March 24, 2025 – Grammy-winning artist Lizzo is set to take on a transformative role as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the pioneering musician often hailed as the “Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” in a new biopic titled Rosetta. The announcement, made by Pitchfork via a post on X at 18:35 UTC on March 24, 2025, and detailed in a Pitchfork article, marks Lizzo’s first leading role on the big screen. The film, currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios, promises to shine a spotlight on Tharpe’s groundbreaking contributions to music and her complex personal journey.
.@Lizzo will portray the godmother of rock’n’roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, in a new biopic https://t.co/OFralCKmvI
— Pitchfork (@pitchfork) March 24, 2025
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a trailblazing Black gospel singer and guitarist, is celebrated for her electrifying performances with her Gibson Les Paul Custom, blending gospel with early rock influences in the 1930s and 1940s. Her 1938 performance at the Cotton Club was a defining moment, breaking barriers for Black Pentecostal artists. The biopic will focus on a pivotal period in Tharpe’s life, exploring her struggle with societal expectations, her hidden love for another woman, and her transformation of a wedding into a historic stadium concert—the first of its kind.
Lizzo, known for hits like “Truth Hurts” and her advocacy for body positivity, brings her own dynamic energy to the role. While this is her first starring role, Lizzo has prior acting experience, including a voice role in UglyDolls (2019) and a part in Hustlers (2019). She also hosted the Emmy-winning reality series Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. The film is produced by Lizzo alongside Kevin Beisler, with Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker also on board. A director has yet to be announced.
This project aligns with Lizzo’s history of celebrating Black artistry, as seen in her past performances and her 2020 Amazon Studios production deal. Rosetta is poised to honor Tharpe’s legacy, introducing her revolutionary impact to a new generation while highlighting the personal challenges she faced as a queer Black woman in a restrictive era.
