She was the 'Empress of the Blues,' an immense talent whose love for music took her from anonymity in the dog-eat-dog world of vaudeville to the 1920s blues scene and international fame. Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and influential musical artists of the 20th century. Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg and Charles S. Dutton co-star.