-
Ree?
Wake up, baby.
They wanna hear you sing.
You wanna sing?
Yes, please.
All right.
Clarence, Ella's looking for you.
Wait here, Ree.
-I'll be right back. -Okay.
They butchered my essay.
Took all the politics out.
Can you believe that?
Communism is absolutely for the Negro.
How else are we gonna have everything we ever wanted?
Now, how does a man with one eye
play like he has four hands?
You been practicing?
Yes, Mr. Tatum.
She could hit three octaves easy.
You know, you the finest looking cat here, right?
Nigga, I know that.
What else you got?
Hey, Ree.
Hey, Uncle Sam.
No more segregated clubs for me.
I'm not walking through no one's kitchen
to get to the stage.
I said to them, "I'm so happy to be performing in England,
but just remember
there's only one Heaven, one Earth,
and one queen.
Me. Dinah Washington."
"That Elizabeth on y'alls throne is an imposter."
-You didn't. -Oh, yes, I did.
-And I made 'em bow before me. -
Well, look out, y'all.
The entertainer is here.
Hi.
He said he wanted a race novel.
Sure, he desegregated the army.
But he didn't do a damn thing after that.
-Hi, Aunt Ella. Uncle Duke. -Hey.
You ready, Ree? Come on.
Everyone.
For those of you visiting my home for the first time,
this is my daughter, Aretha.
She'd like to sing a little something for you.
What would you like to sing, Ree?
How old is she?
She's 10,
but her voice's going on 30, honey.
Aretha would like to perform
My Baby Likes to Bebop.
Damn!
I was gonna record that on my next album.
Can we do a duet?
'Cause my baby likes to bebop
Sing, baby!
Do a dance and a flip-flop
Like the hepcats do
"My baby likes to bebop"
Back to bed with you.
Go marching in
Those white folks don't know what to do with her.
Sock it to 'em, Clara!
Yeah, Grandma!
Sock it to 'em! Sock it to 'em!
Momma's here!
Momma! -
God! Babe, I missed you so much.
Hi! Momma!
Mommy!
My babies!
My precious!
Come on, let's go! Let's go!
-Let's go! - Bye, Grandma!
Come on, baby!
Let's go in the car!
That way
In the morning sun
The night is new
Sing another one, Momma!
Oh, Ree, that's the third song now.
Please?
No, I want to talk.
Please? -Oh, God.
Oh, all right.
What if I sing-talk, hmm?
We praising the Lord, Momma!
-
You still singing at the Saturday night parties?
Yeah.
Mmm. Don't say "yeah".
"Yeah" is common. Say "yes".
Yes.
You enjoy it?
-Yeah. Yes. -Uh-uh.
Look at me, Ree.
If you ever don't want to sing, don't.
I love singing.
No, I know. I know.
Your daddy doesn't own your voice, Ree.
Nobody does but God.
And you don't ever have to fear any man.
You understand?
You are so worthy, Ree.
Don't you ever let anybody tell you otherwise.
Yes, Momma.
Oh, Ree, don't cry.
Come on, I'll see you for your birthday.
Three weeks is a long time.
I know, but I am always with you.
Even when I'm not there.
Okay?
Go.
Ree, get back here!
Ree!
Goodbye!
Bye, Momma!
We're marching Marching up to Zion
Ree?
I'm the oldest. I should be in the front of the line.
Hush.
We have nothing to fear, church.
'Cause what is the white man compared to God?
What is any law, any injustice
compared to the power of our Lord?
'Cause He will deliver us from the den like Daniel.
And Daniel went into that lion's den.
Daniel went into that lion's den.
-Yes, Jesus! -Not yelling,
nor fussing.
Not crying!
-Not complaining! -No!
Praising the Lord!
-Yeah! -'Cause he knew
the Lord was with him.
He feared no man!
Can you hear me, church?
I wish somebody would pray with me
-'cause He will! -He will!
He will! -He will!
He will shut the jaws of segregation,
and any man, person,
or institution that would dare
stand against us.
He took us from slavery,
he took us from the valley of reconstruction.
- Freedom!
-Freedom! - Freedom!
Freedom!
-Freedom! - Freedom!
Freedom now! Praise Him! Praise Him!
-Preach, Daddy, preach! - Hallelujah.
Hey? Ree?
Ree!
How come you're not singing tonight?
Daddy didn't ask me to.
What's your doll's name?
Dee.
Mmm. That's a pretty name.
You're pretty, too.
What's your boyfriend's name?
I don't have a boyfriend.
I can be your boyfriend.
Would you like that?
We'll have fun.
Come on, Ree!
I don't want to.
Ree, I will beat your behind.
What are you doing?
I don't care if you beat me.
I don't want my hair done.
Don't you wanna look pretty for church tomorrow?
No!
Y'all wait in the living room.
Come on.
Don't sweat out all my work.
That's gotta last you all week!
Sit down.
You wanna tell me what's wrong?
Ree-Ree?
I know you don't wanna tell me,
but you can always tell the Lord, Ree.
He loves you, no matter what.
You're supposed to be in bed, Ree.
my every burden
Come, come and join me for a while.
Whoa, yes
What if I wasn't here?
What do you mean by that?
-I don't know. -
Hello?
See how nicely their voices are blending?
They let Sam take the proper lead.
Too many members of our choir try to stand out
instead of supporting the soloist.
Clarence?
Come to the phone.
-Play this next. -Okay.
Right back.
Barbara's dead. - How?
Heart attack.
I'll tell them in the morning, Mama.
No. No, you cannot wait till tomorrow
to tell them their momma is dead.
-
No. No.
Ree?
I'm sorry, baby.
Let's go inside.
dear Ree-Ree
Come on now, Ree.
She just miss her momma.
They all missin' her,
but how long she gonna keep silent?
Goin' on three weeks. She gotta...
She just needs a little time. That's all.
Ree?
Miss Clara made you this beautiful cake,
and Reverend James came especially for you.
What do you say, Ree?
Do you say, "Thank you"?
-Do you say something? -
Make a wish, Ree.
I can't do this.
Come on. - Momma. Momma.
Come on, baby. It's all right.
-Momma. Momma. -It's all right.
-Come on, baby. -Momma.
-
Why are you hiding over there?
Come on over here and get your lesson.
You know this one.
Tell you what, I'll be the choir
and you play the lead.
Three, four...
Ree is helping me with my arrangement.
I see.
Has she spoken to you?
that far
Do you think you can stay silent forever, Ree? Hmm?
Look at me.
We must honor the gifts that God has given us, Ree.
You will be singing in church tomorrow.
James, can you prepare her?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Don't let nothin' come between you and your music, Ree.
Music will save your life.
God holds our hand.
Yeah! -Through Him,
we can do anything!
He's a catcher!
A dream catcher!
Amen!
Amen. - Amen.
And now,
my daughter Aretha will bless us with song.
- guilty stains
Lose all their guilty stains -
running through the flood?
I wonder, do you feel all right?
Yes!
I said, do you feel all right?
Yes!
Amen.
I'm ecstatic to be able to report to you
that the day before yesterday, we filled up the jail.
We have already won a victory here in Birmingham.
Amen!
Due, in no small part,
to the valiant work of our leader.
A man whom I feel honored to call my friend.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All right! Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Yes, sir!
Come on! Somebody!
Some people
think that we are crazy
for taking on this fight.
Yes!
But the forces against us are strong,
and they are determined to stop us.
But we are just as determined to go on!
Non-violently,
with love.
As long as it takes to win our freedom.
Yes!
And Jesus is here with us every single step of the way.
Amen!
Yes, sir!
Uncle Martin...
Now don't call me Uncle Martin anymore.
You make me feel old, that's the problem.
I want to march.
Don't look at me like I'm still a child.
I'm not afraid.
-Oh, you're not? -No.
Well, damn.
Then you need to be leadin' this movement
and teaching me how to not be
terrified of these crazy white folks.
Martin... -
Why do you want to march?
After all this time traveling with you,
after all the horror we've seen,
what kind of question is that?
Are you runnin' from your daddy?
No.
So, you tell him you wanna march?
I don't have to.
It's my decision. I'm a grown woman, remember?
Oh, so, you ready to orphan your kids now, hmm?
-Are you? -No.
But you're doing it anyway.
Because I have to.
-And I don't? -Ree...
Singing for the movement
and sending people into battle with a song
is not enough anymore.
I need to be with them.
You have a good talk?
Yes.
It was a good talk.
Brother, come on.
She's restless, I can tell.
I... I... I don't know if it's restless.
She just wants to do more.
What kind of more?
I'll be there in a minute.
Momma!
Clarence! Eddie!
-Momma! Momma! Momma! -My babies! My babies!
-Are you all right, baby? -
Clarence, you go in your room and wait for me.
Come here. It's all right, baby, it's all right.
Come on. Come on.
It's all right. It's all right.
Every time I come back, they want me less.
That's not true.
They talk about you all the time.
Every night, I show 'em where you are on the map.
One cookie.
Fix your face now.
This party is for y'all.
-How are you, Mama? -God is good.
All the time.
Let's eat. I'm starving.
-
So, where y'all headed?
We go to Tennessee, then to Georgia,
then to North Carolina, and then back to Alabama, I think.
Damn. Martin's tour's busier than Daddy's.
Erma, sometimes we hit two states in one day.
What was that story about Aunt Mahalia not paying you?
She said I would receive my reward in Heaven.
Oh.
No, Ree. Uh-uh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...
-Smokey... -Hey, hey, hey, hey.
He's got some news, Ree.
I heard you're cuttin' a record.
Yeah, with Berry over at Motown.
They got some sweet sounds, Ree.
They're signing a bunch of folks in the neighborhood.
Listen, we are trying to put Detroit on the map.
You gotta be a part of it.
-I would love that. -Yeah?
Cecil, let me talk to Daddy about it.
Don't bring it up until I say.
You know what? Let's let Berry talk to him.
Better yet, his sister.
She can talk ice out of the devil's mouth.
What are you drinking?
Iced tea.
Just iced tea?
-With a little bourbon. -
Yeah, you look like a bourbon girl.
How long are you in town for?
A week.
Then I return to Tennessee.
Well, then, I won't waste any time.
Mm.
-I'd like to take you out. -Hmm.
I'd like you to take me out.
How about tonight?
Ree!
Come and help me set this table.
Yes, to tonight.
-Okay. -Excuse me a moment.
Reverend.
I put up with you coming to my house all these years
'cause you were friends with my friends.
But I don't want you around here anymore.
May I give you some counsel, Reverend?
Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers,
do not exasperate your children.
Instead, bring them up in the training
and the instruction of the Lord."
Lord, give me strength.
Are you serious?
You may wanna loosen your grip on Aretha.
You know, every minister's daughter I've ever known...
Nigga, you don't wanna mess with me...
or mine.
I got this.
I got it.
-
Whoo! -
Whoo!
I love to party
I want you by my side
Take that off.
-Everyone! everyone! -
Please, please, gather around.
Aretha, will you join me, please?
This party is not just, uh,
a homecoming.
It's also an announcement.
God is moving us on to our next chapter.
I've been talking to a number of record producers
about Aretha.
There were many
who were interested in working with her.
Tell them what it is, Ree.
Ah...
A plane ticket to New York City.
Congratulations, Ree.
Thank you.
This is it.
Wow.
Excuse me?
I have a meeting with a John Hammond
of Columbia Records.
Sign in, please.
You ready?
-I'm ready.
I've always seen Aretha as more than a gospel singer.
Well, clearly from her demo, she's so much more.
Stand up, Ree.
Turn around.
There can sometimes be a lack of effortlessness
of the kind you find
in a Lena Horne or a Dorothy Dandridge.
But what Aretha lacks in formal education,
she more than makes up for in experience.
She has performed before every type of crowd imaginable,
from small churches to audiences of thousands.
You can sit down now, Ree.
I... I'm curious.
Who are your favorite artists?
Dinah Washington.
Ella Fitzgerald.
-Hmm. - Sam Cooke.
All family friends.
Sam would very much like Aretha
to sign with RCA.
Well, we can't have that.
Welcome
to Columbia Records.
Prove yourself
as a jazz artist, and everything else will follow.
I understand.
Wonderful.
Are you ready, Aretha?
-Yes, Mr. Hammond. -Wonderful.
The conductor will point at you
when he's ready for you to begin.
accentuate the positive
to the affirmative
with mister in-between
She sounds wonderful, doesn't she?
She does.
Like a black Judy Garland.
up to the maximum
down to the minimum
pandemonium
upon the scene
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Village Vanguard is proud to present
Miss Aretha Franklin,
debuting her latest record, Unforgettable.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
We hope you enjoy the show tonight.
I see an old family friend.
Dinah Washington is in the audience.
I'd like to sing a song
in honor of her great artistry and talent.
Bitch!
Don't you ever sing the Queen's songs
when the Queen is in front of you!
What the hell were you thinking?
I'm sorry.
You wanna take me on?
-No. - Liar.
You wouldn't be here if you wasn't trying to replace me
and every other bitch out here singin'.
How many albums have you had?
Four.
And no hits.
You out here, but I can see you
still that little girl in your daddy's living room.
You're singin' everything and anything.
Shoop Shoop one day, Skylark the next,
and then some Billie Holiday blues.
Girl, you're all over the place.
What do you wanna sing?
I don't know.
You don't know?
I want hits. I just want hits.
Girl, you need to let go of that "up with the race"
Booker T. Washington proper Negro shit.
That's not you.
Your daddy likes to pretend that's who he is,
but that's not who he is either.
Child, y'all church folks
are some of the nastiest people out here.
Ray Charles told me that the best sex he ever had
was when he was singin' on the gospel circuit.
Honey, find the songs that suit you. That move you.
Until you do that, you ain't goin' nowhere.
Put some teabags on that.
Take the puffiness down.
How's Big Mama?
She's all right.
The kids?
They're good.
Child, you ever gonna tell us who their daddy is?
Ree-Ree?
You wanna tell me what's wrong?
I can't.
No answer.
Call her again.
Hmm.
I didn't know you were comin' in today, Daddy.
You are 68 minutes late.
Mr. Hammond asked me to come in.
You've been skipping interviews and gigs.
The demon is back.
Ree has a tendency to indulge her pain.
Can we talk about this somewhere else?
John. John.
It's important that you understand that this behavior
is not a reflection of her upbringing or her race.
Well, I've worked with Bessie Smith
and Billie Holiday.
Aretha is a saint in comparison.
She wasn't raised in a whorehouse like them.
She was raised in a proper home
with every convenience and luxury.
But still, a darkness would descend on her.
I called it the demon.
She'd lock herself away, wouldn't speak, move,
just wallow in whatever imaginary...
I...
You told me before we came out here
that you had it under control.
I have control.
You keep complaining that you don't have any hits.
This is why you don't have any hits.
Acting like a trifling...
Apologize to Mr. Hammond.
No, there's no need to apologize.
That is not why I don't have hits.
You don't pick good songs for me.
Sorry for being late, Mr. Hammond.
It won't happen again.
I'm ready to record when you are.
Hmm.
Please excuse me while I go to the ladies' room.
So, you gonna come with us this weekend?
I have a gig.
We can go after your gig.
You work too hard.
-Not according to my daddy. -
Well, you need some fun.
Come with us.
Can you introduce me to his friend?
I don't know him.
-
You were supposed to take me out in Detroit.
Yes, one of my singers
ran into a little trouble out of town,
so I had to take care of it.
I think my father said something to you
-to make you reconsider. -Oh.
That's a nice little fable you got goin' on in your head.
I know what you do.
It doesn't bother me.
I know it doesn't bother you.
You're rebelling against your daddy.
I don't mind.
Listen, you wanna use me for my body,
you can use me, baby.
You can wring me dry.
You and me, we've been through it.
So we can skip all the flowers
and the promises, and the love bullshit,
and just have some fun.
I like fun.
And we'll have plenty of it.
I want one thing from you.
What?
To hear you sing.
Just for me.
What will I get in return?
The best night of your life.
Taxi!
I want you to think about me when you sing tomorrow.
You're not coming home with me?
No.
What about the best night of my life?
I didn't say it would be tonight.
enchanted boy
Very far
He passed my way
I'm sorry.
Would you like to take a break, Aretha?
No.
I'll get it right this time.
Take 12.
enchanted boy
Very far
he passed my way
of many things
You have all my records.
You like them?
I bought them.
Which one you like best?
They've all got something.
Is this one your favorite?
Hmm?
Or this?
What are you doing?
Or this one?
Went to 64 on the charts.
You didn't even open this one.
You don't like them?
I didn't say that.
Then say it.
I won't be upset.
No one does.
First, I've listened to all your albums.
Including this one.
More than once.
Secondly, I love music.
I take it seriously.
I managed my first artist when I was 15.
Thirdly, what you experienced yesterday,
17 takes on one song?
That happens to me every time I hear you sing.
My brain gets all...
muddled.
Well, first,
my apologies for putting you through so much pain.
-And secondly... -Mm-hmm.
...you should have never told me about your Achilles' heel.
On our first date.
Oh, damn it.
-
-Keep singing. -
I didn't think you were comin' home for two weeks.
-I miss my babies. -
And y'all.
Who's that plate for?
Ted.
Oh, sweet Jesus, are you serious?
-What are you thinking? -Please help me with Daddy.
-No... -Help me.
Good Sunday, everybody.
What the hell is this?
You didn't tell them I was coming?
I don't know what you think you're doing here
and I don't care.
Just leave. Now.
Aretha asked me to come
and Aretha can ask me to leave.
-I want him to stay. -This is my house.
Since when do you get to tell me
who gets to be in my house, Ree, huh?
I want you to get to know him.
He's not what you think.
Are you pregnant again?
No!
We just wanna be together.
I love your daughter, Reverend.
And I think she loves me.
I do.
-No! No! - Oh, my Lord!
Ree... - Clarence! No!
Didn't I tell you not to mess with me or mine?
-Didn't I tell you? -Clarence!
Son, don't you let this man
put your church and your soul in jeopardy.
Reverend,
we have to figure this out.
I'm not going anywhere.
You can't see through this hustler?
-You're the greatest hustler I ever seen. -
Every night, she picks herself apart because of you.
She thinks it's her hair, her body, her voice.
She worries about failing you, but it's your failure.
Get out! Just...
Daddy, I know how busy you are.
You have so much going on all the time.
Running a church, the speakin' engagements,
managing Carolyn.
I know about your contract at Horizon Records.
I was gonna tell you.
When? When the damn album came out?
Nobody can tell you anything, Ree. You're so jealous.
Jealous? Of you two?
You think you better than us?
That's exactly
-what she's saying. - No!
Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!
You are not leaving this family
for that piece of trash.
I need a change.
I wanna sing what I wanna sing
and I wanna dress like I want to dress.
And I want Ted to manage me.
He's not worth the shit at the bottom of my shoe.
So that means that you think I'm worth less than that.
After all we've been through.
After all that I've done for you.
I have to do this, Daddy.
You are going to beg me to take you back.
But I won't.
I won't.
I'm gonna say goodbye to my children.
-Okay. -And then we'll go.
Okay.
Y'all not gonna fix me a plate?
with that gun in your hand?
You keep beating up these club owners,
there won't be any clubs left for me to sing at.
No one disrespects us.
I just don't know what else to do...
after nine albums.
Yes, this is Ted White.
I'm calling to speak to Mr. Whitfield.
Well, I'd like to speak to him about Aretha Franklin.
-Mommy can't cook either. -It's sticky!
I'm gonna be honest with ya.
Your version of Skylark is one of my favorite songs.
Thank you, Mr. Wexler.
Oh, please, call me Jerry.
You know what Etta James said when she heard it?
She said you pissed all over that song,
and she would never sing it again in her entire life.
You ruined that song for Etta James.
That is how good it was.
And I'm not bullshittin' ya, okay?
A lot of these guys out here
will say anything to get in your drawers,
but that's not me.
I'm sorry. All right, I'm crude.
And you're a church girl, and I should watch my mouth.
I'm sorry.
You do talk, don't ya? Not just sing?
You are the sweetest thing, Aretha.
I'd like you to call me Miss Franklin.
Okay, Miss Franklin.
What songs would you like to sing?
I want hits.
We're done with standards.
We want original songs made for Aretha only.
Great! We are speaking the same language, my man.
One of the songwriters I represent
wrote a good song for Aretha,
I Never Loved A Man.
Terrific. I've got the perfect place to record it.
I'm working with this little studio
down in Alabama and...
Aretha's only recorded in New York.
Yeah, I know that, but I think that's part of the problem.
It's overproduced, it's a little too polished.
I mean, these boys down there...
"Boys"?
Don't be offended, all right?
I say boys because they're young like Aretha,
like Miss Franklin, not because they're Negroes.
These guys are the best musicians
I have ever worked with in my life,
and that's saying something.
I've been doing this a long time.
They don't need to read charts.
They just feel their way through the music.
It's really something. How does that sound to you?
Sounds good.
And I'm not controlling like Hammond, okay?
I'm gonna give you plenty of space
to do your thing, all right?
This is your show, Miss Franklin.
Your record.
Okay?
This is it?
What did all the glamor at Columbia get me?
Do you know who you're messing with?
"Do I know who I'm..." Do you know who you're messing
-with, buddy? -You tryin' to screw me over,
-Rick? -You in my town now, buddy!
This is my place!
It's my record!
Everything you see here is mine!
This is my record!
Miss Franklin, Ted,
-welcome. -Jerry.
Nice to see you. Hello.
I'm Rick Hall.
You don't have any Negro musicians in this town?
Uh...
-We were just discussing that. -Not today.
Not today?
There was a miscommunication, Ted.
Negroes only allowed to pick cotton in these parts, huh?
Percy Sledge had that same look on his face
when he first come in here.
And then he heard 'em play
and he was very satisfied with his record.
I think you will be, too.
-Drink? -We don't have time
for this right now.
Where can I get a jacket like that?
You'd have to come to Harlem.
Always wanted to go to Harlem.
Yeah.
You're a no good heartbreaker
Who's this singin'?
The songwriter.
Sings like a writer.
Rick, you want drums on this?
Or you just wanna keep it boring?
I don't know, Roger. You know any good drummers around here?
Don't, actually.
It's just slow.
-It's just a little slow. - Little slow, yeah.
All right! Come on, guys!
Hang with me on this. This is a good song!
It's a great song.
It is what it is.
All right. Let's see what we can make of it.
Hey, Spooner.
You wanna keep that shuffle on there or straighten it out?
Let's straighten it out.
Straighten it out.
Straightening out.
Put some fatback on it.
Yeah, like a King Curtis deal?
Yeah... -
Hey, man, that's groovy.
All right, let's go with that.
-Yeah. -
heartbreaker
and you're a cheat
do these things...
Okay, let's hold up.
Hold up. It sounds like,
uh, Sunday morning service in there.
Yeah, I was just about to say,
it's a little too churchy, guys.
I liked it.
Let's find a different pocket, all right?
Something with more swing.
Speed it up.
Yeah.
No, don't speed it up. Follow me.
if I could
Stop. Stop.
It's too busy.
Let the song do the work.
Yeah, stop showing off, guys.
Yeah, boys, if you're trying
to impress me, it's not working.
Yeah, and more importantly, it's startin' to piss me off.
Maybe we should do something closer
to the original arrangement.
Nah. -No, it's done.
You kept steppin' on me.
You were all over the neck.
I couldn't tell what you were doing.
I'm all over the neck?
Find your lane, Jimmy.
Look who's talkin'.
They could hear your crash in Texas.
Well, my horn arrangement's killer.
Y'all let me know when you're ready to hear it.
You gonna save the song, Jack?
As I have on many an occasion, okay.
Okay.
Good job, Jack. - How about that.
Spooner's got it! Spooner's got it!
Yeah, he does.
good heartbreaker
you're a cheat
these things to me
-Go on, baby.
I ain't
I love you, yeah
run out of fools
that you'll never lose
That is rocking.
Yeah, it sounds pretty good.
-I can do better. -
It's like the perfect mixture of gospel, blues...
And sex.
Baby, that's some of the best singin' and playin'
I've ever heard.
I want to overdub some backgrounds on the chorus.
You know, I was just thinkin' about that.
We can bring in some local talent...
No, I want to do it.
Okay, even better. Save me some money.
Jerry.
Let me talk to you for a moment.
Okay, okay.
Had a rocking thing on it.
Yeah, it did. -It was rocking.
The way that I, I love you
I wasn't lookin' at nobody. I was trying to do my work.
He was looking at you.
Thought he was gonna get him some nigga tail.
Pack the bags.
It sounded good.
Real good.
It was really comin' together,
and you had to show your ignorant ass.
I oughta leave you here
and let those crackers have a go at you.
This was the best I ever sounded.
Couldn't you hear that?
We'll finish this in New York.
With my musicians.
Your musicians ain't shit.
You're not about to mess this up for me.
Where the hell do you think you're going?
I've waited too long for this.
Where the...
Like hell you are.
You don't know who you're fucking with! Come here!
-Ted, it's Rick Hall. Open up. -
This cracker here.
Evenin'.
May I come inside?
No.
I thought we should talk.
I got nothin' to say to your hillbilly ass.
I wish you wouldn't call me names.
Do I call you names?
And what would you like to call me, whitey?
I come here to make peace.
No, I don't wanna make peace with you, cracker.
I come here to tell you that I fired
that horn player who was troublin' you.
And how'd it feel to take orders from a nigger?
You know,
I don't hate you 'cause you're a...
a Negro.
I hate you 'cause you're a giant asshole.
Don't you ever step foot
near my studio again, all right?
Miss Franklin, you are welcome at any...
Don't you talk to my wife, cracker!
Now, you keep pushin' me...
Yeah, what you gonna do, redneck?
-And you keep pushin' me... -Peckerwood!
Now, you gonna "redneck" me one more time,
and you gonna "whitey" me one more time,
-and I'm gonna "nigger" you! -
Bitch, call me a nigger again.
Call me a bitch again, huh.
-You stupid! Ass! Bitch! -
You hungry?
I'm all right.
Come on now, baby.
Come on, come on. Come to Grandma. Come on.
Ree is home!
That bastard.
I'm gonna kill him.
You here for long?
I'm not sure.
Hmm.
when I come home
-
Did Aretha Franklin call?
No. -No?
Get it, Momma!
Call Ted White.
when I come home
Do that thing, Momma!
Just start callin' everybody on that list.
Give me more mashed potato.
-
Come on, Mama Franklin!
-Now, let's see you dance! -
- All right! Oop.
when I come home
Hello?
She isn't here.
And if you touch her again, I'll...
Go to hell.
Okay.
Respect when I get home
-Mind if I sing with y'all? -Me too!
That's what I need
Your momma cut her first record at that store.
Jesus Be A Fence.
Folks lined up around the block to buy it.
They lined up to buy your records, too.
Ha. I'm about to tell 'em that story now.
-Momma... -
-Ain't that... -Don't say "ain't."
But ain't that you singing?
They... They released that?
if I could
All right!
-
It's a hit!
Ree, it sounds wonderful.
Don't you think so, baby?
It's amazing, Ree.
That's my sister! -It's amazing.
That's your momma singing! That's amazing!
That's your momma singing!
Hello?
Mr. Wexler,
I'm ready to record.
Oh.
Thank God.
I want to record with the Muscle Shoals band.
Those boys have soul.
Yes, they do. They do.
And I want to provide the backup singers.
-
it's a man's world
by me
we're together, baby
'Cause if you want a do-right -
my brother
Sorry.
You can't treat me like that.
I know.
I got demons too, Ree.
Can you help me fight mine
the way I help you fight yours?
Please.
I'm so sorry.
I will help you, baby.
I love you so much.
I love you, too.
all right with me
every once in a while
Ree, we've been talkin'.
How's Clara doin'?
-She's fine. -She's good.
Is Daddy ever gonna marry Clara?
I'm surprised she's stayed this long.
Why would she leave? They're church royalty.
The same reason they all leave.
Same reason Momma left.
The same reason you need to leave Ted.
Ted is nothing like Daddy.
The way you two go at it?
Just like Momma and Daddy.
Momma and Daddy didn't fight.
Wait...
You're not joking?
-Joking about what? -You don't remember?
Even I remember, and I was just three or four.
Remember what?
Aretha,
we used to climb up on the roof
and sing as loud as we could to drown them out.
How could you forget?
I still have nightmares about it.
Well, I was glad when Momma finally left.
Why did you leave?
You don't remember?
Remember what?
Nothing.
What are you doing?
Get Erma.
Sure thing.
For
Give me...
One more time.
Go a third below, Carolyn.
Yeah.
Yes.
Yeah.
-
Oh, Big Mama...
What the hell?
It's almost 3:00 a.m.
We're writin' a hit song.
It's Otis Redding's song.
-Just a little bit. -
Oh, God.
You really like it?
-It's wonderful, Ree. -It's great.
You're sure?
Don't do that.
Y'all tell me
-if you don't really like it. -I like it.
-I love it. -We love it, Ree.
Ree-Ree.
-Re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re. -
-Ree. -
Re-re-re-re
That's really good.
Just a little bit
Yeah!
What a line!
what it means to me
All right. - Here we go. Yeah.
I need a Harlem bassline, Tommy.
-Not Alabama. -
Well, I ain't been to Harlem yet.
But let's funk it up.
That's nice.
-
That is groovy!
Come on in, Spooner. What ya got?
-Yeah!
I'm gonna keep it simple.
Like you always do.
All right. - That's groovy.
I dig that. -Oh, it's her song now.
-Otis who? -
- Solo? Okay.
All right!
-
Baby, I got it
You know I got it?
when you come home
-
Just a little bit
while you gone
'cause I don't wanna
when you come home
-
all of my money
in return, honey
when you get home
When you get home
-
So is my money
to do for me
Bring it to me
-
Find out what it means to me
Take care, TCB
sock it to me, sock it to me
-
Aretha! Aretha! Aretha!
Aretha! Aretha!
-
to run you away
-Smokey! -
Nobody is talking about Motown anymore.
All they want to talk about is Aretha Franklin.
You did it, Ree.
-I did it. -Yes, you did.
what I'm gonna do
What did you wish for?
More hits.
Aretha Franklin, you are the Queen of Soul.
Why'd you have to do it?
-
What is soul music?
The musician having the biggest influence
on this genre
is Grammy-winning soul singer, Aretha Franklin.
From a young age,
I saw Aretha possess extraordinary talent.
Ted is my husband, manager, and favorite critic.
Hello, Ted.
Right now, gospel is the main influence
on contemporary rhythm and blues,
and that's due to Aretha. Others have mixed
gospel and so-called secular music before her,
but Aretha puts a unique spin on it
that people can relate to.
It's always great when families sing together
because there's a language between siblings
that you can't recreate with just hired hands.
Ain't No Way is a song written by Carolyn for Aretha,
and something Aretha can relate to because,
I think, they know each other so well.
Show me how the melody goes in the verse.
That's it.
Let me try.
all you need
give all of me
it was planned
-
all the things I can
Yeah
someone you're not
for what he got?
like you say
Please, please
that I need you?
So it fades right here?
You genius you.
You really feelin' this one, aren't you, Ree?
-I love it. -
I can tell.
See, so, she's just being completely honest
in a song about what she feels
at any given moment.
And that's why the audience relates to her.
I'm still trying to figure out who I am.
I'm not sure yet,
but I'm trying to find the answer.
Now, I am here to honor Aretha.
Or Ree, as I like to call her...
...for her tireless work for the Civil Rights Movement.
Every time
I ask Aretha to sing at a fundraiser,
church event, or a conference,
she shows up.
No matter where she is or what she's doing,
-she always answers the call. -
And I am honored to present Aretha
with this proclamation today.
And I wish that every day
was Aretha Franklin Day!
We love you, Aretha!
After all of that,
there's really only one thing left to say, right?
on the mornin' rain
so uninspired
-
so tired
to my peace of mind
-
what you've done to me
so good inside
You make me feel so alive
Excuse me, Miss Franklin.
I'm so sorry to bother you,
-but I just have to tell you. -It's all right.
When you sing,
I feel like you are talking about my life.
It helps me, because it is hard out here.
But I feel like you understand,
and, well, I just have to thank you.
Stay strong.
Okay.
Yes, thank you. Thank you very much.
We have to go now.
I'm flying to Atlanta tomorrow to do a benefit for SNCC.
Cancel it.
I have some meetings and interviews lined up.
No.
Daddy and Martin asked me to do it.
-I'm going. -
Aretha!
Jerry.
Oh, I love when you call me Jerry.
It means you're not mad at me.
Hello, Ted.
Jerry.
Come on in.
Everyone wants you, Miss Franklin.
We've got interest in France, England, Germany...
All right, we don't have to name every country.
All of Europe.
The entire continent wants you
and I think we should schedule something.
We should schedule a tour
that coincides with the new album.
We could do that or we could send her out now
to create an appetite for the new record.
I think that's best.
I have six venues ready to clear this...
And who are you,
brother?
Ken Cunningham. I'm the tour manager.
Tour manager?
So, you already booked the tour?
It's not booked.
No, he said the venues was ready.
That's right. They were available if we want 'em.
You have to gauge interest early for it.
-I know how a tour works. - Okay.
-No. -No what?
No European tour dates.
Why not?
Because
we have some TV dates we'd like to schedule first.
Oh, yeah? With whom?
Carol Burnett, Andy Williams. Mike Douglas.
All right. So, those shows will be there
when she gets back.
We have a chance here
to expand her reach around the world.
To make her a global superstar.
Do you know what a rare opportunity that is?
We're considering some movie offers as well.
Movies?
Aretha. You wanna do movies?
I think I could.
Of course you could.
You could do any damn thing you want.
You thought you could just bring us in here,
tell us where to go, what to do,
and send us on our way?
You should know by now, Jerry,
that is not the way I do business.
Ken, how much money could Aretha make on the tour?
Quarter of a million.
Carol Burnett payin' that?
Movies payin' that?
We'll consider it. With the right band.
All right.
Well, the Muscle Shoals guys have started their own label.
King Curtis is ready to go.
-Curtis is rockin'. - He's perfect for you.
Curtis is good, but I've got some people lined up.
Really? Five minutes ago,
you didn't wanna go on this tour.
Now, you've got people lined up?
Check the tone, Jerry.
Just take it easy, Ted.
I'm sorry. Forgive me for my tone.
What musicians do you have lined up, Ted?
George Davidson.
Miller Brisker. Russell Conway.
All right. You can't have the premier singer of our time
touring Europe with a ragtag bunch of amateurs
suitable for backing some third-rate blues singer
in a bucket of blood in Loserville, Louisiana.
I want to use Ted's musicians, Mr. Wexler.
"Mr. Wexler"?
Oh, God. Aretha, please.
Can we move on
to the next item on the agenda, please?
Whatever you say, Miss Franklin.
So, they do this funny thing in Amsterdam
when they really love a performer.
They pelt them with flowers.
Pardon me.
I warned them not to get too crazy with it,
but you might get hit with a few.
After the show, please. After the show.
Right through this door.
Watch your step.
-
in your chain
but your fool
-
you strength
to leave you alone
Fix this or I'll have your job.
My father said, "Come on home"
"Take it easy"
-
Aretha! Aretha!
Can you comment on the recent Time magazine cover story?
Oh, I haven't read it yet,
but it is a great honor to grace the cover
of such a prestigious magazine.
This Time article says that your husband
beat you in a hotel lobby.
Excuse me?
Is this true?
No more questions! Let's go!
-Move.
It's a lie!
It's a dirty lie!
Get off! Come here!
No, that's too low. I want $10 million.
They're gonna be sorry they wrote this shit.
And you know, your daddy,
he doesn't come across too well either.
He may wanna sue 'em his damn self.
How are you gonna prove that you didn't hit me?
You did and everyone saw it!
Another man would have killed you by now.
Crazy way you act.
Get out of my way.
What are you gonna do, huh? What are you gonna do?
I mean it.
You would still be singing
some Al Jolson shit if it wasn't for me.
-I wrote half your hits. -
Are you laughing at me?
You know damn well you didn't write one word.
One note of anything.
I just let you put your name on it
to keep you from throwing a fit.
I Never Loved A Man came from me.
My songwriter!
That song wasn't anything until I rearranged it.
And I sang the hell out of it because it was about you.
You're a lying, no good,
just useless, psychopath.
-No!
I'm done with you.
Yeah, you've said that before.
You wait until your demons come back!
After livin' with you,
I'm ready for 'em.
This song goes out
to anyone who has ever felt mistreated.
Two, three, four.
-
you're trying to do to me
-
Let yourself be free
let's go back
way back when
too much more than 10
I ain't no doctor with degree
too much high IQ
you're doing to me
-
you're trying to do to me
-
let yourself be free
-
You, think about it
you could ask
with I won't
but I'm not
doing things I don't
-
you're trying to do to me
-
let yourself be free
-
There ain't nothing we can do
Think about it right now
-
Thank you.
I have some trash I need taken downstairs.
Right now, please.
Just come over.
I know.
I don't care.
Just...
be with me.
You sure that ain't too much, Ree?
Listen, you're about to have the meal of your life.
She put her foot in there. Smell it.
Yes, I did, yes, I did.
-She put somethin' in there. -Put her foot in, she did.
I don't know. That smells funny.
-Darlin', get outta there.
-You want me to get that, Ree? - Yes, answer. Get...
Get outta here!
All right, put it back.
Hello?
And that's me.
This will bring Big Mama to her knees, honey.
You goin' to Hell for that.
Hey.
She knows.
No, no, no.
-No, no, no. - What's wrong?
What's wrong?
Hello?
What is it?
What?
-What? -It's Martin.
They...
Oh, God. - They shot him.
Oh, God.
I wanna say it one more time
He kept telling me
that they were gonna get him.
But I said, "Martin, the Lord has more for you to do.
You're gonna be all right."
But he knew.
He knew.
Other ministers were jealous of him,
-but I never was. -Mm.
He was my friend.
-I ministered him... -Yeah.
...advised him.
Prayed with him.
-Yes, you did. -More time than I can count.
I loved him, Ree.
He loved you.
Who's gonna lead us now?
They don't listen to me anymore.
You still have the biggest church in Detroit.
I still know how to get 'em goin'.
-Yes, you do. -I do.
Can I join you?
No. I just wanna talk to Ree. Can I do that?
-Can I just talk to Ree? -Of course you can.
-Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. -Of course you can.
Um, I'll be right there when you need me.
They need leadership, Ree.
You should see the way these fools
are steppin' over Martin's body to be in charge.
I don't want no part of that.
And these young revolutionaries out here,
they don't want no part of what we built.
They want to free our people.
They all talk.
Not all of them. I like Angela Davis.
She don't care about public opinion
and she's not afraid to speak up
to those pigs or anyone else.
-Pigs? -Yes, pigs.
You saw what they did to us during the rebellion.
Riots.
Why shouldn't we fight back?
And start a full-on war? You think we can win that?
We're tired of gettin' our heads kicked in.
Non-violence got us our civil rights
and our right to vote.
At what price? Our souls?
Our dignity?
Hmm.
I've been thinking.
We should hit the road again.
Why not?
A northern tour.
Me preachin' and you singin'.
Mm-mmm.
Just think on it.
You don't gotta decide tonight.
I'm not doing that, Daddy.
I know you got your very busy tourin'
and recordin' schedule.
This won't interfere with that.
-I won't interfere with that. -No.
I'm done with that.
I can't go back to headlining with you.
You're not walkin' in the spirit anymore.
That is not true.
You're drinking and you're whoring around.
Same as you!
You not too old for me to knock you on your ass!
-You know that, right? -Is everything all right?
Just mind your own business! I'm talkin' to...
Don't talk to her like that.
Have you lost your mind, huh?
Maybe.
Maybe I found it.
Come on, let's get you to bed.
Just...
Just don't.
-I heard your conversation. -Mm...
I'm not sorry.
No, no, you ain't got nothin' to be sorry for.
Just do your thing, Ree.
And you do it as big and as loud
and as long as you can.
la, la, la, la,
la, la, la, la
at Spanish Harlem
Please, just listen to it again, okay?
I have a great feeling about this song,
and The Beatles are getting restless.
They said if you don't do it, they will.
The song is Catholic, Jerry.
I'm a Baptist.
That's... That's crazy.
-You thought that's gonna... -They caught Angela Davis.
-What? - That can't be right.
No, no, no, no.
Angela Davis, a young Black militant
who has been hunted for nearly two months
on murder and kidnapping charges,
was arrested yesterday at a hotel in midtown Manhattan
by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
-
Angela Davis must go free.
Black people will be free.
My daddy says I don't know what I'm doing.
I respect him, of course,
but I have to stick by my beliefs.
You have to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace.
What the hell is this tour schedule?
-Half the damn dates are gone! -All right, all right,
we were just about to have a talk with you about this.
We?
We're not having a family barbecue?
This is one of these Ken hippie talks?
I told you this wasn't gonna work.
Just breathe.
Put the damn dates back.
Don't do it, Cecil. Listen, Ree...
You work for me, Cecil.
You overbook.
You don't show up for half the dates,
then I have to deal with the fallout.
It's your damn job!
We're trying to help you.
Aretha, you need to slow down.
You stop for five minutes, they forget all about you.
That's ridiculous.
How would you know, Erma? You barely have one hit.
Ree, you haven't slept in months.
And you look like it.
You don't want me to tell you what you look like, Carolyn.
Well, next time you have a breakdown,
don't call us, all right?
I won't.
Come on, let's go outside. Come on.
And don't call me when you need a gig,
or you want me to write liner notes in your jive-ass album,
or introduce you to some producers,
or just borrow some cash that your ass never pay back.
If I don't work, y'all don't eat.
Right.
Put the damn dates back, Cecil.
Three venues in three states in three days.
-Happy now? -Yes, I am.
And don't ever pull that bullshit with me again.
I know how to run my damn business.
You asked me.
Y'all just wanna take my crown.
-Oh, God. -Please.
Ree, think about our son. This isn't good for him.
Don't tell me I'm a bad mother.
-Here comes the paranoia. - I never said that!
Olga, bring Miss Franklin a fruit juice.
Don't you dare.
What you staring at? Go get my lunch.
Yes, ma'am.
Tell me y'all don't want what I got.
All right, forget it!
I can't talk to you when that demon takes hold.
You don't know what I go through.
Y'all don't know what I've been through!
We love you, Ree.
Why can't you see that, Ree?
Get the hell out of my house.
No, don't move. We're going to deal with this, Ree.
Out!
-Come on, baby, please. -Mm-mm.
Ree, listen to me. They're here to help you.
- Please.
It's your family.
Teddy! Calf! Come help your momma sing now.
and Black
precious thing
Young, gifted, and Black
precious thing
Say it again.
and Black
to what I mean
gifted, and Black
I'm gonna take the kids back to Detroit with me.
I think that's best.
What are you thinking right now?
Just things.
What things?
Private things.
After all this time, you're still keepin' stuff from me?
You don't keep stuff from me?
No.
You should.
Why? I trust you.
Don't you trust me?
Sometimes.
What do I have to do to make it all the time?
Just let me be.
I know what to do.
Mmm.
Be here with me.
Just let your mind go quiet for a moment.
That would be easy if you stopped talking.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
I have to make some calls.
You don't have to call anyone, Ree.
You don't know what I have to do.
Don't go to that dark place.
Come here.
Tell me what's wrong, baby.
You're shaking.
You act so tough.
I can see that little scared girl in you.
Shit!
-I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
It's all right.
Shit!
She can't do it, Cecil.
Put her on the phone.
She's asleep right now. Her migraine.
Man, who do you think you're bullshittin'?
Tell Ree she's gonna get sued again.
One of us needs to go check on her.
Well, it's your job to keep an eye on her.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Queen of Soul,
Miss Aretha Franklin!
- Ree!
Hey, let us help you.
Please.
-
for you
-
to wear now
-
You'll stay in my heart
We never will part
-
To live without you
Only bring heartbreak for me
-
-Ree? Ree?
Ree? Ree? Can you hear me?
-Don't move. - Don't... Don't move.
-Your arm? - Someone get a medic!
Come here, baby, come here.
Roll over. Roll over.
Easy, easy, easy. -Stay back!
I got you, I got you.
Back, please. Get back, please.
-Keep back, please!
Is she okay?
It's gonna be all right, Ree.
I can't do this anymore.
Mm.
Please...
-
Our Father...
-Which art in Heaven...
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
You always did know how to make an entrance.
James.
All right.
Okay. You come and sit.
Come on.
What y'all wanna sing?
And...
An all-gospel record has a very limited audience.
-I don't care. -You do care.
You sat in that office with me six years ago,
and you said you wanted to make hits,
and I think you still do.
I'm making this album, Jerry.
All right, can you just hear me out, please?
I'm making this album,
or I'll never make an album with you again.
All I wanna do is drink now, Jerry.
Well, let me get you into a program.
I'm in a program, but I need the church.
I need the spirit.
It has always gotten me through,
and it will get me through again.
Okay. Well, can we just...
I... I mean, just think about this...
This album is not for me or for you or anybody else.
This album is for God.
And you can't jive God, Jerry, so stop trying.
- Oh.
I'm not trying to jive you or Jesus, okay?
It's the gospel record.
It's 1972, for Christ's sake. Sorry. I...
Hey,
how about we make a documentary film
to go along with the record?
Why?
So, the international fans, the hippies,
the atheists like me can see you in your element
and understand the music that made you.
You mean for white people?
Well, I...
All right. Yes.
That's a great idea.
Okay. Well, good. So, you're not gonna leave me?
We're not done yet.
Oh, boy. What?
I want to produce the album, too.
Oh.
All right. Okay. Okay.
Hold! Hold!
You have to do something with the longer notes.
You're not giving yourself anywhere to go.
Start straight, then hit the vibrato halfway through.
Tension and release, y'all.
Yes, and this song is a lot more, uh, deliberate.
-Mm. - Yeah?
Take it from where we left off.
"In the stillness."
Yeah, that's it.
-
Thank you!
-
Sweet precious memories
Oh, Lord
Okay, all right, we're gonna take a ten.
Let's take ten. Let's, uh...
Are you all right?
I can't make a fool out of myself.
There's gonna be a film crew here.
And if I break down like I did right now,
they gonna think I lost my mind.
Ree...
Ree, the spirit is the spirit.
It moves when it moves.
What you want us to do? Behave like Episcopalians?
Now what's really bothering you?
You told me once
that music would save my life.
I did.
What if it doesn't?
The demon is strong.
Ain't no demon hauntin' you, Ree.
There never was.
Just the pain you've been runnin' from your whole life.
But you gotta let it go, Ree.
Give it to God.
It wasn't your fault.
And He knows that.
I don't know about tomorrow
or the concert or the album or the documentary.
You in church right now.
You're safe.
So, Ree,
let's have church.
Daddy.
It's good to see you.
We were in California, and
we heard that you were singing gospel, and...
Clara dragged me here.
Clara can't make you do anything.
She's got pretty feisty since you last saw her.
Glad you came.
That surprises me,
'cause we haven't been getting on as of late.
You told me I wasn't walking in the spirit.
I was angry.
You were with God.
You have always been with God.
He was with me.
I tried to run from Him, but He brought me back.
Like Jonah.
You taught me every song I'm singing today.
I did my best.
But you have exceeded all of my expectations, Ree.
I'm about to bust wide open,
and you're just getting started.
I can't imagine what you're gonna do next.
Because you can do anything, Ree.
First, give an honor to God
who's the head of all our lives.
-Yes. Amen. -
I'm sure you all have noticed the cameras by now.
Don't get distracted by it.
We here to have church, right?
Amen. - All right.
This is the first religious recordin'
by our First Lady of Soul.
Give a warm round of applause for Miss Aretha Franklin.
We love you.
-
The sound
- Amen. Amen.
of the storm
It was grace
Safe
on the morning rain
so uninspired
to face another day
so tired
life was so unkind
to my piece of mind
You make me feel
like a natural woman
was in the lost and found
came along to claim it
just what was wrong with me
helped me name it
of what I'm living for
I don't need to do more
You make me feel
like a natural woman
Oh, baby What you done to me
so, so, so good inside
-
that makes me feel so alive
-
Too long
Sing my way
But unheard
they won't let you fly
in your hands