CNN to Premiere ‘Luther: Never Too Much’ Documentary. Find Out When:

CNN will honor the life and career of legendary singer Luther Vandross with the premiere of Luther: Never Too Much on New Year’s Day at 8 p.m. ET. Directed by Dawn Porter, the documentary delves deep into Vandross’ remarkable journey, from his beginnings in Harlem and performances at the Apollo Theater to his rise as the beloved “master of the love song” and appearances on the early episodes of Sesame Street.

The story of Vandross is largely told in his own words through archival footage, while interviews with music icons like Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, and Roberta Flack offer unique perspectives on his legacy. Vandross’ smooth, soulful voice and romantic hits left an indelible mark on music before his passing in 2005, and this film seeks to preserve that legacy.

Dawn Porter highlighted the extensive work behind the project, stating, “We combed through hundreds of hours of interviews, concert footage, and images to develop this one-of-a-kind portrait.” CNN’s Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and creative development, noted the network’s tradition of premiering music documentaries on New Year’s Day, with previous features spotlighting legends like Dionne Warwick, Carole King, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt.

Luther: Never Too Much premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and was later released in theaters by Giant Pictures. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch it on Max and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in 2025. Additionally, Vandross’ rendition of The Beatles’ “Michelle” will be featured on the upcoming Never Too Much: Greatest Hits compilation, set for release on December 13.

The documentary is produced by Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty for Raindog Films, Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner for Foxxhole Productions, and Leah Smith for Trilogy Films. Executive producers include Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction; Tom Mackay and Richard Story for Sony Music Entertainment; Jon Platt and Brian Monaco for Sony Music Publishing; Colin Firth for Raindog Films; and Phil Thornton for Foxxhole Productions, with Sony Music Vision as the distributor. Porter also serves as an executive producer.