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Ledisi will portray the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the upcoming movie biography of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. titled Selma.
Director Ava DuVernay made the announcement on Instagram with the caption, “Warmly welcoming Ledisi, one of my favorite vocalists, to the SELMA film family as the great Mahalia Jackson #selmafilm.” The movie will be produced by Oprah Winfrey. David Oyelowo, who appeared with Winfrey in The Butler, will portray Dr. King.
Ledisi was previously featured as a blues singer in the 2008 film Leatherheads starring George Clooney. She is currently on the cover of Essence magazine’s May “Beauty” issue, and she launched The Truth Tour on April 16 featuring the Robert Glasper Experiment as her opening act.
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