Just two weeks shy of its theatrical release, Jennifer Hudson attended a reception party and special screening of her film, Respect, in Martha's Vineyard on Friday evening. .

The film — which has been years in the making — is deeply personal for Hudson as the late Franklin had hand-selected her to play the part over a decade before the movie was ever greenlit. 

Respect: Jennifer Hudson, 39, looks radiant as she attends a special screening of her film Respect in Martha's Vineyard

In an October Entertainment Weekly article, Hudson divulged a bit about her friendship with Aretha and how the film came to be.  

'We met in New York, and one of the first things she said to me was "You're gonna win another Oscar for playing me, right?"' Hudson shared about the 2006 encounter. 

Memorable moment: 'We met in New York, and one of the first things she said to me was 'You're gonna win another Oscar for playing me, right?'' Hudson shared of the way she was cast 

Speaking about her close friendship with Aretha, Hudson shared, 'I miss hearing from her, because I feel like in teaching me about her life she taught me about life.'