NC native Fantasia Barrino reacts to Golden Globe nomination for ‘The Color Purple’

The nominations are in for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards, and North Carolina’s Fantasia Barrino has been recognized for her performance in “The Color Purple.”

The film hasn’t hit theaters yet, but the North Carolina singer and actress was nominated Monday in the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture category for her role as Celie.

Barrino told Variety that she hung up on her husband “out of shock” when he called her with the news. The entertainment industry publication said that Barrino was emotional in their interview with her.

“I would tell young Fantasia, ‘You did it. Job well done.’ I don’t want to cry no more,” she told Variety.

The new adaptation of “The Color Purple,” which will be released on Christmas Day, is a “bold new take on the beloved classic” of a Black teenager raised in rural isolation in Georgia.

There has also been early Oscar buzz surrounding Barrino’s performance in the new film, with GoldDerby calling her an “early favorite” for the Best Actress award. The nominations for the 2024 Oscars will be announced on Jan. 23.

This is Barrino’s first Golden Globe nomination, but it isn’t her first time playing Celie.

The High Point native, who won “American Idol” in 2004, also played Celie in the Broadway production from 2007 to 2008.

In the 2023 film, she’ll star alongside Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

“To reinvent the movie at this time is to reinvent a phenomenon,” Oprah Winfrey, who is helping produce the film, previously said. “Her rawness and vulnerability, along with her singing talent, means that Fantasia is going to knock it out of the park ... Celie has to show such a range of emotion, coming from what feels like no strength to really being empowered.”

Barrino was nominated for best actress alongside Jennifer Lawrence (“No Hard Feelings”), Natalie Portman (“May December”), Alma Pöysti (“Fallen Leaves”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”).

Barrino’s co-star Danielle Brooks, who plays Sophie in “The Color Purple” film, received a nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

▪ Watch the Golden Globes Awards show: The 2024 Golden Globe Awards ceremony airs live at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 7 on CBS.