Jennifer Hudson Channeled Aretha Franklin on the Red Carpet in a Sequined Purple Gown and Headscarf

Jennifer Hudson understood the assignment. On Sunday, the Oscar-winning actress and singer stunned at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles for the premiere of her new movie, Respect, a biopic of the life and career of Aretha Franklin.

At the premiere, Hudson wore an all-sequined strapless purple gown, which featured a hip-high slit. The Dream Girls star paired the dress with a floor-length chiffon scarf that attached to her low bun and wrapped around her forearm, as well as sparkly Christian Louboutin pointy-toed pumps.

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Hudson was selected by the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, to play her in the biopic, which hits U.S. theaters this Friday and U.K. theaters September 10. For the InStyle August cover, Hudson told us that when conversations about this movie started happening — all the way back in 2007 — she was quite nervous at first. Franklin noticed her timidness and said "Jennifer, you're going to do this," Hudson said. "I'm like, 'Well, I'll do it if she says I can do it, if she thinks I can.' That's Ms. Franklin!"

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She also opened up about how she channeled her struggles in her own life to help her portray the icon who also faced tragedy in her life. "As an actor, you have to go to your own real places," Hudson remembered. "I don't think I would have been able to dig that deep or connect in a way had I not been through things myself."