Live Nation Productions is bringing the story of one of music’s most groundbreaking pioneers to the screen: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the “Godmother of Rock and Roll.” Oscar-nominated actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is set to write the script for the upcoming biopic, which will be produced by rock legend Mick Jagger.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Movie Background
The film is being developed in collaboration with Tribeca Studios, Jagged Films, and Inaudible Productions, and will have the full participation of Tharpe’s estate. Producers have secured rights to her music catalogue, and will also draw from Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe by Gayle Wald, the definitive biography on Tharpe. The production has obtained exclusive rights to the book, ensuring a deeply researched and intimate portrayal.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s with her energetic fusion of gospel, blues, and early rock and roll. Armed with a guitar and a voice that could shake the heavens, Tharpe defied both musical and social conventions as a Black woman—and a queer woman—in an era of deep segregation and rigid norms. She became a major influence on future legends such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Little Richard, Bonnie Raitt, and Eric Clapton.
Despite her groundbreaking contributions, Tharpe’s legacy was largely overlooked during her lifetime. She passed away in 1973, and it wasn’t until 2018 that she was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, decades after shaping the sound of a generation.
In addition to the feature film, a companion documentary is also in development. This project will explore Tharpe’s life and impact through interviews with those who knew her, including friends, collaborators, and music scholars. It will also feature exclusive recordings from Wald’s interviews with gospel singer Marie Knight, Tharpe’s close friend and longtime musical partner.
This is interesting due to the fact that Lizzo is currently set to play Sister Rosetta Tharpe in a different project backed by MGM Studios.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Mick Jagger On New Project
Ellis-Taylor, whose acting work has garnered critical acclaim—including an Oscar nomination for “King Richard”—brings a deeply personal and passionate perspective to the story. In a statement, she shared:
“With six guitar strings and an amplifier as a battering ram, Sister Rosetta Tharpe knocked down the Jericho walls of convention and respectability. 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.
Reflecting on Tharpe’s influence and the importance of the project, producer Mick Jagger emphasized her groundbreaking contributions to music, stating he’s “so thrilled to be a part in telling the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe who was a trailblazing singer and electrifying guitarist,” noting that she “reshaped music history and influenced countless artists.”
Ellis-Taylor previously worked with Tribeca on Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us”, and with Jagged Films on the James Brown biopic “Get On Up”, starring Chadwick Boseman. In addition to writing the Tharpe biopic, she continues her work as an actor, recently starring in “Nickel Boys”, “Exhibiting Forgiveness”, and the Apple TV+ limited series “Lucky”.
Meanwhile, Mick Jagger remains active on the film front, also producing “Miles & Juliette”, a romantic biopic about jazz icon Miles Davis and French actress Juliette Gréco. That project, directed by Bill Pohlad, recently launched sales at Cannes.
With such a formidable creative team behind it, the Sister Rosetta Tharpe biopic is poised to bring long-overdue recognition to a musical icon whose trailblazing spirit continues to reverberate through the industry today. Deadline first reported the news.
