Are you ready to see Queen Latifah as the Empress of the Blues? HBO released a tiny teaser for "Bessie," and it looks excellent. Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in this TV movie from "Pariah" director Dee Rees, about Smith's beginnings in vaudeville, her extraordinary rise to fame in the Jazz Age, and her increasingly troubled personal life.

"Bessie" has an incredible cast and crew behind it, Michael K. Williams as Bessie's husband Jack, and Mo'Nique as blues legend Ma Rainey. Oliver Platt,Charles S. Dutton,Bryan Greenberg,Mike Epps,Tika Sumpter, and Khandi Alexander also appear in the film.

"Bessie" will premiere on HBO on Saturday, May 16 at 8 p.m. EST.

[Via Shadow and Act]