RESPECT BLACK MUSIC MONTH

As Black Music Month nears—and we compile our lavish special issue celebrating same—it's timely to be able to share the trailer for RESPECT, the Aretha Franklin biopic from MGM starring Jennifer Hudson. The Queen of Soul, it goes without saying, plays a tremendous role in our forthcoming history of R&B; the film follows her story from childhood to stardom.

RESEPECT's impressive cast also includes Forest Whitaker as Aretha's father, C.L. Franklin, Marc Maron as legendary exec Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess as the Rev. Dr. James Cleveland and R&B icon Mary J. Blige as the great Dinah Washington. Tony nominee Liesl Tommy makes her feature directorial debut with this picture, which was co-penned by Callie Khouri and Tracey Scott Wilson and produced by Harvey Mason Jr., Scott Bernstein, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman and Stacey Sher.