Clive Davis hosted a pre-Grammy party, where a variety of different artists performed and enjoyed the festivities. New, fresh talent like Khalid and Logic and classic artists like Barry Manilow were just some of the artists to perform. The final artist to perform, Jennifer Hudson, was personally announced by Davis, and she went on to perform hits by Aretha Franklin. Davis finished the night off with a bombshell: Hudson will be playing Aretha Franklin in the new biopic for the Queen of Soul, according to Deadline. Rumors say that Franklin herself chose Hudson to play her in the film.

Aretha Franklin is one of the most prolific singers and one of the most important female icons of the 20th century. Her career spans over 6 decades, with numerous hits throughout the years. One of her biggest hits, Respect, a cover of Otis Redding’s song, has easily become a feminist anthem and is considered one of the greatest songs of all time by a multitude of publications. It will be interesting to see how the film will tell the story of Franklin, considering the large amount of history to dig through.

Currently, Hudson is the only person connected to the film other than producers Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason Jr. Mason Jr. has worked with Franklin and Hudson previously on Dreamgirls. MGM is currently searching for a director and a writer. We will update when more information is spread about the film.