Janelle Monae isn't just a singing beauty. The 32-year-old has proven that she's also a stellar actress from her roles in Moonlight, Hidden Figures and now she's adding a role in the upcoming biopic Harriet on her resume. According to Variety, Janelle has joined the cast to tell the story of Harriet Tubman's journey from when she escaped life as a slave to conduct the Underground Railroad that successfully freed hundreds of slaves from the pre-Civil War era South.
Speaking of other great Black women, Janelle previously shared a statement about Aretha Franklin after the passing of the Queen of Soul. “Her voice is phenomenal. When you think of soul, when you think of ad-libbing and running and gut-wrenching singing and playing, she's the one who comes to mind,” she said. “She was doing it at a young age and I feel like she's the musical DNA for so many people. She will be missed and will forever live on -- for the next generation and the next generation. Her music and her impact is that incredible. She's in our DNA.”