A long-overdue story is heading to the screen. Royal K Network has officially set Carolyn, a new original biographical drama chronicling the life, artistry, and impact of Carolyn Franklin, the accomplished vocalist and songwriter whose work helped shape soul and gospel music across generations.
Currently in pre-production, Carolyn is slated to begin principal photography in February 2026 under the banner of DJL Concept Creations LLC. The film will star Abbey Burkholder in the title role, with Rickie Taylor directing and DeAndre Little serving as producer and executive producer.
While Carolyn Franklin is often referenced primarily as the sister of Aretha Franklin, Carolyn deliberately reframes that narrative. The film places Carolyn fully at the center of her own story, exploring the emotional and professional complexities of being a gifted artist navigating faith, family loyalty, industry politics, and personal sacrifice—often while existing in the orbit of one of the most celebrated voices in music history.
Across a career that spanned decades, Carolyn Franklin released five studio albums through RCA Records: Baby Dynamite (1969), Chain Reaction (1970), The First Time I Cried (1970), I’d Rather Be Lonely (1973), and If You Want Me (1976). Her recordings were marked by emotional restraint, spiritual depth, and interpretive sophistication—qualities that set her apart during a transformative era in Black music.
Beyond her work as a recording artist, Carolyn’s influence reached far beyond her own catalog. She penned “Ain’t No Way” and “Angel,” two of the most emotionally resonant songs recorded by Aretha Franklin, with “Ain’t No Way” earning a Grammy and becoming a lasting testament to Carolyn’s lyrical brilliance and emotional intelligence.
Spanning the 1940s through the late 1980s, Carolyn traces Franklin’s evolution from her early musical foundations to her emergence as a deeply expressive artist whose voice and pen quietly shaped generations. Rather than leaning into spectacle, the film is envisioned as a character-driven biographical drama rooted in emotional truth and historical integrity. Music functions as an emotional throughline—supporting the narrative with intimacy and reverence rather than grand performance moments.
Produced by DJL Concept Creations LLC and developed as a Royal K Network Original, Carolyn aims to restore visibility to an artist whose contributions have long been underrecognized, offering a nuanced portrait of legacy, identity, and influence.