A&E Networks announced on June 16 that
Platinum-selling recording artist Zendaya will portray Aaliyah in a LifetimeOriginal Movie about the life of the actress and R&B sensation who, at the
height of her stardom, tragically died in a plane crash. Zendaya will record four of Aaliyah’s songs
for the film, including many of her hit singles. Based on the bestseller
“Aaliyah: More Than a Woman” by former Time Magazine music editor Christopher
Farley, “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B” (wt), the first movie about the beloved
artist, will be filmed this summer and premiere in the Fall.
Before Beyoncé and before Rihanna, self-proclaimed “street
but sweet” Aaliyah was poised to become a global icon with top-selling albums,
a hot movie career and an adoring fan base.
But behind the spotlight, Brooklyn-born, Detroit-raised Aaliyah Dana
Haughton struggled to succeed in a tough business while staying grounded in the
midst of her growing celebrity.
The film follows the beautiful
and talented performer’s inspirational journey; from her debut on Star Search
at the age of ten to the challenges she faced during her rise to become the
Princess of R&B. On August 25, 2001, at the height of her popularity, her
life was tragically cut short when a plane carrying the singer and some of her
video crew crashed after takeoff from a Bahamian runway. Although just 22-years-old at the time of
her death, Aaliyah continues to lead a legacy as Billboard’s tenth most famous
R&B artist of the past 25 years and one of the recording industry’s most
successful artists in history.
Multi-talented actress and Hollywood Records artist Zendaya
recently released her self-titled 2013 debut full-length album on which she
delivers soulful pop with an urban edge. Her first single from the album,
“Replay,” was certified platinum for selling 1,000,000 copies in the U.S. this
January, and now has more than 54 million views on YouTube.
Zendaya will star in the upcoming Disney Channel Original
Series K.C. Undercover and the Disney Channel Original Movie, Zapped, which
premieres this summer. She starred as Raquel “Rocky” Blue on the hit Disney
Channel series Shake It Up!, as well as Shake It Up: Made In Japan, the record
breaking song and dance–filled special
that featured her single and video “Fashion is My Kryptonite.” Zendaya was also the break out star and
runner-up on Season 16 of Dancing with the Stars.
