'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia': Air time, how to live stream, trailer and all about Lifetime's gospel biopic
'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia' is a fictionalised retelling of the life of iconic gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was also known as the 'Queen of Gospel'. The film is the first project produced under a partnership between 'Good Morning America' anchor Robin Roberts and Lifetime. The film centers around 40 years of Mahalia's extraordinary life, in which the singer went onto becoming one of the most revered singers and also used her music to uplift the civil rights movement.
Her recording of the song 'Move on Up a Little Higher' sold millions of copies and gave Mahalia the opportunity to perform in front of a racially integrated audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and at John F Kennedy’s inaugural ball. Mahalia Jackson lent her voice quite literally to many rallies, most famously to the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
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Danielle Brooks, who takes on the role of Mahalia says, "It's really an honor to get to tell this African-American story of what Kenny has described before as an ordinary woman who can do extraordinary things. I think we have to continue to remind people of that, not just about the power of Southerners, but of Black women. What we add to the fabric of America, where we come from: the Michelle Obamas, the Oprahs, the Tarana Burkes, and the list goes on. I'm glad to get to tell and remind people of that because people really don't know Mahalia Jackson. And they should."
Release date
'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia ' is all set to release on April 3 on Lifetime. The release is meaningful, a day before Martin Luther King's death anniversary.
Air time and how to live stream
'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia' will premiere Saturday, April 3 at 8 pm ET/PT. If you can't catch it on TV, Lifetime is available on Hulu, Sling TV, Philo, Vidgo, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. If you are not based in the United States, using a VPN will help you to catch Lifetime Movies.
Hulu+ Live TV: Get a seven-day free trial and a monthly plan costs $54.99.
Fubo TV: Get a seven-day free trial and it costs $44.99 a month.
AT&T TV Now: A seven-day free trial is available and it is priced at $55 a month.
Philo TV: You can get a seven-day free trial and a monthly plan costs $20.
Cast
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks is perhaps best known to fans for her role in 'Orange is the New Black', as Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson. For her performance, Brooks received two NAACP Image Award nominations for 'Best Actress in a Comedy Series' and was also the recipient of the Young Hollywood Award for 'Breakthrough Actress.”'
Brooks is also an accomplished Broadway star and made her Broadway debut in the revival of 'The Color Purple'. She was nominated for a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and received a Grammy® Award as well as a Theatre World Award for 'Significant Broadway Debut'.
Olivia Washington
Olivia Washington is Denzel Washington's daughter and Malcolm Washington's twin sister. She has two other siblings John David Washington who recently wowed the world with 'Malcolm & Marie' and Katia Washington.Talk about an impressive family. But it seems that Olivia Washingtion is now also set to make her mark in 'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia'. Olivia is known for her roles in films like Lee Daniels' 'The Butler' and 'The Little Things'.
Concept
The film is part of Lifetime's overall initiative to encourage more original TV movies. It also marks a creative reunion of Danielle Brooks and director Kenny Leon who have worked together previously, on an all-Black contemporary production of 'Much Ado About Nothing', for the Shakespeare in the Park series in New York City.
Kenny Leon shares why he feels the story of Mahalia is perhaps all the more relevant today, " I wanted it to speak to Americans during our time of Covid, our time of pandemic, our time of racial challenges in our country. I think if our country is going to be saved, I think it's going to be saved because of the nurturing of powerful, strong women. And as a Black man, I realize that now and I see it very clearly. Racism exists. We need to do something about it, and I'm proud to be in that army to continue to fight."
Trailer
The trailer of 'Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia ' shows the prejudice that Mahalia had to endure in spite of her extraordinary talent. It also interestingly shows her saying "Tell them about the dream", a reference to how she led into Martin Luther King's iconic 'I have a dream' speech with song.
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