“Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann and singer Doja Cat late on Thursday paid tribute to Shonka Dukureh, a performer and blues singer in the film who was found dead in her apartment on Thursday.
“A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh,” Luhrmann wrote on his Instagram. “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.”
Dukureh, 44, portrayed Big Mama Thornton in Luhrmann’s film “Elvis” in what was her feature film debut.