Baz Lurhmann Pays Tribute to Shonka Dukureh After Her Sudden Death

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Baz Luhrmann, the director of the biopic Elvis, has paid tribute following the death of one of the stars of the film Shonka Dukureh, honouring her ‘tremendous talent’.Last month, Dukureh made her film debut playing Big Mama Thornton in the movie, opposite Austin Butler as the titular character, with one of her most memorable moments being when she belted out Hound Dog.This week, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed that the performer was found in the bedroom of her apartment, which she shared with her two young children. No foul play is suspected, and a cause of death is yet to be classified following the autopsy results.Tributes have come pouring in for the late star, with Luhrmann sharing a series of pictures of Dukureh on Instagram, including one of him kissing her on the forehead while on the set of Elvis.‘A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh,’ the 59-year-old wrote in his caption.‘From the moment she came into our world, Shonka brought joy, spirit and of course her voice and her music.’Luhrmann said that whenever Dukureh was on set, on stage or 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,’ he said.‘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.

Celebrities are expressing their heartbreak over the sudden death of Shonka Dukureh.

Less than one month after the release of the 2022 Elvis biopic, Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in the film, was found dead in her Nashville home. She was 44.

Doja Cat and Baz Luhrmann have paid tribute to Elvis actress Shonka Dukureh following her death. Dukureh, who made her movie debut as blues singer Big Mama Thornton in Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, was found dead at her home in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday at the age of 44. The actress made a notable appearance in the film singing Thornton's biggest hit Hound Dog - which Presley later recorded - and her rendition of the song was sampled on Doja's single Vegas, taken from the Elvis soundtrack.

Baz Luhrmann says he and the cast of 'Elvis' are devastated by the sudden death of cast member Shonka Dukureh. The recently acclaimed actress, who had just drawn plaudits for her role as blues singer Big Mama Thornton in the Elvis Presley biopic, was tragically found dead in her apartment by one of her young children on Thursday (21. 07.

Baz Luhrmann has said he felt “truly blessed” to have had time with Shonka Dukureh, who starred in his Elvis biopic, before her death aged 44. The actress, who played Big Mama Thornton in the film about superstar Elvis Presley, was found dead in a bedroom at her home in Nashville. It was one of her children who found her unresponsive and went to the apartment of a neighbour, who called emergency services.

Actress and singer Shonka Dukureh, who starred in the biopic Elvis, has died at the age of 44. She played Big Mama Thornton in the film about superstar Elvis Presley and was found dead in a bedroom at her home in Nashville.

Actress Shonka Dukereh, who stars in the new Elvis Presley film, has died aged 44.TMZ reported that she was first discovered by one of her young children in her Nashville apartment on Thursday morning (22 July). In her latest project Shonka played blues singer Big Mama Thornton in the new Elvis biopic. On discovering her body her child is said to have alerted a neighbour who then called 911 for help.

Elvis biopic, has died at the age of 44.Dukureh was found dead by police on Thursday (July 21) in her home in Nashville, after one of her two young children found her unresponsive and sought help from a neighbour, who called 911. According to police, there is no evidence of foul play.

“Elvis” actress and blues singer Shonka Dukureh was found dead in her Nashville apartment Thursday, ET can confirm. She was 44.

From the thrill of a lifetime to its untimely end, all in less than six months…

A shocking loss. Elvis star Shonka Dukureh was found dead in her Nashville, Tennesse, home on Thursday, July 21. She was 44.

Shonka Dukureh, who just made her film debut in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, was found dead in her Nashville, Tenn. apartment on Thursday, police said. She was 44 and was found in her bedroom.

"Elvis" actress Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thorton, was found dead Thursday in a bedroom at her apartment in Nashville, police confirmed. She was 44.  The Metro Nashville Police Department said there were no signs of foul play.

Actress and singer Shonka Dukureh has died at the age of 44, it has been confirmed.The entertainer made her film debut last month in the blockbuster Elvis, the Elvis Presley biopic also starring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler, playing Big Mama Thornton. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has said Dukureh was found in the bedroom of her apartment and that no foul play is suspected.Dukureh shared the apartment with her two young children and police said one of them found her unresponsive and ran to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm. The neighbour then called emergency services just before 9:30am on Thursday.

Shonka Dukureh, who most recently played the role of Big Mama Thornton in the movie Elvis, has died at the age of 44.

 actress and blues singer Shonka Dukureh was found dead in her Nashville apartment Thursday, ET can confirm. She was 44.According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in the Baz Luhrmann production, was found dead Thursday morning, in the bedroom of her apartment that she shared with her two young children.

Hollywood actress and singer Shonka Dukureh has died aged 44.The actress recently made her acting debut in the new Elvis Presley film and was found dead by one of her young children in her Nashville flat on Thursday morning, TMZ has reported.In the new Elvis biopic released last month, Shonka played blues singer Big Mama Thornton.READ MORE:Austin Butler 'went through hell' to play Elvis Presley in new big screen biopicAccording to Nashville police, she was found dead in the bedroom of her Antioch apartment that she shared with her kids.Her child is said to have run to a neighbour's house for help, and 911 was called.They added that no foul play is suspected in her death, though investigators will be awaiting autopsy reports before determining a cause of death.Fans and costars are taking to social media to mourn the actress and singer.Nashville Mayor John Cooper mourned her death with a tweet.He shared his condolences to the loved ones of Shonka and penned: "Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honour her memory on this sad day."One heartbroken fan shared a prayer for Shonka's loved ones on Twitter."Lord, please wrap her babies and loved ones in love and healing," the Twitter user wrote.Another tweeted: "Shonka Dukureh passing away is so heartbreaking. More than just a beautiful voice...

Ellise Shafer Shonka Dukureh, the singer and actor who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” was found dead in her Nashville, Tenn. apartment on Thursday, police confirmed. She was 44.According to a tweet from the Metro Nashville Police Department, no foul play is evident in Dukureh’s death.