Lizzo announced she’s been picked to play rock-and-roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe when she makes her lead acting debut in a new biopic about the gospel singer.
In a post on Instagram, the 36-year-old singer/rapper — born Melissa Jefferson — said she was excited to finally be able to share the role she landed in Amazon’s MGM Studios’ film, titled “Rosetta.”
“Black people made rock n roll yeaaaah,” Lizzo wrote, adding on her Instagram Story, “It’s finally out ya’ll. I’m so excited and honored.”
For the part, the four-time Grammy award winner will take on the role of the gospel singer who is credited with being one of the first artists to appeal to both rock n’ roll and R&B audiences, Deadline noted.
Gaining popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Tharpe’s work with the electric guitar and spiritual lyrics got her the title of “Godmother of rock and roll,” the outlet noted.
Natalie Chaidez (“The Flight Attendant,” “Queen of the South”) and Kwynn Perry (“Tigerbelles,” “The Burned Photo”) are writing the screenplay. Producers on the project include Lizzo, Kevin Beisler, and Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker, the outlet added.
There is no word yet on a director, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
The singer previously appeared on the big screen in Jennifer Lopez’ “Hustlers” in 2019 when she played the role of a stripper named Liz, People magazine noted.
Lizzo recently took to social media and wrote a series of posts claiming poor treatment of famous black rockstars, ahead of the news on Monday about her movie.
“I think seeing and hearing a black woman make real music with radical joy triggers miserable people… but I follow in the footsteps of Janet, of Funkadelic, of Earth Wind and Fire… nobody’s doing it like me for Us,” the rapper wrote. “And I stand on that.”
“Aretha [Franklin] & Whitney [Houston] got backlash for being ‘too pop’ and they kept going… and so will I,” she added. “I’m out here reclaiming rock n roll for US…”
“The way this world treats black women is sickening… blacklisted Janet and now 20yrs later y’all calling her music ‘cute black girl bops’ & giving her flowers… Dogged Whitney for her love life & called her a drug addict for laughs but now y’all wanna honor her,” Lizzo continued. “Y’all laughed at Tina’s abuse and never let her forget… The least protected person in America…”
In August 2024, Lizzo said she was that taking a hiatus from the limelight after multiple lawsuits were filed against her starting in 2023 by former employees, as previously reported.
Related: Lizzo Walks Back Rage Quit In New Post
