Posted by | Ray Cornelius
DEADLINE is reporting that BET has added more star power to its upcoming series American Soul. Grammy Award-winning singer and Broadway actress Michelle Williams is set to play legendary Motown diva Diana Ross. The Destiny’s Child star will portray Miss Ross as she is being courted by Don Cornelius (Sinqua Walls) to appear on his new music show – Soul Train. However, she hasn’t quite decided if she will accept his offer.
Well, we already know that she does accept his offer and appeared on on the show a few times. Cornelius even did a tribute show to her back in the early 80s (watch it here) and Miss Ross received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award during the 1995 Soul Train Awards.
In addition to Williams, R&B King Bobby Brown has also been cast to portray singer Rufus Thomas, who is best known for his song, “Do The Funky Chicken.” Gabrielle Dennis, who starred as Whitney Houston in BET’s The Bobby Brown Story will portray unstoppable Tina Turner with McKinley Freeman as Ike Turner.
Reality starlet and singer K. Michelle will also appear as Motown darling Martha Reeves of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Michelle revealed the big news back in November and talked about how proud she was to finally work with music icon Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. I take it he must be handling some of the show’s musical elements.
American Soul premieres on BET beginning Tuesday February 5th.
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