Shonka Dukureh, the Elvis actress, died. An Update On Her Illness And Death
Shonka Dukureh, a blues singer and actress, was discovered dead at her Nashville apartment earlier this month, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
According to authorities, the Fisk University graduate lived in the flat with her two young children. When one of the kids noticed Mom was unresponsive, he hurried to a neighbor’s apartment and dialed 911 shortly before 9:30 a.m.
In the midst of this, the Nashville blues singer recently expressed her joy at being able to perform Elvis Presley’s well-known song “Hound Dog” on Instagram.
irst_paragraph - under_first_paragraph -->Dukureh wrote, “Gratefulness is where I have lived since my granny, gmama, mamma, and family role-modeled and implanted it in me.”
What Happened to Elvis Actress Shonka Dukureh?
The Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that “Elvis” actress Shonka Dukureh died of “natural causes.”
Her death was attributed to cardiovascular disease caused by hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Baz Luhrmann, the director of the film Elvis, wrote a eulogy in her honor, saying that “the entire cast and crew was so devoted to her.”
Luhrmann wrote in a July story in Time, “Underneath all that goodness was a living human being, hilarious as hell.” “I can’t imagine her ever not interacting with those around her.”
Luhrmann recalls hearing Dukureh singing gospel when he first heard her. He claimed he could “hear her voice truly raising people,” which led him to believe he had cast a “genuine spiritual person” in the film.
Her Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease-Related Illness
Shonka’s cause of death was revealed to the public a month after she died: hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Hypertensive heart disease is a chronic disorder that develops slowly over many years in people who have high blood pressure.
Despite its prevalence, high blood pressure is a dangerous condition. High blood pressure is the primary cause of atherosclerosis, the artery-clogging process that leads to heart attacks and strokes.
Wikipedia Bio: The Gospel Singer And Entertainer’s 44-Year-Old Career
Shonka’s prominent role as R&B singer and composer Willie Mae'”Big Mama” Thornton would turn out to be her only significant acting job, according to Wikipedia.
She not only worked with director Baz on her breakthrough performance, but she also co-starred with Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, and Olivia DeJonge.
“Another talent that the multi-talented woman possesses is gospel vocalist.” Nashville Mayor John Cooper expressed regret for the loss of her extraordinary talents in a tweet on Thursday.
“On this sad day, we remember her legacy and the great voice and craftsmanship she left behind in her music,” he wrote.
According to Hollywood Life, the actress received her bachelor’s degree in theatre from Fisk University in Nashville. Trevecca Nazarene University also awarded her a master’s degree in education.
What Was Shonka’s Net Worth At The Time Of Death?
At the time of her death, the 44-year-old actress’ net worth was estimated to be around $100,000.
However, the following is only an estimate based on her career achievements, as she has acted in several plays and musicals that have toured the country with great success over the years.
She also won the 2003 Tennessean Theatre Award for Best Musical Direction or Vocalist Performance and received critical acclaim for her performance in Marcus Hummon’s American Duet.
She spent more than ten years traveling the country to conferences and college campuses while performing with Freedom Sings, the First Amendment Center’s multi-media musical performance.
Shonka’s official website stated that she was working on an album.
According to the website, she was inspired by her involvement with Elvis. The album is “a tribute to the blues music genre in honour of those brave, underappreciated pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way for the rock’n’roll music revolution.”
