Shonka Dukureh

The actor Shonka Dukureh, who recently made her big screen debut as Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann's new film Elvis, had died at the age of 44.

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He wrote: “My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh. Shonka graduated from @Fisk1866 and called Nashville home for many years. She said those students reached out after seeing her in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic. Her initial career aspiration was to become a teacher, but her vocal talents saw her turn to performing arts and her role as Big Mama Thornton in the Elvis biopic, released this year, marked her first major film role.

The actress who has risen to fame playing Big Mama Thornton in the new Elvis biopic has sadly died at the age of 44.

Speaking about her role in the hit film, Shonka told Shadow and Act back in April: "It's just been a dream. "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. Her child went to a neighbour for help who then called 911.

A singer and actress who appeared this year as blues singer Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann's film...

"I, along with the entire Elvis cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. "The project is a tribute to the blues music genre in celebration of those fierce unsung pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way for the rock'n roll music revolution," she wrote on her website. The body of Shonka Dukureh, 44, was found on Thursday after one of her two young children found her unresponsive and ran to get a neighbour, who called 911, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a statement.

Police said there were no signs of foul play after she was found by one of her children in Nashville.

The actor, who also shared the stage at Coachella this year with Doja Cat, had a theatre degree from Fisk University in Nashville and graduated from Trevecca Nazarene with an education degree, WPLN-FM reported. Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in this year’s movie about Elvis Presley, has been found dead in a bedroom at her home in Nashville, police said. Dukureh, a 44-year-old Nashville singer, shared the apartment with her two young children, police said.

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.

Dukereh went viral after portraying Big Mama Thornton in the musical biopic - with her performance of Hound Dog getting plaudits around the world.

You did it." "Lord Jesus I really cannot believe you're gone. "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.

The actress and musician played Big Mama Thornton in the critically-acclaimed movie, which was directed by Baz Luhrmann.

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 My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh. Shonka graduated from— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) @Fisk1866and called Nashville home for many years. Nashville Mayor John Cooper tweeted his condolences to Dukureh's family, saying that she had graduated from Fisk University in the city that she had called home for many years.

Director Baz Luhrmann has said he felt “truly blessed” to have had time with Shonka Dukureh, who starred in his Elvis biopic, before her death aged 44.

“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. Director Baz Luhrmann has said he felt “truly blessed” to have had time with Shonka Dukureh, who starred in his Elvis biopic, before her death aged 44.

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.”

Dukureh, a 44-year-old Nashville singer, shared the apartment with her two young children, police said. One of the children found her unresponsive and went to ...

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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.

Director Baz Luhrmann has said he felt “truly blessed” to have had time with Shonka Dukureh, who starred in his Elvis biopic, before her death aged 44.

The 59-year-old added that the cast and crew of Elvis were sending their “love and support” to her children and family. “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.” It was one of her children who found her unresponsive and went to the apartment of a neighbour, who called emergency services.

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.