Mariah Carey is set to star in the upcoming film Tennessee, her
first big screen role in years. The film, which is about a pair of brothers on
a road trip to find their estranged father, is directed by Aaron Woodley
and produced by Lee Daniels, who worked with Halle Berry
on her Oscar award winning role in Monster’s Ball.

The singer will share the screen alongside Bernie Mac, James D’Arcy,
Bill Sage, Chris Browning, Luce Rains and Gregory Peck’s grandson,
Ethan Peck.

According to the New York Post, Carey, who replaces Janet Jackson
in the film, had to take on a few challenges for the project. The role not only
required Carey to speak with a southern drawl, but the film’s "shoestring"
budget required her to fly economy class to location. Carey complied and flew
alone only after buying out the entire economy section of the flight.

Carey who graces the cover of the March issue of Playboy magazine, recently
made Forbes’ list of the "20 Richest Women In Entertainment."