NEW YORK (AP) — Recording artiste Zendaya will portray Aaliyah in a Lifetime film about the R&B sensation who died in a plane crash at the height of her stardom.

The biopic will be filmed this summer and is scheduled to air this fall, the network announced Monday.

It will trace a career that began with Aaliyah’s debut on Star Search at age 10. In August 2001 her life was cut short when her plane crashed after takeoff from a Bahamian runway. She was just 22.

Zendaya will record four of Aaliyah’s songs for the film. She recently released her debut album and its first single, Replay, has sold 1.1 million copies. She starred on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up! and was a runner-up on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

Madonna attends preview of Tupac musical

NEW YORK (AP) — One of Tupac Shakur’s old friends celebrated his birthday by seeing a new play inspired by his music.

Madonna attended a preview of Holler If Ya Hear Me in New York City on Monday, which would have been the rapper’s 43rd birthday. Shakur died in 1996 at age 25.

The musical officially opens tomorrow at the Palace Theatre. It uses Shakur’s songs to tell an original story about two young men dealing with life and tragedy in a Midwestern industrial city. Recent Tony winner Kenny Leon is directing.

Madonna sat in the third row. Shakur’s mother and show producer, Afeni Shakur, also attended.

Holler If Ya Hear Me uses some of the rap genius’ well-known songs, including California Love, ‘Dear Mama, ‘I Get Around and Keep Ya Head Up.

Tracy Morgan on the mend

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (AP) — Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has been upgraded to fair condition following the New Jersey highway crash that badly injured him and killed one of his friends, his spokesman said Monday.

“His personality is certainly starting to come back as well,” spokesman Lewis Kay said.

The 45-year-old former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star suffered broken ribs and a broken leg in the June 7 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. The crash killed fellow comedian James McNair and seriously injured two other people.

Prosecutors say Wal-Mart driver Kevin Roper’s truck hit Morgan’s limo. The Jonesboro, Georgia, resident has pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges.

A criminal complaint alleges Roper hadn’t slept for more than 24 hours before the accident when he swerved to avoid slowed traffic on the turnpike and plowed into Morgan’s limo.