Live Nation Productions has announced a powerful new project honoring one of music’s greatest unsung pioneers: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the “Godmother of Rock and Roll.”
The feature film will be penned by Oscar-nominated actress and screenwriter, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, with rock legend Mick Jagger among a heavyweight team of producers bringing Tharpe’s electrifying legacy to the big screen.
A groundbreaking gospel artist and guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s fusion of spiritual fervor and rock swagger predated—and influenced—icons like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Tina Turner. Yet, her place in music history has too often been relegated to the margins. This film seeks to change that.
Ellis-Taylor, best known for her searing performances in King Richard, Origin, and When They See Us, brings more than just talent to the project; she brings reverence and personal conviction.
“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. “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.”
Backing her script is a dream team of producers. Rock icon Mick Jagger, producing under his Jagged Films banner alongside Victoria Pearman, expressed his excitement to honor Tharpe’s legacy:
“I’m so thrilled to be a part in telling the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe who was a trailblazing singer and electrifying guitarist,” Mick Jagger said in a statement. “She reshaped music history and influenced countless artists.”
Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal, who has shepherded award-winning titles like The Irishman and Quincy, echoed the sentiment.
“We are proud to champion the bold storytelling of Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor to bring this enigmatic icon’s story to light.”
Live Nation Productions’ Head of Film & Television, Ryan Kroft, noted the significance of Tharpe’s story within their catalog: “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.”
The team has secured the rights to Gayle Wald’s definitive biography, Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and with the blessing of Tharpe’s estate and access to her entire music catalog, the film is positioned to be as sonically rich as it is historically important.
A companion feature-length documentary is also in pre-production. It will delve deeper into Tharpe’s legacy through rare recordings, interviews with close collaborators like gospel singer, Marie Knight, and commentary from modern artists and music scholars.
With Ellis-Taylor’s passionate pen, Jagger’s rock royalty, and an award-winning producing roster, the film promises to finally give Sister Rosetta Tharpe her rightful place at the center of rock’s origin story.
