Queen Latifah says it was a “beautiful thing” stepping into the shoes of the late great, Bessie Smith.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the stunning talk show host will be starring in and executive producing an original HBO Bessie biopic. During a recent interview with the CoverGirl spokeswoman, the 44-year-old dished to HipHollywood about playing the iconic blues singer nicknamed, “The Empress of the Blues.”

“Bessie is going to be pretty amazing,” she said. “Bessie Smith was a huge blues singer from the 1920’s and 30’s. She was the highest paid artist of her time, the first person to cross racial barriers in terms of an integrated audience. She was fierce, she was a feminist, she was powerful, she was faulted in many ways, vulnerable and strong.”

She continued, “She had a voice like no one. She inspired everybody from Janis Joplin and Rolling Stones to Mahalia Jackson for that matter. You name it, she inspired them. It was really a beautiful thing to step into her shoes and tell her story.”

The Dee Rees directed film, which chronicles the songstress’ personal life and rise to fame, also stars Mo’Nique as Ma Rainey and Michael K. Williams as Bessie’s husband, Jack Gee.