The Academy Award nominations have been announced, and many people are disappointed that they weren’t on the list. Among those ranks are relatives of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
According to TMZ, Franklin’s family members are furious that Jennifer Hudson, who was hand-selected by the singer and producer, was snubbed for her role in the feature film “Respect.”
Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece, said that Hudson should have been nominated for an Oscar, Best Actress in a Leading Role. Many expected the former “American Idol” winner to be in the running. Talks around Hollywood, according to the Billboard, had Hudson as a sure bet for Best Actress and Best Song categories. Hudson co-wrote the original song “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” for “Respect” with Carole King and Jamie Alexander Hartman.
Two years ago, Owens resigned as the executor of Franklin’s estate.
In 2020, she shared, “Given my aunt’s love of family and desire for privacy, this is not what she would have wanted for us, nor is it what I want. … I hope that my departure will allow the business of the estate to continue, calm the rift in my family and allow me to return to my personal life.”
Though she no longer has a formal leadership position over the Franklin estate, she continues to speak on what would have been her aunt’s desire. She stated that Aretha would have been upset about Hudson not receiving the nod and would have wanted the young star to be celebrated.
Franklin was a fan of Hudson since she auditioned for “American Idol” in 2004. Hudson performed Franklin’s hit, “Share Your Love With Me,” a song that was released in 1969 and had won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female in 1970.
Brenda Franklin Corbit, another one of the icon’s relatives and former backup singer, also agrees that her first cousin would have been furious over Hudson being overlooked.
Had Hudson been nominated for the song and the acting role she would have become the first Black woman to receive nominations in three separate Oscar categories, the Detroit Free Press reports. In 2007, she received the award for Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Effie in “Dreamgirls.”
Actresses that were included in the nominations for that prized category includes Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye;” Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter;” Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers;” Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos” and Kristen Stewart, “Spencer.”
More Stories from Our Partners:
Snoop Dogg Buys Death Row Records From Blackstone-Managed Group
