• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Actress from New 'Elvis' Movie Found Dead at Age 44

Actress from New 'Elvis' Movie Found Dead at Age 44

July 22, 2022
Senate GOP Slashes Spending In ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill As Fiscal Hawks Push For More Cuts

Senate GOP Slashes Spending In ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill As Fiscal Hawks Push For More Cuts

June 29, 2025
NORMAN R. SEIP And DANIEL CHRISTMAN: Fair Use Or Failure: The Future Of Us-Led AI

NORMAN R. SEIP And DANIEL CHRISTMAN: Fair Use Or Failure: The Future Of Us-Led AI

June 29, 2025
Dem Senator Can’t Bring Himself To Give Trump Any Credit For Record-Low Border Numbers

Dem Senator Can’t Bring Himself To Give Trump Any Credit For Record-Low Border Numbers

June 29, 2025
Thom Tillis Announces Retirement Hours After Trump Threatened To Field Primary Challenger

Thom Tillis Announces Retirement Hours After Trump Threatened To Field Primary Challenger

June 29, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: John Thune Needs To Do Something About Obama-Era Parliamentarian Kneecapping Trump’s Megabill

STEVE MILLOY: John Thune Needs To Do Something About Obama-Era Parliamentarian Kneecapping Trump’s Megabill

June 29, 2025
Dems’ NYC Socialist Nominee Ducks And Weaves When Asked To Condemn Term Calling For Killing Jews

Dems’ NYC Socialist Nominee Ducks And Weaves When Asked To Condemn Term Calling For Killing Jews

June 29, 2025
‘A Radical Left Lunatic’: Trump Has Warning For NYC If Dems’ Socialist Nominee Pulls Any Stunts

‘A Radical Left Lunatic’: Trump Has Warning For NYC If Dems’ Socialist Nominee Pulls Any Stunts

June 29, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz Fears Attempt To Scrap Provision In Trump’s Megabill Would Hand ‘Gift’ To China

EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz Fears Attempt To Scrap Provision In Trump’s Megabill Would Hand ‘Gift’ To China

June 29, 2025
NPR Caught Straight Up Misquoting DOGE Staffer

NPR Caught Straight Up Misquoting DOGE Staffer

June 29, 2025
Two GOP Senators Vote ‘No’ As Trump’s Megabill Clears Critical Hurdle

Two GOP Senators Vote ‘No’ As Trump’s Megabill Clears Critical Hurdle

June 28, 2025
‘Outright Massacre’: Senate GOP Takes Sledgehammer To Biden’s Green Energy Subsidies

‘Outright Massacre’: Senate GOP Takes Sledgehammer To Biden’s Green Energy Subsidies

June 28, 2025
REP. KEITH SELF: Whose Fault Is The Fiscal Mess? Time To Reform Everything

REP. KEITH SELF: Whose Fault Is The Fiscal Mess? Time To Reform Everything

June 28, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, June 29, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home FaithTap

Actress from New 'Elvis' Movie Found Dead at Age 44

by Western Journal
July 22, 2022 at 8:05 pm
in FaithTap, News
250 2
0
Actress from New 'Elvis' Movie Found Dead at Age 44
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Shonka Dukureh, a singer and breakthrough actress in the recent film “Elvis,” died July 21. She was 44.

Police in Nashville, Tennessee, said in a news release that they found her body in her apartment’s bedroom.

Dukureh had two young children.

The cause of death was unknown, but Nashville police said there was no indication of foul play.

BREAKING: No foul play is evident in today’s death of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in this year’s Elvis movie. 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

This was the second celebrity death to hit Nashville in a week. Nolan Neal, a musician who appeared on shows including “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice,” died July 18.

Dukureh had her first big screen role in “Elvis” as Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, an R&B singer who first recorded “Hound Dog” before Elvis Presley made it popular.

“Elvis” debuted on June 24.

Dukureh sang Thornton’s “Hound Dog” in the movie and also appeared in Doja Cat’s “Vegas” music video.

Doja Cat’s original song was on the “Elvis” soundtrack.

The Official Video for @DojaCat’s “Vegas” with @iamshonka is here — featured on the soundtrack of @BazLuhrmann’s #ElvisMovie, only in theaters June 24. ⚡️ ️

Watch the full video now: https://t.co/izmWtLV4mb pic.twitter.com/DyqfOlPL9n

— Elvis Movie (@ElvisMovie) June 3, 2022

Dukureh performed with Doja Cat at the Coachella festival in April.

In an Instagram post last week, the singer-actress reflected on her time playing Thornton.

“Gratefulness is where I live cuz my granny, gmama, momma, family modeled and instilled it in me,” Dukureh wrote. “It isn’t a posture of less than or crumbs scraping, but one that acknowledges good things aren’t a guarantee and when we encounter them thankfulness, gratefulness is the least we can express.”

The post was made July 13, eight days before her death.

#ElvisMovie is rocking the box office! Singer and actress @iamshonka shared her experience portraying Big Mama Thornton in the new film with CW30 for an exclusive interview. Visit our Facebook page to see the full interview! pic.twitter.com/lYBumAoRSl

— CW30 Memphis (@CW30Memphis) July 13, 2022

Baz Luhrmann, the director of “Elvis,” shared kind words about Dukureh on Instagram that the film’s Twitter account reposted.

Repost @BazLuhrmann on Instagram:
A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh. From the moment she came into our world, Shonka brought joy, spirit and of course her voice and her music. pic.twitter.com/I5XbqLhk4F

— Elvis Movie (@ElvisMovie) July 22, 2022

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. We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time. pic.twitter.com/3EQkLsG7Xf

— Elvis Movie (@ElvisMovie) July 22, 2022

“Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted. 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,” Luhrmann wrote.

“We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Tags: celebrityDeathentertainmentHollywoodmusicObituaryTennesseeU.S. News
Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th