Very sad news.
The actor Shonka Dukureh, who recently made her big screen debut as Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s new film Elvis, had died at the age of 44.
The 44-year-old was found unresponsive by one of her two young children who she lived in an apartment with, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a statement.
Police have said no foul play is suspected and autopsy results are pending from the medical examiner.
Dukureh portrayed Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton, an R&B singer who was the first artist to record the song 'Hound Dog', later made famous by Elvis Presley.
It was her first major film appearance and she is featured on the Elvis soundtrack while also appearing in the music video for Doja Cat's song 'Vegas'.
