Aretha Franklin: New Series To Explore Gospel Roots, Faith Of Music

National Geographic’s latest season of its anthology series, “Genius: Aretha,” will explore the gospel roots and faith of music of legend Aretha Franklin.

The series, which airs next month, stars Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo, who portrays the queen of soul.

The Emmy-winning anthology series dramatizes the stories of the world’s most “brilliant innovators, their extraordinary achievements and their volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships,” the network says.

The third season of the limited series will premiere with back-to-back episodes over four consecutive nights, starting on March 21.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942, Franklin’s father, Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin, was a preacher at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church. She was a child prodigy and by age 10, she was already performing in church.

To say that Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest American artists of all time is an understatement.

Her multi-octave voice moved millions around the world during an unrivaled career that spanned six decades and garnered the singer-songwriter every achievement and honor imaginable.

Her reign as the Queen of Soul plays out across four discs on a new boxed set from Rhino that is the first to span her entire career, including songs from every label she recorded with.