03x06 - Aretha: Amazing Grace

[bunniefuu]

MAN: Previously on Genius...

ARETHA: Wait a minute now.

There was a... a pizza box on the piano.

Sorry.

ARETHA: It makes
the piano sound different.

-Who's this guy she's with?
-It's Ken Cunningham.

He's solid. I checked.

You're calling the sh*ts,
you're making the arrangements.

Sounds like you're the producer, too.

Where's my producer credit, Jerry?

No artist gets producer credit.

Not The Who, not The Stones,
not even The Beatles.

-It just isn't done.
-CLARENCE: Powder blue!

Reverend James is gonna be
our new choir director.

CLEVELAND: I done heard a lot about you.

I haven't played too much
since having the baby.

CLEVELAND: It's time
to start playing again.

ARETHA: King Curtis, when you play,

you're my second voice.

Second voice to Aretha Franklin.

-I'll take that.
-OFFICER: Keep your hands visible, sir.

[GROANS] It's because I'm C.L. Franklin.

How much help do y'all need from me?

You just got to flaunt your power,
don't you?

-'Cause I'm my mother's daughter.
-Miss you, Mommy.

I want to go live with Mommy in Buffalo.

You're not being fair.

She waited too long
to stand up for herself,

and it k*lled her,
and I refuse to let that be me.

DOCTOR: You're burning the candle
at both ends.

My advice is to slow down.

[RETCHES]

[PIANO PLAYING, DISTORTING]

ARETHA: Love you.

-Daddy!
-[SCREAMING]

-You broke my heart.
-ARETHA: You said that you loved me.

[OVERLAPPING SHOUTING]

-MAN: Let you take my...
-Will you trust Him?

[GRUNTS]

[OVERLAPPING SHOUTING]

[GASPS, PANTING]

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey. It's all right. It's all right.
It's just a bad dream, that's all.

Everything's gonna be okay.

How many more am I gonna have?

Well, the doctor says it's not uncommon.

But you came here to get well,
and that's what you're gonna do.

Just give it time.

I k... I keep dreaming
about my mother, and I can't,

I can't get to her.
I can't... I can't see her face.

It'll be 20 years this spring.

And... what with King Curtis dying,

I...

I feel like I lost my way.

[SIGHS]

I have to find a way
to get back to myself.

Now, listen, don't, don't be
so hard on yourself, sugar.

Remember, you've been running
hard for a really long time.

It's only right you have
some feelings when you stop.

How about... How about you get dressed?

Would you... You want to get dressed? Huh?

-You know, your father will be here soon.
-Mmm. Right.

Unless you need me to hold him off.

I mean, it's only been a couple weeks,

and I know he takes
a lot of energy from you.

-No, it's all right.
-Are you sure?

Mm-hmm. I don't want him to worry.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] I get you.

CLARENCE: Hey, baby.

You eating all right?

They, uh...
They got someone for you to talk to?

You know, with, uh,
the, the therapy and whatnot?

Hey, I like that, that Ken fella.
[CHUCKLES]

You done finally found a good one.

[CHUCKLES] You got to keep him.

Why didn't you let Mama take us?

What? What?

Why didn't you let Mama take us?

[SPUTTERS] Uh, she didn't want
to take you, baby.

-That's... That's not true.
-D... Do you have any idea

what the people would have said
if Pastor's wife took the, the children?

So you were worried
about what people would say?

Well... What happened
between your mama and I

is none of your concern, baby. This is...

Is this what they teaching you here?
[SPUTTERS] Uh, this... Oh, damn it.

-Come on, Retha.
-I'm not going in.

Why?

-Retha.
-Can you... Can you, um...

You take this inside
and, and light a candle for King Curtis?

I just need a minute.

-Baby, come...
-Please.

Please.

CLARENCE: Hallelujah.

I'm gonna put my trust...

-in the Lord.
-[CRYING]

BOTH: Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

-[UPBEAT GOSPEL MUSIC PLAYING]
-CLEVELAND: Going back!

-WOMAN: [SINGING] Yeah, let us all
-CHOIR: All go back

WOMAN: Go back to the old landmark

-Let us all
-CHOIR: All go back

-WOMAN: Back to the old
-Old landmark

-WOMAN: Let us all go back to the old
-All go back, old landmark

-WOMAN: Yeah, yeah
-And we'll stay in the service of the Lord

WOMAN: Kneel and pray

-Kneel and pray
-In the old

-CHOIR: Old-time way
-Let us kneel

-Kneel and pray
-WOMAN: In the old

Old-time way

Kneel and pray

-WOMAN: In the old
-Old-time way

Hear the story of His glory

Oh, yeah

-Oh, let us all
-All go back

-WOMAN: Go back
-Old landmark

-WOMAN: Let us all
-All go back

-WOMAN: Go back
-Old landmark

-WOMAN: Let us all
-All go back

-WOMAN: Go back, yeah
-Old landmark

[VOCALIZING]

Father God, we come here today...

[ALL AGREEING EXCITEDLY]

Lord, there is a...
There's a saint among us...

-WOMAN: Amen!
-...who may

feel like they've been mistreated,
Father God...

[ALL AGREEING]

...not because they have done
something wrong, Father God,

but because there's something
extremely right about them.

[CHEERING]

Isaiah 53:5 tells us,

"The pierce in Your thigh
is from our transgressions."

-Yes!
-"He was crushed

-"for our iniquities."
-[CHEERING]

-[ALL AGREEING]
-"The punishment that brought us peace

"is on Him."

MAN: Amen!

"By these wounds
we are made whole, Father God."

God is working things out for you.

Even if you don't feel it,

-have faith and be thankful.
-MAN: Amen! I feel it!

CLARENCE: For where there is faith,
hope grows and miracles blossom.

-Father God, thank you!
-[CHEERING]

Bless this congregation.

WOMAN: [SINGING] Come on and shout
Come on and shout

Hey, shout, shout, shout

Oh, you got to run and shout

Shouting, shouting, shouting

You got to run and shout

He saved you

You got to run and shout

[VOCALIZING]

Oh, shouting, shouting

Oh, shouting, shouting

Oh, shouting, shouting

-Oh, shouting, shouting
-[VOCALIZING]

Shouting, shouting, shouting
Shouting, shouting

[VOCALIZING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CLEVELAND: Lord ain't gonna be
waiting for you, but I will be.

[LAUGHTER]

I knew it was you the moment
you walked in here.

That scarf and them glasses

-ain't fooling nobody.
-[CHUCKLES]

You could come here with
a paper bag over your head,

-I'd know it was you.
-I wasn't trying to hide from you, now.

Now, you know you should've called me

before you did that Andy Williams Show.

Now, why I need to call you
about Andy Williams?

-That terrible red feather duster thing.
-Yeah... [LAUGHS]

I mean, I could have saved you
a whole mess of trouble.

I stand by my red feather duster.

Well, all right, I ain't here
to argue with the Queen.

I hear you're taking a break.

You... You've earned that vacation.

It's not that kind of time off.

Are you okay, Re?

I will be.

I feel like I...

I feel like I got lost.

M... Or maybe, I got to where I was going,
and it was nowhere I wanted to be.

Well, you know, you always have
a home in the house of God.

I know. I know. I...

I want to record a gospel album.

-Back to your roots?
-Well, not exactly.

I want to record it here,

with you, your choir, your church.

Not your daddy's church?

No.

-Does he know about this yet?
-No.

I want to find my own way,
and I can't do that with my daddy around.

He's part of the reason

that I was pulled apart
in the first place.

I know.

I was there, I saw it.

Well, you know he ain't
gonna take this laying down.

Well, that's okay.

It's how it has to be.

Well, okay.

Let's do it. Let's make a gospel album.

-Well, all right.
-Mm-hmm.

If you ready,

-I'm ready. [LAUGHS]
-[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

LOWREY: Everyone, don't forget
to do your reading for tomorrow.

And I've graded some of your essays.

-You'll do better next time, yes?
-Thank you.

-See you tomorrow.
-Thank you, Miss Lowrey.

-Thank you.
-Oh, Aretha. Come here for a second.

You did a beautiful job on your essay.

Thank you, Miss Lowrey.

I'm gonna show it
to Mrs. Drake this afternoon,

and propose that you be one
of our ninth grade graduation speakers.

Thank you, Miss Lowrey.

You can maybe start
with a little welcome to everyone.

Like this?
[CLEARS THROAT]

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

"First of all, I'd like to congratulate
my fellow graduates."

[LAUGHS] Exactly.

You know, I used to sing
in the choir with your mother Barbara.

She was very smart, just like you.

She would be so proud
of the student that you've become.

You'll be a natural
as one of our speakers.

Thank you, Miss Lowrey.

Sorry, I got to run.

-I'm gonna be late for choir practice.
-Okay.

YOUNG ARETHA: [SINGING] Now, let us all

Keep practicing.

Back to the old landmark

-Old landmark
-Let us all...

CLEVELAND: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Rufus, what you doing back there, huh?

Naomi, you're making the altos look bad.
Hey, hey, hey.

Ruth, you ain't even
opening up your mouth.

From the top. Let's go.

[PIANO PLAYING]

-Now let us all
-All go back

-Back to the old landmark
-Old landmark

-Let us all go back
-All go back

-To the old landmark
-Old landmark

-Now let us all
-All go back

-Old landmark...
-Yes! Hey!

And we'll stay
in the service of the Lord...

All right now, all right now.

All right now, Re,
this is what I need you to do.

I need you to come in
after the second bar, all right?

I need you to sing out loud
throughout the bridge, okay?

CLARENCE: Reverend Brother Cleveland,

if, if, if my daughter
needs any instruction,

she'll get it from me,
not from you. Understood?

Yeah, all right... I get it.

Reverend Franklin, I'm just trying to...

Aretha's voice is a gift from the Lord.

The less we do with it, the better.

WARD: Now, if you were wise,
C.L., you'd remember

the heavenly source
of Aretha's gift yourself

-from time to time. Mm-hmm.
-Hmm, hmm.

-[PIANO PLAYING]
-CLEVELAND: Let's go. From the top.

Pow, pop.
[CLAPS]

It's a great idea, right?

-[CLAPPING]
-And, and James has been kind enough

to let us have his church.

Yeah. Absolutely.
[EXHALES]

So what's that look?

Well, the acoustics in here
are not the best.

I mean, I've been here plenty of times

and listened to the choir
without any problems.

Okay, well, a bigger issue is the size.

I mean, how many people
can fit in here? 30, 40 max?

Well, James and I were
thinking of maybe doing this

-over two nights.
-Okay, so now we're up to 80?

[SPUTTERS] I mean,
I'm concerned about the scope.

I mean, do you really want to go
from playing huge amphitheaters

to recording a bunch
of old-time gospel songs

-in a place the size of my living room?
-"Old-time"?

I'm gonna be singing
popular songs and weaving it

with gospel music in a way
that you've never heard before.

I know, I know, I...

I just don't want us
to be moving backwards, is all.

Well, maybe sometimes you got to
move backwards to move forwards.

Listen, I even got the cover art for this.

-Another one of Ken's?
-Mm-hmm.

People love what he did
for the cover of Greatest Hits.

Well, now check it out.

Oh.

That's great. That's beautiful.

-Okay.
-Listen, uh,

I know that The Rolling Stones
didn't get producer credit on their album,

and I know that The Beatles didn't either,
but that is not my concern.

I'm gonna produce this album.

It's the only way it can happen.

I can see it now, Jerry.
It's beautiful, and...

I'm gonna call it Amazing Grace.

Aretha...

Then, that's how we'll do it.

Good.

-All right.
-That all right?

-[CHUCKLES] All right.
-All right.

Mm-hmm.

-ARETHA: [SINGING] Oh, I'm climbing
-CHOIR: I'm climbing

-Higher mountains
-Climbing

-Oh, Lord, every day
-Climbing, climbing

-Oh, I'm climbing
-I'm climbing

-Higher mountains
-Higher mountains

-Trying to get home
-Trying to get home

I'm going up the rough side
of the mountain

-All the way home
-Trying to get home

I'm going up the rough side
of the mountain

-All the way home
-Trying to get home

I'm going up the rough side
of the mountain

-Meet my Jesus on the way home
-Climbing, climbing

-I'm going up, yeah, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Climbing, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher, yeah, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher
-Higher, higher, ooh, higher, higher

-Going up, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Meet my Jesus, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher, yeah, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher, yeah
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Higher
-Higher, higher

-Yeah
-Higher, higher

-Higher
-Higher, higher

-Yeah
-Higher, higher

-Higher
-Higher, higher

Ooh, higher, higher

-Climbing
-Higher, higher

-Higher
-Higher, higher

-Climbing higher
-Higher, higher, higher, higher

-Climbing
-I'm climbing

-Higher, higher
-Higher mountains

-All the way home
-Trying to get

-Home
-Home

-[SONG ENDS]
-All right.

[WHOOPING, EXCITED CHATTER]

Yes!

Everybody take a break. Thank you.

Thank you.

That's great, guys. Great. That's great.

Really, really good.

I think we need a bigger church.

I'm just a little concerned
about the impact.

I want you to check out
New Zion in Pasadena.

Big, beautiful church.
Seats about a thousand.

Tell me what you're thinking.

Okay, ready for this?

I think we should make
a documentary of the show.

It's going to be epic. Why not film it?

Rolling Stones did it. James Brown.

Elvis Presley. You want to make
inroads on your acting career,

this will put you on the map.

It's not really what I had in mind.

Yeah, she really wants
to have a church service.

It's still gonna be.
Just bigger and better.

[SPUTTERS] And this way,

think about how many more people
you can take to church.

Impact.

It's about what you want, Re.

This is for you.

WEXLER: You'll still call all the sh*ts.

If we're gonna do this,
I want to do it in the community.

What about we do it in Watts?

New Temple Missionary.

-Yeah, how many does it seat?
-SISTER MARIAN: Excuse me, Reverend.

Miss Franklin,
your sister Erma's on the line.

She says she's been trying to reach you.

Tell her I'll get back to her.

Take a look at New Temple?

I'm on my way.
[CLAPS]

CLEVELAND: He'll be sanctified up there

-at New Temple.
-Hmm.

[SENTIMENTAL ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[SINGING ALONG] Maybe

If I pray every night

You'll come back to me

And maybe

If I cry every day

You'll come back to stay

Oh, maybe

You okay, Re?

-What's going on in here?
-Yeah, I'm fine.

-Girls, we're gonna be late for church.
-[MUSIC STOPS]

You all right, Little Re?

Yeah, I'm coming.

CLEVELAND: These are the stages, right?

From what you told me,
this picture right here

is probably where you are...
three months' pregnant.

I'm gonna have another baby.

I wish my mother was here.

I know you do.

When we were on that circuit this summer,

girl, you were running wild.

Which one of those boys did that to you?

Never mind.

I should've did a better job
of looking out for you.

Your father should've
did a better job looking out for you.

Daddy's gonna be so ashamed of me.

Just don't tell him
until you have to, okay?

And remember, he's your father, not God.

It's gonna be all right, Re.

[BAND PLAYING GENTLE GOSPEL MUSIC]

CHOIR: [SINGING] Wholy

Holy

Wholy

Holy

Next thing you know, we'll be doing
Heard It Through the Grapevine.

Yes, this is a Marvin Gaye song.

As you know, he is the son
of a sanctified minister.

I don't see how this is
the Lord's music, Miss Franklin.

All music is God's music.

We are sharing the gifts He gave us.

All right, everybody, take ten.

And if anybody
feels like this is beneath them,

I have a hundred people
ready to take your place.

I don't blame them.

We promised them a church service,
and I don't want to lose sight of that.

Okay, couple of things.

Great news: Joe Boyd at Warner Bros.

-got Sydney Pollack to direct the film.
-Who's that?

He's a big director.

He's sh**ting Streisand
and Redford's next movie.

Nominated for an Oscar two years ago.
This is monumental for us.

What else?

Right. Uh...

your father called me.

He's upset.

Wants us to record the album
at New Bethel.

-No.
-I know it's a big pivot,

but I don't think it's a bad idea.

-She said no.
-That's probably why my sister called,

and now he calls you?

Look, I don't know what's going on
between you and your father, Aretha,

but as your producing partner,

I have to tell you

that recording this
at New Bethel is a good idea.

Okay, from a marketing perspective,
it's a home run.

The acoustics are fantastic.

The acoustics?

I know what the acoustics
are like at New Bethel, Jerry.

I recorded my first record there,
and I don't care.

I'm not recording this album there.

Stay the course.

You hear me?

Re.

Wait up. Re.

Where you going? Re!

Hold up, now. Look, just wait a minute.

[SPUTTERS] I'm done. This isn't working.

I need to go back to New York tonight.

Come on, sugar.
You got to at least sleep on it.

I don't want to sleep on it.
I don't need to sleep on it.

I can't record this album at his church.

I...

[SIGHS] I've done that once.

First of all,
no one can force you to record

at New Bethel or anywhere else,
for that matter.

As far as I'm concerned, you don't
have to record it at a church at all.

This is about your personal
relationship with God.

I don't know what it's about anymore.

I'll tell you what it's about.

It's about your father calling Jerry,
and that's it.

Why do you keep giving him your power?

I...
[SIGHS] I just...

This isn't gonna work
if you keep shutting me out.

I... I love my father.

He made me who I am, but this...
This was supposed to be for me.

And he took that away.

[BLUESY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

The thrill is gone...

Hey. I'm... I'm sorry.

ARETHA: Ken's pulling the car around.

-I just came for my things.
-I screwed up.

I appreciate you saying that.

I'm so sorry I wasted your time.

I... I really should've known better.

Aretha, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Wait, wait.

You know, a lot of people ask me
what my job is.

What... What does a producer do, anyway?

And... And for the longest time, I...
I never knew exactly how to...

to answer that, you know,
'cause it's different with every artist.

Uh, you know,
sometimes I got to build a road

so they can drive on it,

and sometimes I just got to point them
in the right direction.

But the number-one thing

that I always got to make sure to do,
no matter who it is:

do not get in the way.

You know who taught me that?

-Me?
-That's right.

And I got in the way,
and I'm sorry for that.

You're producing this record, too,

and maybe I should've
helped that happen before now,

but I didn't because...

-I'm a Neanderthal.
-[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

But you're brilliant.

You came out here,
you kicked the door down,

and, and you're making
the opportunity for yourself.

And I'm here to help you.

So don't... Don't turn back now.

Thank you.

But you can't help my father.

And he won't be satisfied
until he takes over

this whole thing, so I...

I'm done.

-I'm free, yeah, I'm free
-Free

-I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free
-Free

Hey, yeah, I'm free from this pain

-[SIGHS]
-Free at last.

I really wish you didn't have to leave,
but thank you for coming to say goodbye.

Why don't we go inside?

I know everyone would love
to see you before you leave.

Let them say their goodbye.

Go on.

Maybe just for a moment.

-I'll be right back, baby.
-Take your time, sugar.

-WOMAN: [SINGING] Lead me on
-CHOIR: To the light

-To the light
-To the light

Take my hand

CHOIR: Precious Lord

-WOMAN: Precious Lord
-CHOIR: Lead me on

WOMAN: Lead me on

When my way grows...

You can't just out-sing them.

You got to outshine them, too.

WOMAN: Precious Lord, linger near

When my life

Is almost gone

Love you.

I love you, too.

Hear my cry

Lord, hear my call

Hold my hand

Lest I fall

And take my hand...

They sound good... really good.

Welcome back, Miss Franklin.

I never left.

-[CHUCKLES]
-[WOMAN VOCALIZES]

ARETHA: Let's take it from the top
one more time.

[PLAYING GROOVY SONG]

[SINGING] Climbing higher mountains

Trying to get...

Chuck, Chuck, Chuck.
I know you're having fun,

but you're speeding up a little bit.

-Keep it real steady for me.
-Yes, ma'am.

MAN: Give me a little more slack on that.

Hold on. One second.

Climbing higher mountains

Trying to get home

Climbing higher mountains

Trying to get home

[BAND CONTINUES PLAYING]

Mr. Pollack, it's nice to meet you.

It's an honor to have you on board.

The honor is mine. I'm a huge fan.

Now, Reverend Cleveland gave me
a tentative list of the songs,

but I was wondering
if we could do a cue-to-cue

so we could get an idea of where
you're gonna be during the performance.

I'm sure Jerry told you
that this is more of a church service

than a concert, so if we move at all,

it'll be because the Spirit moves us.

Excuse me, Sydney,
can we get some seats removed

from the center of the church?

-We need a holding space for the rig.
-Oh, no, no, no, baby, that won't do.

Praise first, production second.

[CHUCKLES]: Jerry.

You should know that Aretha's
producing this album, too,

so we're gonna defer to her on this.

Copy that.

ARETHA: You all right?

-Yes, ma'am.
-Thank you.

MAN: Johnny, walk down the aisle,
tell me if I'm lined up.

Thank you, Jerry.

What if we put "How I Got Over"
after "Wholy Holy"?

Where we gonna put "Precious Memories"?

Well, we can put it...

-[LOUD CLATTER]
-MAN: Damn it!

I'm guessing this ain't the healing vibe
you had in mind.

You holding up okay?

Yep.

"Blessed is the man who remains
steadfast under trial,

"for when he has stood the test,

"he shall receive the crown of life

for the Lord hath promised
those that love Him."

James, chapter one, verse 12.

-Amen.
-Amen.

[SIGHS]

[SIREN WAILING]

[BAND TUNING UP]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[CHATTER, LAUGHTER]

MAN: The doors are open.

-The doors are open.
-I'm on my way.

Okay, they're coming in, guys.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CLEVELAND: I'd like to say good evening
to everybody.

-AUDIENCE: Good evening.
-I'd like to thank you

for coming out
to the first religious recording

of The Lady of Soul, Miss Aretha Franklin.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

CLEVELAND: Many of you who've not had
the opportunity

to hear Aretha sing gospel,

tonight you're in for a thrill.

Yeah, baby, she can sing anything.
She can sing Three Blind Mice.

[LAUGHS] Anything.

But I'd like you to be mindful
that this is a church,

and we're here for a religious service.

And whatever you hear tonight,
just remember,

tomorrow night's gonna even be better.

[LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]

[VOCALIZING]

CLEVELAND: Will you please receive
the Southern California Community Choir.

CHOIR: [SINGING] Brighter day

We are on our way

We're on our journey home

When we get to glory

We will shout and tell the story

How we made it over

We're on our journey home

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Yes, yes, yes.

She is known by many names
and, deservedly so,

earned every title.

But I call her my sister. Aretha Franklin.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

Now, as you know,
this is a recording session.

And if things should happen,

and we should have to take it over,
you understand.

If you said amen the first time,

I'm gonna need you
to say amen a second time.

-Amen?
-AUDIENCE: Amen!

-Amen.
-[APPLAUSE]

Amen.

[PIANO PLAYING]

YOUNG ARETHA: [SINGING]
This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine.

CLARENCE: Aretha Louise.

-[SINGING STOPS]
-I want to talk to you, baby.

You got something that
you want to tell me?

How long did you think
you could keep that from me?

I had to find out about it
from your sister Erma?

I was gonna tell you, Daddy.

You gonna have two babies now,
is that right?

You gonna have two babies.
What you gonna do?

You gonna take two babies
on the road with you?

-That what you gonna do?
-I'm sorry, Daddy.

Did you know?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]

I'm gonna ask you again.

Did you know?

[YELLS] Did you know?

I want you to get out of my church.

I done extended my hospitality
as long as I can.

I can't allow you to be up
underneath my roof no more!

-Daddy, no. It's my fault.
-Get yourself out of my house.

You need to take better care of your kids.

You take your bags,

-get yourself out of my house.
-He didn't do anything...

One day,
you're gonna fly this cage, little bird.

Be good till then, all right?

Go on, now.

[ADULT ARETHA VOCALIZING]

-[SINGING] Ama...
-[APPLAUSE]

...zing...

Amazing grace

-How sweet
-WOMAN: Hallelujah.

Whoo. Mmm.

The...

The sound

That...

That saved

[APPLAUSE]

A wretch

Like me...

[CHEERING]

I...

I once

Sing, Aretha!

Was lost

WOMAN: That's right!

But now

I'm...

I'm found...

WOMAN: Hallelujah!

Was...

-WOMAN: Amen!
-Was blind

But now

Now I...

I see

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Sing it!

It was, it was

I want the world to know that it was

It was, it was

It was grace, oh!

[VOCALIZING]

It was grace, Lord

Oh, that, that brought me so safe

-So safe
-Yes, Lord!

So safe, so safe

So safe, so, so, so safe

Thus far

And it won't be nothin'

But that same grace

That's gonna lead me in my

-Whoo!
-I know that it will

It's gonna lead me in my

Right on

Right on.

Right on, right on

Oh, right on, right on

Right on home

Yeah

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

[FANS SHOUTING]

-Thank you so much. Thank you .
-Thank you very much. All right, okay.

Boy, you brought the house down,
but listen, listen, listen.

Sydney is losing his mind, all right?

His crew can't sh**t around
the people in the aisles,

so he's gonna bring a couple more guys

-and some more equipment tomorrow.
-Oh, no, no, absolutely not.

That's impossible. Do they even
know what they're doing?

I didn't even see
that little clapper thing,

which usually they use when I sing on TV.

It's Sydney Pollack.
I think he's got it covered.

I don't care it's Sydney Pollack.

All right, I'll follow up.

-I'll follow up. Good night.
-Thank you.

I just got off the phone
with Daddy and told him

how great you were.

And guess what he said.

You didn't call to invite him.

-I forgot.
-Well, he's coming tomorrow night.

KEN: Come on, sugar, let's get you home.

ERMA: All right now, Re.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING]

[FANS SHOUTING]

CAROLYN: Let me help you
into your dress, Re.

-I'll finish it by myself.
-CAROLYN: You sure?

Yeah.

-You okay, Re?
-Mm-hmm.

You know, it'd be worse
if he wasn't coming.

Mmm.

CLEVELAND: Ladies and gentlemen,
we have a legend in God's house tonight.

[CHUCKLES] One of the people
who inspired Aretha.

Uh, a great gospel singer herself.

Ladies and gentlemen, Sister Clara Ward.

-[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

And now we want to present the man

who made this one here possible.
[LAUGHS]

Her father, the Reverend C.L. Franklin.

-[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
-From Detroit, Michigan!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes. How are you?

How are you people?

Yes. Mmm-mmm!

CLEVELAND: Now bear with us
for one more second.

We've got a cup of water

that spilled on a great deal
of electrical wires.

-Can you hear this microphone?
-PEOPLE: Yeah.

Okay, you can?

-CLARA: It's a beautiful service, honey.
-Thank you.

You didn't have to come all
the way from home just for this, Daddy.

Do you really think you can keep me away?

CLEVELAND: All right,
let's give the technician a big hand

for fixing the difficulties.

-[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
-And now let's go back to church. [LAUGHS]

-[QUIETLY] You okay?
-Not really.

All right, all right.

We're gonna do a little song
we borrowed from Reverend C.L. Franklin.

-WOMAN: Bring it on, Pastor!
-One of his old numbers.

A little song called Climbing
Higher Mountains, Trying to Get Home.

MAN: Hallelujah!

The band...

[ORGAN PLAYING]

-WOMAN: Sing it!
-MAN: Yeah!

CHOIR: [SINGING] I'm climbing

-Wait, wait. Hold on.
-Higher mount...

[MUSIC STOPS]

Start again.

[ORGAN PLAYING]

-[SINGING] I'm climbing
-I'm climbing

-Higher mountains
-Higher mountains

-Trying to get home
-Trying to get home

-I'm climbing
-I'm climbing

-Higher mountains
-Higher mountains

-Trying to get home
-Trying to get home

-I'm climbing higher mountains
-I'm climbing, climbing

-Oh, I'm climbing every day
-Climbing, climbing

-Oh, I'm climbing
-I'm climbing

-Higher mountains
-Higher mountains

-Trying to get home
-Trying to get home

Oh, my road

Has been a little rocky

-All the way home
-Trying to get home

Yes, it has
My road has been a little rocky

-On my way home
-Trying to get home

-Whoa-oh, my road has been a little rocky
-Climbing, climbing

-Climbing
-Going on up right

-Climbing
-Going on up the mountain

-Oh, my road's been a little rocky
-Climbing, climbing

-On the way home
-Trying to get home

Well, of course,
we want Aretha to graduate... Mwah!

...with her class.

But, Miss Lowrey,
can you tell me how's she gonna

keep up with her schooling,

study for her tests,

and take care of one baby at home
and another one on the way?

And you know she's...

She's singing in my choir, too.

Mr. Franklin, all due respect,

Aretha is so much more than just a singer.

She is a gifted student.

"More than a singer"?
[CHUCKLES]

Miss Lowery, have you seen Aretha sing?

Of course, I just...

It is so important for our young women

to stay in school...
It is their path to self-reliance.

In my humble opinion,

self-reliance is an overrated notion.

We must rely on our God for our guidance.

Indeed, but I believe the Lord smiles

on learning.

"Study to show thyself

"approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

Timothy 2:15.

Now, I've made a list of all the work

that Aretha needs to complete
for graduation.

-Mm-hmm.
-And I would be more than happy

to spend as much extra time with her
as she needs. Please, she...

has so much potential.

We gonna see what God is gonna do.

And then we'll get back to you.

Okay...

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Let me see that.

No, I don't think this is gonna work.

[CHUCKLES]

It's okay, baby,
I have something else for you.

-We going back on tour?
-Oh, no, no, no. Even better.

We have better things waiting for you.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

Now, I think that Reverend Cleveland
picked a bad time

for me to make a talk...

[CHEERING, CLAMORING]

...behind all the spirit and enthusiasm

that Aretha has engendered here tonight.

[CHEERING, CLAMORING]

Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

You all were overwhelmed
with the magnificent gift of her voice.

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

But I couldn't help but
remember the first time

I took her with me on the road
to sing gospel.

[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

You all were crying.

You all were moved.

[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

But as her father,

I was about to bust wide open.

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

[SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY]

CLARENCE: Not only
because Aretha is my daughter.

I wouldn't be all right upstairs
if I didn't appreciate that.

-[LAUGHS]
-But I say with pride

that Aretha is not only just my daughter.

[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

But Aretha...

is just a stone singer.

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

God bless you.

You can do this.

Now, the first time we heard
Aretha Franklin many years ago,

we heard her sing this song.

I Have Heard of a Land
That We Shall Never Grow Old.

-WOMAN: Yes, sir!
-[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

[SINGING] I...

Have

Heard...

MAN: Come on, yes, yes, yes!

-You got this.
-Mm-hmm.

Of a land...

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

On

A far...

-WOMAN 1: Yes, yes.
-WOMAN 2: All right now.

A far...

Yes! Hallelujah!

Away strand...

Yes, sir!

WOMAN: Praise Him!

'Tis a...

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

The beauti...

-MAN: Yeah!
-WOMAN: All right!

...ful home

Of the soul...

Yes, Lord! Ha-ha!

She may have had
to leave school to do it...

It was built

...but I believe Aretha
may have found her higher calling.

By Je...

...sus

On high

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

There...

There we'll never

Never

[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

Never will die

[WHOOPS]

Yes.

'Tis a land where...

Ooh! Yes, God!

We'll never

WOMAN: All right!

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

Grow

Mmm...

Grow old

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

We'll

We'll never...

WOMAN: Sing, Aretha!

Can I get you to help me say that

We'll never

Never!

Never grow

Old

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

Old, we'll never

Sing it!

That's the Lord!

Lord, Lord

Never grow old

WOMAN: Come on, Re! Come on, Re!

When you get through doing down here

There is a land

Ooh, Jesus.

He done laid out a land

Oh, Lord

Where we'll never

Never!

We'll never

Never!

Never

CONGREGATION: Never!

We'll never

Grow...

Old

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

[VOCALIZING]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

Whoo!

-Amen!
-[CONGREGATION CHEERING, CLAMORING]

[GOSPEL MUSIC PLAYS]

Because the Lord is my shepherd

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

I have everything I need

He's gonna help me rest
in the meadow grass

And He gonna lead me
beside the quiet stream

He's restoring my failing health

Lord's gonna help me to do

What honors Him the most

Safe...
Ha

You're safe

Every one of us is safe

We're safe