Elvis actress and vocal powerhouse Shonka Dukureh died Thursday in her apartment in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 44 years old.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Dukureh was found unresponsive in the bedroom of her Kothe way apartment by one of her children, who went to a neighbor’s apartment for help. The neighbor dialed 9-1-1 at 9:27 a.m. and informed them.
Authorities don’t suspect foul play but await the medical examiner’s autopsy results to identify the cause of death.
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
Nashville Mayor John Cooper took to Twitter to express his condolences regarding the singer’s death.
” Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day,” Mayor Cooper wrote.
My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh. Shonka graduated from @Fisk1866 and called Nashville home for many years. Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day. https://t.co/0rjZ0lLWCg
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) July 21, 2022
Baz Luhrmann, Elvis director, posted on Instagram a tribute to Dukureh.
“A special light went out today, and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shoonka Dukureh,” Luhrmann posted about the singer. “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. 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.”
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Dukureh attended Tennessee-based HBCU Fisk University for her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Trevecca Nazarene University for her Master’s Degree in Education. In 2003, she was nominated for and won a Tennessean Theatre Award for Best Musical Direction or Performance as a Vocalist for her role in American Duet. She performed with numerous people, like Grammy winner Mike Farris and multi-Grammy winner Ashley Cleveland.
On June 24, 2022, Dukureh landed her first big-screen debut on Elvis with the role of Willie Mae, “Big Mama” Thornton. She was in the process of recording and releasing her first album, “The Lady Sings the Blues,” before her death.
R.I.P, Shonka!
