The life of Mahalia Jackson, one of the greatest gospel singers of all time, is coming to the small screen in “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia.”
Produced by Roberts and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the film stars Grammy Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks in the lead role as the legendary gospel singer focusing on her civil rights activism.
The first trailer of the project was released on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to coincide with Jackson’s connection to King and the “I Have A Dream” speech.
Mahalia Jackson is known as one of the first superstars of gospel music and was coined the “Queen of Gospel.” Jackson often lent her powerful voice to the Civil Rights Movement. She sang at the 1963 March on Washington at the request of King and she also sang at his funeral in 1968.
An exact airdate is not known, but the GMA host said we can expect the film sometime in April. The movie is part of a four-picture deal that Robin Roberts signed with Lifetime including last year’s “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel,” which became Lifetime’s highest-rated original movie since 2016.