Aretha Franklin biopic ‘Respect’ has deep Atlanta ties

After delays in production and release, the long-awaited Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” will be in theaters Friday.

You might have a few, “Oh, hey, that looks familiar” moments while watching the movie, considering much of it was shot in Atlanta in 2019 and early 2020.

Congregants of First Congregational Church of Atlanta, for example, will recognize their house of worship during the church scenes. Franklin’s father, Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin, was a preacher at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church.

The movie “begins with the church and ends with the church,” director Liesl Tommy told the Christian Post.

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, who portrays the Queen of Soul in the film, posted a photo on her Instagram account of the crew gathered in the church.

The church is on Courtland Street in downtown Atlanta, not far from the historic Healey Building.

Connections to the city aren’t just filming locations, however.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Amber A. Harris has a cameo in the movie.

“I’m the only female musician in the band when the adult Aretha Franklin is revealed in the film. There are no lines, but you will see me a few times in the film playing the piano as she sings,” she told Alabama State University, of which she is an alum. “When Jennifer Hudson appears, that’s the first time I will appear.”

The teacher, actress, singer, director, writer, producer and philanthropist graduated from North Atlanta High School, where she was a show choir student, and then from Alabama State.

Athens native and University of Georgia alum Tituss Burgess has a much bigger role, portraying the Rev. James Cleveland. Cleveland became friends with Franklin when she was a teen.