Legendary rapper/actor LL Cool J presented fellow multi-hyphenate Jennifer Hudson with the award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the 53rd annual NAACP Image Awards for her portrayal as the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin in MGM/UAR’s Respect.

The Grammy and Academy Award winner beat out several amazing female contenders, including Zendaya for Malcolm & Marie, Halle Berry in her directorial debut Bruised, Tessa Thompson for her part in Netflix’s Passing, and Andra Day for her award-winning performance as trailblazing jazz singer Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

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Hudson dedicated the honor to the late Soul singer and those that made the incredible and now NAACP Image Award-winning film. Franklin gave Hudson her blessing to play her in a biopic back in 2007 shortly after Hudson won the Academy Award for her performance in Dreamgirls.