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Dionne Warwick on why she is not involved in upcoming biopic based on late cousin Whitney Houston

2:22
Whitney Houston biopic gets official title and casts its lead
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images, FILE
ByKen Simmons
October 13, 2021, 4:20 PM

Dionne Warwick is the subject of a new documentary, "Don't Make Me Over," but she says she's not interested in being part of the upcoming, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" biopic about her late cousin, Whitney Houston.

The latter film is being produced by Clive Davis, who signed Warwick and Houston to Arista Records.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Warwick shared why she doesn't want to be involved in the project.

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"I want them to let Whitney rest in peace. Leave her alone. Ten years [since she died] -- it's time to let her sleep," she said.

Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston in Los Angeles.
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images, FILE

Meanwhile, Warwick, who also recorded for Arista during the 1990s at the same time that Aretha Franklin was on the label, says she's not a fan of the recent "Respect" biopic, starring Jennifer Hudson as the late Queen of Soul.

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"I knew Aretha from when we were teenagers, and there was a lot missing [from the movie]," she told the L.A. Times. She said she felt that the film focused too much on the negative aspect of Franklin's career. "Some filmmakers feel that they've got to find something cruddy and ugly in an artist's life," Warwick commented. "Why?"

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The 80-year-old, six-time Grammy winner began her legendary career in 1962 with the title tune of her documentary, the first of many hits written for her by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

"Don't Make Me Over" premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival and was first runner-up for the people's choice award for documentaries.

For her latest project, Warwick recorded a duet with Chance the Rapper, "Nothing's Impossible," which will be released on Thanksgiving.

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