The singer and actress, 31, confirmed on Instagram Stories Friday that she will play musical legend Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic.
“I have no words to describe my heart for this project … years of hoping this dream would become my reality,” she captioned a screenshot of a Deadline story announcing the news, first reported by Showbiz 411 over the summer.
The upcoming film about the life of iconic singer Linda Ronstadt will be produced by John Boylan and James Keach. Boylan and Keach have notable experience in the music industry, with Keach having produced the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line” and Ronstadt’s 2019 documentary “The Sound of My Voice.”
The film will be directed by David O. Russell, and while the title and additional casting details have not been disclosed, it is anticipated to provide an in-depth portrayal of Ronstadt’s remarkable career and life.
The long-discussed Linda Ronstadt biopic is officially in development, with Selena Gomez set to portray the iconic singer. The announcement was made on the website of John Boylan, who will be producing the film alongside James Keach.
The two recently had discussions about the project at Ronstadt’s home. Gomez’s interest in the role was hinted at when she shared an Instagram Story featuring the cover of Ronstadt’s memoir, “Simple Dreams,” earlier in the month. The biopic is expected to provide an intimate look into Ronstadt’s life and career.
Gomez and the “You’re No Good” performer are both of Mexican descent, and the “Single Soon” musician has noted their similarities in appearance before.
“I always used to get told that I look like her,” Gomez previously said during a 2015 appearance on On Air with Ryan Seacrest, per Billboard. “And I started listening to her music because of that.”
Linda Ronstadt is a highly acclaimed artist who has won 11 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. She received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2016. Ronstadt’s remarkable career, spanning nearly 50 years, was explored in the documentary “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” released in 2019.
With Selena Gomez set to portray Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic, audiences can anticipate a closer look at the life and contributions of this influential musician.
Linda Ronstadt faced a challenging turn in her music career when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. This debilitating condition had already caused her to lose her singing voice four years prior to the official diagnosis. Despite this significant setback, Ronstadt’s impact on the music industry and her enduring legacy continue to be celebrated.
“It’s like not having a leg or an arm, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” the rock singer told PEOPLE Magazine in 2019.
Ronstadt struggled to make two albums as her voice worsened. She was even told it was “nerves,” before she was diagnosed by a neurologist.
“It felt like something was wrong, but I couldn’t tell what it was,” she said, describing the initial symptoms. “First, I thought it was my headphone mix, then I thought it was the microphone, then I thought some frequencies were just missing from my voice. It got slowly, steadily worse.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare condition is caused by the deterioration of brain cells that control thinking, movement and coordination, which are similar to symptoms of Parkinson’s and dementia.