Fantasia's story a TV biopic

'American Idol' winner to play herself

Fantasia Barrino, the High Point teenager who became an "American Idol," will play herself in a Lifetime television movie based on her memoir.

"It's the story of the American dream -- someone who really has a gift and, against all odds and challenges, goes the distance," says actress-choreographer Debbie Allen, who will direct.

Barrino, a single mother, was 19 when she became the 2004 "Idol." Her debut R&B album, "Free Yourself," was released later that year. In her 2005 autobiography, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," she revealed that she had been raped as a young teen and that she couldn't read.

"We're really covering most of it -- her whole life, from when she was little, how she was recognized early on as being really gifted, how she lost her path to her gift and to God and her family, and how she found that path again through her talent," says Allen, whose directing credits include the classic series "A Different World" and the current series "All of Us" on UPN. Barrino played herself in a 2005 episode of the latter.

Principal shooting begins this month in New Orleans, and the film is set to premiere in August. Other cast members include Kadeem Hardison ("A Different World") as her father and Viola Davis ("Get Rich or Die Tryin' ") as her mother.

Allen says "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will either play themselves in reenactments of "Idol" moments or be featured in footage from the show.