'Idol' winner Fantasia on Broadway

NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- "American Idol" season three winner Fantasia Barrino will tackle the lead role of "The Color Purple" on Broadway in New York beginning in April.

Her musical stage appearance as Miss Celie was announced last week on "American Idol," during which Barrino sang "I'm Here" from the Broadway play.

The play's producers said they hope the high-profile announcement will help give the musical a bump, Variety said Monday.

Since "Idol," Barrino recorded two albums, the first of which featured "I Believe," that debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The 22-year-old also wrote a memoir and starred in a Lifetime made-for-television movie of her life.