Shonka Dukureh

The actor who played Big Mama Thornton in this year's film about Elvis Presley has been found dead in a bedroom at her home.

The 59-year-old added that the cast and crew of Elvis were sending their "love and support" to her children and family. Singer and actress Shonka Dukureh, who starred as blues singer Big Mama Thornton in the film Elvis, has been found dead at her home in Nashville, Tennessee. The actor who played Big Mama Thornton in this year's film about Elvis Presley has been found dead in a bedroom at her home.

Tributes poured in for Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in the recent "Elvis" movie. Director Baz Luhrmann wrote: "A special light went out ...

Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was found dead in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apt that she shared with her 2 young children.— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) July 21, 2022 “An incredible talent taken from us too soon,” Doja Cat, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, posted on Instagram in a tribute. “From the moment she came into our world, Shonka brought joy, spirit and of course her voice and her music. Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted,” Luhrmann added. The movie is widely expected to scoop up accolades during the Hollywood awards season. Nashville Mayor John Cooper tweeted his condolences to Dukureh’s family and said “her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day.”

Well-known singer and artist named Shonka Dukureh passed away on Thursday. This came after her debut movie Elvis was released on 24th June, 2022.

After the movie was made, Dukureh's rendition of the track Hound Dog, which Thornton released in 1952, became popular online. In one of her interviews, Dukureh said she had previously worked as a class teacher with inner-city youngsters through after-school and summer programs. According to police, there seems to be no fraud involved in her death. After the movie was made, Dukureh's rendition of the track Hound Dog, which Thornton released in 1952, became popular online. In one of her interviews, Dukureh said she had previously worked as a class teacher with inner-city youngsters through after-school and summer programs. According to police, there seems to be no fraud involved in her death.

The Charlotte, North Carolina native was found dead in her Nashville apartment on Thursday, July 21, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. The ...

Dukureh also appeared onstage with Doja Cat during her set at Coachella to perform the song. In the film she performed the singer’s version of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s “Hound Dog,” which the real-life Thornton recorded in 1952. Dukureh was raised in Charlotte and relocated to Nashville to attend Fisk University, where she studied theater.

A clip of the actor singing Hound Dog went viral after the film was released. | ITV National News.

He said: “A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh. The 44-year-old was a well-known singer in Nashville and shared her apartment with her two young children. Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in the new Elvis film, was found dead on Thursday in a bedroom at her home in Nashville, US police have said.

Elvis” actor Shonka Dukureh was found dead Thursday in the Nashville, Tennessee, apartment she shared with her two young children, police said.

And I could totally relate to that” "I, along with the entire Elvis cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. “Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted.

Shonka Dukureh, the gospel singer who played Big Mama Thornton in "Elvis," found dead in Nashville apartment at the age of 44.

"Was a true honor getting to know her and I’m so grateful to her for lending her incredible vocals to ‘Vegas.’ Her amazing performance in Elvis amongst her other artistry will live on. "A favorite word of Shonka’s, in daily use, was 'blessings,' and I, along with the entire Elvis cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. "She’s so soft-spoken," the star said. Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted." We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time." She’s unbelievable."

"Elvis" actress Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in the film, has died. She was 44.

"Rest in Peace Shonka -- an incredible talent taken from us too soon," Doja Cat wrote in an Instagram story. Luhrmann concluded, "A favorite word of Shonka's, in daily use, was 'blessings,' and I, along with the entire 'Elvis' cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. "Shonka was just starting to find a larger audience for her tremendous talent, and I got to see her uplift whole crowds of people at Coachella and beyond."

On July 21, 'Elvis' actress and singer Shonka Dukureh was found dead in her home, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said. She was 44.

Dukureh recently played Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic in her big-screen debut — her performance of “Hound Dog” in the film went viral online. “Her amazing performance in Elvis amongst her other artistry will live on.” Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dukureh earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Fisk University and a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene. She went on to become an elementary-school teacher and theater actress, radio station WPLN-FM reported.

Ms. Dukureh impressed in her Hollywood debut, with one castmate calling her performance “a spiritual experience.”

Olivia DeJonge, who played Priscilla Presley in the film, told Entertainment Weekly that watching Ms. Dukureh “was a spiritual experience.” Ms. Dukureh, who was from Nashville “by way of Charlotte, N.C.,” originally planned to become a teacher and held a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene University, according to her website. Her cover of “Hound Dog” especially captivated audiences. “Elvis,” the biopic of Elvis Presley that starred Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, was Ms. Dukureh’s first major acting role. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the death but did not provide a cause, saying only that no foul play was evident. Ms. Dukureh’s performance as Big Mama Thornton, her Hollywood debut, was described by one castmate as “a spiritual experience.”

The musician played Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis.

Our hearts go out to Shonka Dukureh's children and everybody else who has lost a loved one in this tragic event. In addition to appearing in the movie she also appeared in Doja Cat's music video for "Vegas," a song from the movie's soundtrack. The children ran to a neighbor for help and the police were called.