Lizzo to Star as Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Biopic

In fact, it was the latter who called Rosetta “a powerful force of nature.”

“Sister Rosetta Tharpe was anything but ordinary and plain,” Bob previously said on his Theme Time Radio Hour show of the late musician in, per Rolling Stone. “She was a big, good-lookin woman, and divine, not to mention sublime and splendid. A guitar-playin’, singin’ evangelist.”

The Jordanaires singer Gordon Stoker—who, as part of the group, sang backup for both Rosetta and eventually Elvis—also spoke to the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s musical influence.

“Elvis loved Sister Rosetta,” Gordon told Rolling Stone in 2017, noting he was especially fascinated by her unique playing style. “That’s what really attracted Elvis: her pickin’. He liked her singing, but he liked that pickin’ first—because it was so different.”

Among Rosetta’s lasting songs was “Up Above My Head,” which she recorded with fellow artist and love Marie Knight, their relationship described by historian Gayle Wald as an “open secret.”

For Lizzo, this new endeavor comes amid a new chapter for the “Good as Hell” singer after a period of time out of the spotlight while she navigated mental health challenges.

“About a year and a half ago, I was in such a dark, deep depression,” she said March 12 during her first concert in almost two years, as seen in video shared to social media. “I was so deeply afraid of people that I didn’t want to be seen. Eventually, I got over that fear and I went to a concert, kinda like this. And as I was walking through the crowd to get to my spot, something miraculous happened.”

She continued, “Somebody I didn’t know looked at me and said, ‘Lizzo, I love you,’” she continued. “And they reached out, and I reached back, and we hugged. And it felt so damn good.”

While there is not release date for Rosetta at this time, keep reading for more films you can look forward to this year.