The Truth About Taraji P. Henson's Singing in The Color Purple

Introduction

The Color Purple, a timeless classic, has made a triumphant return in 2023 with a new musical adaptation featuring an exceptional cast, including the talented Taraji P. Henson. Her portrayal of Shug Avery has sparked curiosity and debate about her singing abilities in the musical movie.

Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P Henson in The Color Purple

Taraji P. Henson's Singing in The Color Purple

In the 2023 version of The Color Purple, Taraji P. Henson takes on the role of Shug Avery, a soulful blues singer whose character plays a significant role in the story. The musical nature of the adaptation required Henson to showcase her singing and dancing talents, prompting questions about whether she was the one providing the vocals for her character.

The truth is, Taraji P. Henson does indeed sing in The Color Purple. Her powerful and soulful voice can be heard in several iconic songs, including 'Push Da Button,' 'What About Love?,' 'Miss Celie's Blues (Sister),' 'Miss Celie's Pants,' 'Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin',' and the grand finale song 'The Color Purple.' This revelation adds another dimension to Henson's remarkable performance and showcases her impressive vocal range.

This confirmation comes directly from Taraji P. Henson herself, who revealed in an interview with The Angie Martinez Show that the singing voice heard in the movie is indeed hers. This sets her portrayal of Shug Avery apart from the original 1985 movie, where Margaret Avery did not provide the vocals for the character.

Taraji P. Henson's Musical Talents Beyond The Color Purple

While The Color Purple showcases Taraji P. Henson's singing prowess, it is not the first time she has displayed her musical talents on screen. In the movie Hustle & Flow, Henson's character, also named Shug, delivered a memorable performance by singing the hook for 'It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp.' This further demonstrates Henson's versatility as an actress who can seamlessly integrate singing into her roles.

Taraji P Henson singing in Hustle and Flow

Additionally, Henson's musical contributions extend to her appearance in NBC's Annie Live, where she showcased her vocal abilities in a live television event. Despite her prominent role in the music-heavy series Empire, her character Cookie did not sing, highlighting the distinction between Henson's on-screen characters and their musical inclinations.

It's worth noting that Henson's singing in The Color Purple and other projects sets her apart from instances where singing vocals were provided by other artists for her characters, as was the case in I Can Do Bad All By Myself. These instances further emphasize Henson's dedication to showcasing her authentic musical talents in her performances.