Audio By Carbonatix
On Tuesday, March 16's all-new E! News Daily Pop, Cynthia Erivo caught up with E!'s Justin Sylvester and discussed her role in the third installment of Genius. As E! News readers well know, the new season, titled Genius: Aretha follows the incredible career and life of the Queen of Soul.
"I felt like I had a responsibility to try and tell the story as fully and as truthfully and as honestly as it possibly could," Cynthia started off. "So, daunting, yes. But also, really exciting."
While the small-screen treatment of Aretha's life will be premiering on Nat Geo this weekend, the Jennifer Hudson-led biopic is also coming later this year. Yet, as the Harriet actress noted on Daily Pop, both Aretha-centric projects deserve your "Respect."
"I'm greedy. So, any Aretha I can get, I'm getting," she shared. "I want to hear Aretha coming out of Jennifer's mouth. Those two have a really special relationship."

Renewed and Canceled TV Shows 2021 Guide
As she continued, the 34-year-old actress and singer said she was "so excited" that there are multiple projects celebrating Aretha. She expressed, "It's something that we as Black women barely get so, to have her celebrated like this is so cool."
Cynthia and Jennifer previously worked together in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple. In fact, this production marked Jennifer's Broadway debut and earned Cynthia the Best Actress in a Musical award at the 70th Tony Awards.
Fun fact: Justin was present for Cynthia and Jennifer's "Purple Rain" tribute to Prince following his death in 2016. As the Daily Pop co-host recalled, the two stars led their Color Purple castmates in a musical tribute following their curtain call.

Stars playing real people
"I was depressed because Prince had died," Justin shared with Cynthia. "I'm sitting in the audience, saw the play, sobbing crying and then, all of a sudden, you and Jennifer Hudson came through and served everybody the gospel of Prince."
For Cynthia's full Daily Pop appearance, including what she'd say to the late Aretha after portraying her, check out the video above.
Latest Stories
-
ECOWAS holds talks with Chiefs of Naval Staff in Accra
3 minutes -
Minister for Communication receives Assemblies of God Church delegation
8 minutes -
Sefwi Wiaso MP urges cocoa farmers to be patient amid global price volatility
15 minutes -
Housing Minister vows to resolve nationwide water shortages, assures Teshie-Nungua residents
20 minutes -
Minority raises concerns over early extension of WCTP and DWT petroleum contracts
22 minutes -
FDA clarifies viral ‘cemented beans’ video didn’t originate from Ghana
40 minutes -
Energy Minister John Jinapor holds constructive talks with Cenpower on Ghana’s power sector
41 minutes -
African AI Governance Index launches first continental AI intelligence platform
47 minutes -
Burkina Faso attack exposes gaps in Ghana’s security preparedness – Ntim Fordjour
53 minutes -
Assaults on teachers will attract severe consequences – Education Ministry warns
1 hour -
Fire destroys heritage train at Ibrahim Mahama’s Red Clay Studio in Tamale
1 hour -
Government seeks to rename NIB as BNI to avoid confusion – Interior Minister Muntaka
1 hour -
High costs, no water and unemployment threatening industrial growth, says AGI president
1 hour -
Gov’t to raise GH₵30bn through syndicated domestic bond to bail COCOBOD – Sagnarigu MP
1 hour -
Brake failure claims life of trader in Kaase Gas tanker crash
1 hour
