Cynthia Erivo Channels Aretha Franklin for Nat Geo’s First Female ‘Genius’
Fall Preview
Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo channeling Aretha Franklin — that’s a musical combo that deserves our respect.
The two great artists come together in the third edition of the National Geographic franchise Genius, which — after spotlighting Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso — honors Franklin as its first American and first female.
“The idea,” says Erivo (Harriet), “is to show what Aretha was able to come through to create the music we know today.”
(Credit: National Geographic/Richard DuCree)
The eight-part limited series (scheduled for fall despite a shutdown late in production) covers much of Franklin’s tumultuous life, punctuated by her most loved songs, including Erivo’s favorites, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” and “Ain’t No Way.” Sounds like a can’t-miss.
Genius: Aretha, Coming Fall 2020, National Geographic
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services