NPR

Aretha Franklin's 'Amazing Grace' Gets LA Premiere In The Church Where It Took Place

In 1972, the Queen of Soul recorded a live album at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA. After her death, the film has been released and was screened at the same church it was filmed.
<em></em>Viewers find their seats inside The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church for the LA screening of <em>Amazing Grace. </em>

Nearly a half-century ago at a Baptist church in Watts, Calif., Aretha Franklin recorded Amazing Grace. The 1972 album went on to become the best-selling live gospel album and while those live sessions were filmed, the Queen of Soul did not want the concert film to be released. Forty seven years later, the documentary has been released and on March 31, the film had its West Coast premiere right in that same Baptist church where it took place.

It was an odd scene for a movie

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