Ledisi To Play Mahalia Jackson In Ava DuVernay’s MLK Biopic ‘Selma’

Eight-time Grammy nominee Ledisi is adding another acting role to her resume! According to reports, the songstress is joining the cast of the upcoming Martin Luther King biopic, Selma.

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Director Ava DuVernay announced the exciting news on Instagram. “Warmly welcoming Ledisi, one of my favorite vocalists, to the SELMA film family as the great Mahalia Jackson #selmafilm,” she shared. The famed filmmaker took over the project after funding failed to come through for original director Lee Daniels.

Selma, which will be distributed by Paramount and produced by Oprah Winfrey, will also star David Oyelowo as Dr. King and Lorraine Toussaint as Amelia Boynton.

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This will not be first time on the big screen for Ledisi, who released her seventh album The Truth in March. She also starred in 2008’s Leatherhead and 2011’s Leave it on the Floor.

Congrats!

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