Donna Summer fans need “Stop, Look and Listen” because never-before-seen footage of Disco Queen is coming your way.
in the trailer for I Love To Love You, Donna SummerPremiering exclusively with PEOPLE on Friday, fans will get a glimpse of the legendary singer’s rise to fame and personal struggles.
“I have a secret life. You look at people and what you see is not me,” says Summer, who died in 2012 at the age of 63.
“It was complicated and struggled with his reputation,” says one voiceover in the clip, and another says, “Most of his life revolved around privacy and secrecy.”
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Directed by his daughters Brooklyn Sudano and Roger Ross Williams, the documentary takes an in-depth look at the icon as he “creates music that takes him from the avant-garde music scene in Germany and into the sparkling and bright lights of dance clubs. New York has received worldwide acclaim, his voice and art of an era. It became the defining soundtrack.”
A highly personal portrait of Summer on and off the stage, the film features rich photography and never-before-seen home video footage – often shot by Summer – and offers a rich window into the artist’s astonishing range of art. From songwriting to painting as we explore the ups and downs of a life lived on the global stage,” the statement continues.
The movie will be available to watch on HBO and HBO Max on May 20 at 8 p.m. ET.
Summer, who led the disco era in the 70s with hits like “I Feel Love”, “Last Dance” and “Hot Stuff”, died in May 2012 after a short trip from lung cancer.
At the time, his family confirmed the news in a statement, stating that they “are at peace as he celebrates his extraordinary life and continuing legacy.”
“Words cannot express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time,” the statement said.
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Summer, once the back-up singer of Three Dog Night and real name LaDonna Gaines, entered the American charts in 1975 with the sexually explicit “Love to Love You Baby” amid discussions that she was too hot for radio. The song nevertheless gained popularity and became a huge favorite at discotheques.
The five-time Grammy winner went on to release a series of dance-friendly songs whose open sexuality contrasted with Summer’s strict Christian upbringing in a Boston family of seven.
“I Feel Love” entered the top 10 in 1977, and in 1978 the disco rendition of the ballad “MacArthur Park” became her first number-one song. Posted by “The Last Dance” thank god it’s friday The soundtrack earned Summer her first Grammy.
But Summer struggled with her meteoric fame and fast-paced life as she sang hit after hit. She struggled with depression and anxiety, became addicted to prescription drugs, and attempted suicide.