We can’t wait to see this!
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the revolutionary Black woman whose sound forged the backbone of rock and roll, is finally getting the spotlight she deserves, this time, on the silver screen. Live Nation Productions has announced a powerful new biopic centered on the “Godmother of Rock and Roll,” written by Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and produced by none other than rock legend Mick Jagger, Deadline reports.
The film will trace the fearless artistry of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a guitarist and singer who soared to fame in the 1930s and 1940s. With a guitar in her hands and conviction in her voice, Tharpe was a musical force who challenged the rigid lines between sacred and secular. Her influence shaped the sounds of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Little Richard, but it took decades for her genius to be formally recognized. Although she passed away in 1973, Tharpe wasn’t inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2018.
The biopic is backed by Tharpe’s estate, granting access to her full music catalog. It also draws from the definitive biography Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe by Gayle Wald, which producers have secured exclusive rights to. Wald will serve as executive producer on the film.
Ellis-Taylor, who received an Academy Award nomination for King Richard and collaborated with Tribeca on the Emmy-winning When They See Us, is penning the screenplay. She’s also no stranger to biopics, previously working with Jagged Films on Get On Up, the James Brown story that starred Chadwick Boseman.
“With six guitar strings and an amplifier as a battering ram, Sister Rosetta Tharpe knocked down the Jericho walls of convention and respectability,” Ellis-Taylor said in a statement to Deadline. “I’m thrilled to partner with Tribeca, Jagged Films and Inaudible Films to usher, Sister Rosetta, a queer woman shaped in the pews of the Black South, to the screen.”
A companion documentary is also in the works, featuring interviews with friends, collaborators, music scholars, and protégés, as well as exclusive recordings of gospel singer Marie Knight, Tharpe’s closest collaborator. The documentary will serve as a rich complement to the scripted feature, helping paint a full picture of Tharpe’s enduring legacy.
Jagger, who will produce the film through his company Jagged Films, expressed deep admiration for the trailblazing musician. “I’m so thrilled to be a part in telling the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe who was a trailblazing singer and electrifying guitarist,” he said. “She reshaped music history and influenced countless artists.”
The film’s producing team includes a powerhouse lineup: Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh for Tribeca Studios, Peter Afterman for Inaudible Productions, and Michael Rapino and Ryan Kroft for Live Nation Productions. Kroft emphasized the importance of the story, saying, “Bringing to life Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s story is a perfect example of the projects Live Nation Productions does best, and partnering with this incredible team will make the film second to none.”
Tribeca’s Rosenthal added, “We’re proud to champion the bold storytelling of Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor to bring this enigmatic icon’s story to light.”
This marks the second film about Tharpe’s life announced this year. Grammy award-winning artist Lizzo is also set to star in an upcoming biopic about Tharpe’s legacy from Amazon MGM Studios. With Ellis-Taylor continuing to shape the cultural canon with her pen and Tharpe’s music ready to take center stage again, this collaboration promises not just a movie, but a reckoning. A celebration. A rightful return to glory.
Cover photo: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Teams up With Mick Jagger to Bring Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s Story to the Big Screen/Photo credit: Dan Doperalski/Variety