'Respect' Star Jennifer Hudson On The 'Surreal' Experience Of Playing Aretha Franklin

Before her death, legendary singer Aretha Franklin hand-picked Jennifer Hudson to portray the “Queen of Soul” in a biopic.

The starring role in “Respect” is one the American Idol finalist doesn’t take lightly. Hudson auditioned for the show with Franklin’s “Share Your Love with Me” back in 2006.

Hudson says playing Franklin — her idol — on screen is a dream come true.

“The magnitude of it is so huge. I have to take it in doses,” Hudson says. “Like even when we started to film, I was like, ‘Is this really happening now?’ ”