Danielle Brooks, the actress known for her role in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, has been adding to her list of credits. Most recently, she starred in Lifetime’s Mahalia, a biopic about the late gospel icon Mahalia Jackson. Besides singing, it seems Brooks and Jackson share a love of southern food.

Brooks had one question that she would ask the late singer if she were still around.

“How you make your cornbread?” Mahalia Jackson’s love for cooking was a feature in the biopic. She even owned a fried chicken restaurant at one point.

When asked if she would prefer hot water cornbread or sweet baked cornbread, Brooks replied, “I’m from South Carolina. Give me the sweet one and the baked.” 

Mahalia, executive produced by Robin Roberts, showed an intimate side of the singer who battled racism, a myriad of health issues, troubled romantic relationships and minor legal woes.  She became one of the greatest gospel singers in history.

Jackson went from being a beautician who owned a hair salon to being invited to sing at President John F. Kennedy’s funeral and the historic March on Washington at the request of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In fact, Jackson is the voice saying, “Tell them about the dream, Martin,” when King began to struggle with his now-famous “I Have A Dream” speech. In other words, she influenced history.

Brooks, who has an uncanny resemblance to Jackson, played the part masterfully.  The actress discussed valuable lessons she learned during the process.

“If I could thank her for anything, it would be for holding on to her faith during adversity,” she said. “And for showing Black women, like, don’t bend for anyone.” 

Jackson was frequently tempted with offers to sing the blues or jazz but her devotion to Christ would not allow her to sing anything other than gospel music, an unpopular genre at the time.

The crooner managed to achieve success despite her beliefs.

An internationally acclaimed Grammy winner, Jackson died at the relatively young age of 60. Brooks and her Emmy-worthy performance can be seen on the Lifetime network.