Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith

Kamryn Johnson as Young Bessie

Rikki McKinney as Chorus Guy

Alan T. Coleman as Stagehand

Tory Kittles as Clarence

Clay Chappell as '81' Theatre Owner

Tika Sumpter as Lucille

Sharan C. Mansfield as Miss Taylor

Neko Parham as Rehearsal Director

Onira Tarés as Chorus Girl

Jhoni Davis as Chorus Girl

Jim R. Coleman as Host

Melissa Youngblood as Theatergoer

Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey

Jennifer Sears as Ma's Main Girl

Charles S. Dutton as William 'Pa' Rainey

Briana Starks as Ma's Dancer

Todd Allen Durkin as Nightclub Manager

Crystal Lee Brown as Bessie's Dancer

Hunter Womack as Roadie

Christopher Harvey as Roadie

Tia Hendricks as Doreen Dupree

Marie Burke as Etta Johnson

Michael Kenneth Williams as Jack Gee

Terence Rosemore as Detroit Theater Manager

Karri Mack as Wild Child

Kaden Washington Lewis as Swarm Boy

Khandi Alexander as Viola

L. Warren Young as Sharkish Man

Saundra Dunson-Franks as Hostess

Bralyn Stokes as Harry Herbert Pace

Cj Sykes as Black Swan Executive

Adebukola Bodunrin as Black Swan Receptionist

Joe Knezevich as Frank Walker

Mike Epps as Richard

Troy Faruk as Brave Man

David Paul Lord as Klansman

Chris Walters as Doorman

Jessejames Locorriere as Vanity Fair Editor

Oliver Platt as Carl Van Vechten

Whitney Goin as Fania Van Vechten

Jeremie Harris as Langston Hughes

Chantelle Rose Mussenden as Gertrude

Sylvester Ambrose James II as Jack Gee Jr.

Bryan Greenberg as John Hammond

Levi Erik as Benny Goodman

Gerard 'Gus' Williams as Gangster

Tim McAdams as Shady Guy

Kenny Banks Jr. as Bessie's Band Member

Michael Burton as Bessie's Band Member

Roderick Harris as Bessie's Band Member

John A. Harvey as Bessie's Band Member

Reggie Hines as Bessie's Band Member

Kevin Kendrick as Bessie's Band Member

Marcus Lewis as Bessie's Band Member

Kenneth Murray Jr. as Bessie's Band Member

Kwame Paige as Bessie's Band Member

Jason Passmore as Bessie's Band Member

Daniel Saintil as Bessie's Band Member

Craig Shaw as Bessie's Band Member

Don C. Sherow as Bessie's Band Member

Dashiel Smith as Bessie's Band Member

Eric Solomon as Bessie's Band Member

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr. as Bessie's Band Member

Teddy White as Bessie's Band Member

Wilbert Williams as Bessie's Band Member

Brandon Boone as Ma's Band Member

Robert Boone as Ma's Band Member

Daniel Terence Harper as Ma's Band Member

Anton Harris as Ma's Band Member

Jody Mayfield as Ma's Band Member

Derrick B. White as Ma's Band Member

Edward Wright as Ma's Band Member

Jonathan Bryant as Dancer

Heather Bland as Dancer

Raquiah Carter as Dancer

Lauren Debrick as Dancer

Desiree Dixon as Dancer

Anthony Hart as Dancer

Nia Lancelin as Dancer

Keshia McNeal as Dancer

Samara Michelle as Dancer

LaVaughn Morton as Dancer

Tiffany Murray as Dancer

Ashley Neal as Dancer

Tiffany Norris as Dancer

Christopher L. Plunkett as Dancer

Stephan Reynolds as Dancer

Nateli Ruiz as Dancer

Primas Leon Stanley as Dancer

Brentney Stephens as Dancer

Dacia Stinson as Dancer

Fred Swinton as Dancer

Sheerod Tate as Dancer

Quiantae Thomas as Dancer

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson as Dancer

Kendre White as Dancer

Selah Avery as Background Extra (uncredited)

Perry Ball as Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

Qualen Bradley as Stage Crew (uncredited)

Alkoya Brunson as Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Jeffery James Bucchino as Doorman (uncredited)

Judy McGee Burley as Extra (uncredited)

Jess Marie Carr as Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

Jameson Jamey Copeland as Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

Taurus Davis as Extra (uncredited)

Dino Demitri as KKK Driver (uncredited)

Derrick Dee as Bodyguard (uncredited)

Shannon Edwards as Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

Tyrone Emanuel as Party Guest (uncredited)

Samuel Lee Fudge as Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

Adella Gautier as Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Curtis Gordon as Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

Jermaine Salute Green as Graveyard Worker (uncredited)

Montice Harmon as Party Goer (uncredited)

Roger A. Harrison as Theater Goer (uncredited)

Rob Hays as Server (uncredited)

Sarah Turner Holland as Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

Damita Jane Howard as Jack's Lover (uncredited)

Geoffrey Howard as Poker Player (uncredited)

Charlie Johnson as Party Goer (uncredited)

Noah Hudson Killingbeck as Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

Andre Lamar as Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Trey McGriff as Pedestrian (uncredited)

Lanier McKinney as Dancer (uncredited)

John Merical as VIP Guest (uncredited)

Dan Michael as Theater Goer (uncredited)

Letecia Reeder as Patron (uncredited)

Swift Rice as Stage Hand (uncredited)

Darrell L. Shuler as Club Goer (uncredited)

Alexis Silvestre as Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

Nicole Spiezio as Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

Dorothea Syleos as Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Tray Williams as Stage Crew (uncredited)