie, which boasts Harvey Mason Jr. as its musical producer. Mason worked with Hudson on the hit film “Dreamgirls” back in 2006.