Riding high off of this year’s release of “The Clark Sisters” biopic, Lifetime is following it up with a new film about another gospel great, Mahalia Jackson.
Danielle Brooks, known for her role as Taystee in “Orange Is The New Black” and later for her role as Sophia in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, has been tapped to portray this gospel legend.
The official description for the film reads as follows.
“Born in New Orleans, Mahalia began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing her to international fame and gave her the opportunity to perform at diverse settings including in front of a racially integrated audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball. An active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson sang at numerous rallies, including the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in hopes that her music would encourage and inspire racial equality.”
For the full story, visit Madamenoire.com.
