The wrap
‘Genius: Aretha’ Trailer: Watch Cynthia Erivo fight to keep her ‘Queen of Soul’ crown (video)
RESPECT for National Geographic, which on Tuesday set the premiere date of “Genius: Aretha” and dropped the trailer for the pandemic delayed season of the anthology, starring Cynthia Erivo in the title role. In the trailer, which you can see above, Aretha Franklin of Erivo is crowned as the “Queen of the Soul” and spends much of the two-minute video retaining the title while others try to dissuade her bring. Nat Geo announced on Tuesday during his day at the Virtual Television Critics Association that ‘Genius: Aretha’, which has suffered multiple production delays over the past year due to COVID-19, will launch as a four-night series, which Sunday begins. March 21 at 9 / 8c. The eight episodes of the season will be broadcast in pairs of two, and all are available on Hulu by Thursday, March 25th. Read also: Nat Geo Documentary Films acquired ‘Playing With Sharks’ ‘Genius: Aretha’ will explore Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as well as the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world, ” according to Nat Geo. ‘Franklin was a prodigy of the gospel, an outspoken civil rights champion and widely regarded as the greatest singer of the last 50 years and has received countless honors throughout her career. ‘Genius: Aretha’ is the very first, definitive and only authorized series on the screenplay about the life of the widely acclaimed Queen of Soul. The series of anthologies is produced by showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks, Brian Grazer, Imagine, Ron Howard and Anna Culp, Anthony Hemingway, Clive Davis and Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman, Francie Calfo, Ken Biller, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane and Sam Sokolow. “Genius: Aretha” comes from 20th Century Television and Imagination Entertainment, in partnership with Warner Music Entertainment. See below for the list of “Genius: Aretha” episode descriptions and dates. Also read: Here are the premiere dates for Broadcast TV’s new and recurring mid-season programs (Updated) RESPECT Sunday, March 21 at 9 / 8c Aretha is desperate for a hit and travels to Muscle Shoals in 1967 to record her first album with Atlantic Records take. After the loss of her surrogate mother, Little Re embarked on her first solo in 1953 in her church, CL Franklin. UNTIL THE REAL THING ALWAYS COMES SUNDAY 21 MARCH AT 10 / 9c, Aretha grabs Jerry Wexler’s attention at Atlantic Records in 1966 as she struggles to find her sound. Meanwhile, Little Re had her first tour experience on the Gospel Circuit in 1954 with CL Franklin and met 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 her newborn child behind to return to the Gospel Circuit in 1955, featuring music legends James Cleveland and Little Sammie Bryant. UNFORGETTABLE Monday 22 March at 10 / 9c Aretha appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 1968, but she was devastated when the article focused on the scandalous details of her personal life. Barbara Franklin and Young CL Franklin struggle to establish themselves in Memphis in 1941, before Little Re is born. YOUNG, GIFT AND BLACK Tuesday 23 March 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 had a devastating effect on Little Re in 1951. Also read: Winter TV 2021: All the premium dates for new and recurring shows – so far (photos) AMAZING GRACE Tuesday, March 23 at 10 / 9c Aretha- records her best-selling live Gospel album “Amazing Grace” in 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, ignoring her brother and sister’s pleas to record at New Bethel with their father, CL Franklin. Little Re discovers that she is pregnant with her second child and forces her to leave school. While pregnant, she recorded her first album at New Bethel in 1956. CHAINS FROM ACROSS Wednesday 24 March at 9 / 8c As the Queen of the Soul enters the disco era, Aretha will do anything to stay relevant – including the chance to cancel her sister Carolyn. She receives a GRAMMY nomination, but is ultimately not the recipient of the award. While she was at the ceremony, she met Clive Davis, founder of Arista. Meanwhile, Jerry Wexler leaves Atlantic Records, and he and Aretha divorce. NO ONE SLEEPS WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH AT 10 / 9c Despite significant emotional losses, including a second divorce and the death of her father in 1984, Aretha does not push her artistic and triumphant. She began a successful career at Arista, with the help of Clive Davis, and in a memorable GRAMMY performance in 1998, she strengthened her eternal reign as the Queen of the Soul. Read original story ‘Genius: Aretha’ Preview: Watch Cynthia Erivo fight to keep her ‘Queen of Soul’ Crown (Video) at TheWrap