Elvis star Shonka Dukureh, 44, is found dead by one of her children at her Nashville apartment
- The actress was found dead at her apartment – which she shared with her two children – on Thursday
- One of her children found her unresponsive and ran to a neighbor’s home to get help
- The neighbor called 911 at 9:27 a.m., police said
- Currently, they do not suspect any foul play in the actress’ death
- Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy, before they can determine a cause of death
- Aside from her first big movie role in Elvis as Big Mama Thornton, she starred in Doja Cat’s Vegas music video, where she also played Big Mama Thornton
Actress Shonka Dukureh has passed away at the age of 44.
The Elvis star and blues singer was found dead at her Nashville apartment – which she shared with her two children – on Thursday, according to a tweet from Nashville police.
She was discovered by one of her children, who found her unresponsive and ran to a neighbor’s home to get help.
Sad news: Elvis star Shonka Dukureh has passed away at the age of 44 on Thursday. She was was found dead at her Nashville apartment, which she shared with her two children; Pictured in a 2022 still from Elvis
The neighbor then called 911 at 9:27 a.m., police said. Currently, they do not suspect any foul play in the actress’ death.
Investigators are now awaiting the results of an autopsy, before they can determine an official cause of death.
Aside from her first big movie role in Elvis as Big Mama Thornton, she starred in Doja Cat’s Vegas music video (from the movie’s soundtrack) where she also played Big Mama Thornton.

Gone too soon: The Elvis star and blues singer was discovered by one of her children, who found her unresponsive and ran to a neighbor’s home to get help
She also performed with Doja Cat on stage during the pop star’s show at Coachella earlier this year.
Elvis, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, was released earlier this year.
Speaking about the role, Dukureh told The Tennessean that she could relate to Thornton’s music.
‘[Big Mama Thornton] was really raw with what she did and very honest and truthful and [made] music as she felt it. And I could totally relate to that,’ she said.

No foul play: Police do not suspect any foul play in the actress’ death. Investigators are now awaiting the results of an autopsy, before they can determine an official cause of death
‘I was very aware and wanting to really be intentional about making sure I was paying respect, respecting her, respecting her legacy, respecting her spirit, respecting everything about what she brought to music and understanding that I’m able to do it because she’s done it and laid that foundation.’
Dukureh also toured internationally with recording artist Jamie Liddell and The Royal Pharohs.
The star’s career aspiration was to become a teacher, however, she later decided that a career as a performing artist was more suited to her talents.
Dukureh was set to release her first studio album, titled The Lady Sings the Blues in June of 2022.

Blues musician: Dukureh was set to release her first studio album, titled The Lady Sings the Blues, in June of 2022. It was inspired her her role in Elvis; Pictured with Elvis director Baz Luhrmann
Inspired her her role in Elvis, she said that the project was ‘a tribute to the blues music genre in celebration of those fierce unsung pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way for the rock’n roll music revolution.’
The North Carolina native graduated from Fisk University, and held a bachelor’s degree in theater.
The star also held a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene University, according to her website.

Rising star: Aside from her first big movie role in Elvis as Big Mama Thornton, she starred in Doja Cat’s Vegas music video, where she also played Big Mama Thornton
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