Shonka Dukureh, the singer who played the character Big Mama Thornton in the recently released “Elvis” movie, died Thursday at age 44 of unknown causes.
According to Nashville police, the actress was found dead in her apartment in the city, which she shared with her two children, and there was no evidence of a criminal act. It was one of her sons who found her dead in her bedroom, and asked for help from a neighbor who called 911.
Shonka Dukureh made a major appearance in “Elvis”. With the role of Thornton she distinguished herself as an R&B singer, the first to record the song “Hound Dog“, which later became famous thanks to Elvis Presley.
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In addition to excelling in film production, her work appears on the “Elvis” soundtrack and in the music video for Doja Cat‘s song “Vegas“. In addition, Shonka Dukureh performed with Doja Cat during the Coachella music festival last April.
Through an interview she shared on Instagram last week, the artist wrote:
“Gratitude is where I live because my great grandmother, my grandmother, my mom, my family modeled and instilled in me“.