Jill Scott to star as Mahalia Jackson in upcoming film Mahalia!

R&B / soul powerhouse and Philly native Jill Scott will be starring as the titular role in Mahalia!, an upcoming biopic about celebrated singer Mahalia Jackson.

Jackson, described by Harry Belafonte as “the single most powerful Black woman in the United States” and considered to be the inspiration behind Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, is one of the most important artists — in gospel and beyond — in American history.

Mahalia! will be executive produced by Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, and Holly Carter, and is based on Darlene Donloe’s biography Mahalia Jackson. “I believe Ms. Scott was a God-send and will be absolute perfection in the lead role,” Carter told Entertainment industry publication Deadline. Scott’s previous acting credits include Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married series, Deborah Kampmeier’s Hounddog, the CW’s superhero series Black Lightning, and a number of guest appearances on shows like Black-ish, Law & Order: SVU, and Black Panther.

Listen to Jill Scott’s most recent studio album, 2015’s Woman, here.