Parton returns to silver screen

"Joyful Noise" will also feature musical contributions from Parton, who said, "I'm writing a few songs for the movie, and I'm real happy about that." Parton previously starred in "Steel Magnolias," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and the Academy Award-nominated "9-5."

"I'm really happy to be doing a movie with Queen Latifah," she said. "I really like her and have often thought we would be fun together. Even though we play rivals in the movie, I'm sure we'll have our fun behind the scenes."

"I'm so happy to be doing a movie about music - especially happy because it's gospel music which I grew up singing and loving. I think we need something uplifting in this day in time. So yep, happy, happy, happy - that's me."

Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment (Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove) will finance and produce along with Catherine Paura and Joe Farrell of Farrell Paura Productions as well as Michael Nathanson of O.N.C. Entertainment. Todd Graff wrote the screenplay and will direct.