Deadline reports that Lizzo will play trailblazing gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the upcoming biopic from Amazon MGM Studios, titled “Rosetta”.
“Rosetta” — from writers Natalie Chaidez (“The Flight Attendant”) and Kwynn Perry (“Tigerbelles”) — will tell the story of how Tharpe became known as the ‘Godmother of Rock & Roll’, influencing the likes of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Johnny Cash and countless other musicians. Four-time Grammy winner Lizzo will also produce the film alongside Kevin Beisler and Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker.
The project, currently in development, is described as “capturing a pivotal period in her life — one of groundbreaking innovation, defiant passion, and secret love. As she shatters musical boundaries with her signature guitar sound, Rosetta must navigate societal constraints, conceal her love for another woman, and ultimately transform a wedding into one of the most legendary concerts in history — the first stadium show.”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who died in 1973, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. British musician Yola previously portrayed her in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic “Elvis,” which starred Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. Her songs still frequently appear in films and shows, including, most recently, “A League of Their Own,” “Atlanta,” “Death on the Nile,” “I Know This Much Is True” and “Elvis & Nixon.”
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