Cynthia Erivo reigns supreme in this new key art for National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha.
Erivo’s role as Aretha Franklin marks the third season of National Geographic’s anthology series. Starring with Erivo is Courtney B. Vance as Franklin’s father C.L. Franklin, Malcolm Barrett as Franklin’s first husband and business partner Ted White, David Cross as music producer Jerry Wexler and T.I. as Franklin’s road manager and love interest Ken Cunningham. Patrice Covington and Rebecca Naomi Jones are also starring as Aretha’s sisters and background singers Erma and Carolyn Franklin, with Steven Norfleet as Franklin’s other brother Cecil, who became her manager after her divorce from White.
Other actors featured in Genius: Aretha include Pauletta Washington as Franklin’s paternal grandmother Rachel, Omar J. Dorsey as gospel singer known as the “King of gospel music” James Cleveland, Marque Richardson as saxophonist King Curits, Kimberly Hébert Gregory as America’s first Black female booking agent Ruth Bowen and Shaian Jordan in her debut as young Aretha, known then as Little Re.
Genius: Aretha is set to debut this fall.
