Lizzo Cast as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Upcoming Biopic
Lizzo is stepping into legendary shoes for her first major film role.
According to Deadline, the multi-hyphenate star has been cast as trailblazing musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the upcoming biopic, “Rosetta,” from Amazon MGM Studios.
While she’s made memorable cameos in “Hustlers,” “The Simpsons,” and “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” Rosetta marks Lizzo’s first leading role on the big screen. The timing feels intentional as just last week, the star tweeted about the industry’s treatment of Black women artists, adding, “I’m out here reclaiming rock n roll for US…”
The “About Damn Time” hitmaker confirmed the casting news with a powerful Instagram post on Monday (Mar. 24), writing simply: “Black people made rock n roll.”
Known as one of the true architects of rock 'n' roll, Tharpe’s boundary-breaking blend of gospel, rhythm, and blues, and early rock influenced musicians like Elvis Presley, and icons like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and plenty of others.
Decades after her passing in 1973, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously inducted her in 2018. Her 1950 rendition of “Down by the Riverside” was also added to the National Recording Registry in 2004.
