Did You Know? Aretha Franklin was recently asked about a possible biopic and she said: “For television. My autobiography, From These Roots. Hopefully it will happen early spring. I have verbal commitments from Billy Dee [Williams] to play my father, and Terrence Howard to play Smokey Robinson. I’m not sure yet [who will play me]. Jennifer Hudson came to read for me. I also have an interest in Halle Berry possibly doing it. And Fantasia.