Star of ‘Genius: Aretha’ on the Queen of Soul’s Legacy and Complex Relationship with Her Sister

Last updated on: March 22, 2021 at 5:46 pm by DeWayne Hamby

Star of ‘Genius: Aretha’ on the Queen of Soul’s Legacy and Complex Relationship with Her Sister 2021-03-22T17:46:01-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the third season of NatGeo’s “Genius” series, airing this week, the history of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is explored, from her humble beginnings singing at her father’s church to worldwide superstardom. The eight-episode series, starring Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) and Courtney B. Vance (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) premiered Sunday, March 21.

Cynthia Erivo stars as Aretha Franklin in the series “Genius: Aretha.” Image courtesy of NatGeo and Richard DuCree.

Patrice Covington, an Emmy-winning actress who also starred with Erivo on Broadway in “The Color Purple,” appears as Erma Franklin, Aretha’s sister, and background singer. In this exclusive interview with Reel Faith, she talks about Franklin’s legacy, the singer’s complex relationships, and the day she met the Queen of Soul.

Aretha was just so special and iconic, and she broke so many barriers. What was it that made you want to jump in and be a part of this series?

She’s just a part of my life. Her music has always been there. I’ve never not known who she was. And I know how important she is. I was thrilled about the fact that Nat Geo was now doing their third season. I think it was the perfect time to do their first woman in their first black person. And I feel that it’s gonna’ be encouraging to so many are story is going to be encouraging the way she overcame, what she overcame, and how she involved her family. The Franklins were royalty in Detroit. I think it’s a really beautiful story. I was excited to be a part of it just to spread the wealth of knowledge and this woman that we all feel like we know personally.

Patrice Covington image courtesy of Andy Peterson/Aspiration.

What was her relationship like with her sister?

It’s funny at times also sad at times. There was competition. Maybe there’s some resentment sometimes and some jealousy. Erma, and Carolyn were background singers for a reason on all of her hit songs. And they were sort of, as they say, 20 feet from stardom. Watching their sister become this huge star kind of overshadowed their careers a little bit. They were definitely still fantastic performers and songwriters. They had hit records, but they just didn’t grow to the level that she did. I think you’ll see a lot of that we don’t shy away from that in the story at all. And we’ll also see how it went beyond being a background singer and just having her back all the time. All this she went through she had a lot of complexities in life and some complications and tribulations with marriages and such and her sisters were just always there to take her back up and make sure they see continued to be the queen that she was.

What was it like working with Cynthia Erivo in this context rather than on Broadway?

I met her when she was brand new to America. No one really knew who she was yet. So, it’s been interesting and inspiring watching her star rise. At times on Broadway, I actually got to play her sister because I understudied the role of Nettie, who’s Celie’s sister. It was a wonderful reprise to play her sister in this capacity.

Can you remember the first time that you heard Aretha? I’ll tell you mine was watching her performance in “The Blues Brothers.” I really didn’t know who she was before that.

I think that that’s important to note, though, that she had this huge career, but so many people did not know who she was until she did “The Blues Brothers.” And that’s why she was so adamant about doing that project because it gave her crossover. People were introduced to her that normally wouldn’t be listening to maybe her gospel album, that’s the bestselling record gospel record of all time, and beyond. But I don’t remember not knowing her music, I just was always there. I knew that when it was playing, it was time to get up and clean up, so it knows so many different things. It’s a very nostalgic voice for me.

Did you ever meet Aretha?

I did meet Aretha at “The Color Purple.” She was just so wonderful. She waited for all of us to come and meet her individually and take a photo. I wore a yellow dress. And in this show, I was the only person that wore that color. And she said, “Are you the one in the yellow dress?” And I said, “Yes, ma’am.” And she said, “Well, you can sing!” And I said, “Okay.”

Wow. What a compliment! I would put I would get a T shirt that said that and put Aretha’s face, saying, ‘This is what Aretha said.’ Anyway, it’s awesome that you honor her legacy this way.

It is an honor to be able to do it.

“Genius: Aretha,” from 20th Television and Imagine Television Studios, is airing this week on NatGeo and will be available to stream on Hulu beginning Thursday.

Previous Post

March 21, 2021

New Drama 'My Brother's Keeper' Addresses Silent Battles That Linger for Military Vets

Next Post

March 22, 2021 Mark Wahlberg to Write and Star in Faith-Based Film 'Stu'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who follows the rider of the Pale Horse in Revelation?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Four Winds The Angel Gabriel Hades The Saints