🎸 Lizzo Steps Into the Role of a Lifetime: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Lizzo is putting down the flute and picking up the guitar to play Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the trailblazing gospel singer who laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll.
The four-time Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist is producing and starring in Rosetta, an upcoming film from Amazon MGM Studios that will finally give Tharpe’s revolutionary story the spotlight it deserves.
The film is being produced by Lizzo, Kevin Beisler, and Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker.
Natalie Chaidez (The Flight Attendant, Queen of the South) and Kwynn Perry (Tigerbelles) are writing the script.
🎶 Who Was Rosetta Tharpe?
If you don’t know the name Rosetta Tharpe, you should.
Known as The Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tharpe was one of the first artists to blend gospel with electric guitar—setting the stage for legends like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Bob Dylan.
The film will follow a pivotal era in Tharpe’s life, as she challenged the music industry, defied social expectations, and secretly loved another woman—all while transforming a wedding into one of music’s most iconic live shows: the first stadium concert in history.
💬 Lizzo Sets The Record Straight
In a passionate Instagram statement, Lizzo opened up about her deep connection to the project and clarified how personal Rosetta truly is:
Let me be very clear: there were no auditions for Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Because this is a film I’ve been producing for years, fighting for her story to get told…
I’ve been honoring her in my music videos & performances… pitching her movie to people who’ve never heard of her… studying her life and reading every book that exists about her.
This is my baby, my passion—because Rosetta deserves.
The Godmother of Rock n Roll is in good hands y’all. Stay tuned ♥️
See her original post below.
🌟 Why Lizzo Is The Perfect Fit
Lizzo has made history on the charts and in the culture—from her record-breaking hit “Truth Hurts” to her Emmy-winning reality series and game-changing representation in pop music.
he’s bold, genre-defying, and unapologetically herself—just like Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
With Rosetta, Lizzo is channeling that same energy into honoring a legend whose influence deserves to be known by everyone.
Are you excited to see Lizzo as Rosetta Tharpe? Drop your thoughts below!
