Danielle Brooks is set to play a role of a lifetime. The Orange Is The New Black star will be portraying Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in an upcoming lifetime biopic.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the movie is the first in a four-film deal with Good Morning America anchorwoman Robin Roberts. Roberts previously executive produced the cabler’s movie Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, and produced and hosted a documentary special about the real-life case.
The Mahalia Jackson Story will trace Jackson’s life and career as she became arguably the best known gospel singer in the mid-20th century and a civil rights activist who sang at the 1963 March on Washington. She sold millions of records and was the first gospel singer to perform at Carnegie Hall. She also sang at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball in 1961.
The green light for the movie follows on the success of The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, which drew the biggest same-day audience (2.7 million viewers) for a Lifetime movie in four years.
Brooks has much success on stage and in film so nailing this Mahalia Jackson role should be a piece of cake.
A premiere date hasn’t been revealed yet, but we will keep y’all updated.
Here’s one of our favorite performances by Ms. Jackson of her singing “Trouble of the World” in the 1959 film Imitation of Life.
