Production is officially underway on Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, a new documentary centered on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and legendary vocalist Darlene Love.
Directed by Barry Avrich (Oscar Peterson: Black + White, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue), the film is being produced by actress and producer Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures, Empire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) alongside Mark Selby. The project is a co-production between Melbar Entertainment Group and Henson’s TPH Entertainment.
The documentary will trace Love’s extraordinary six-decade career, highlighting her rise as one of the most recognizable voices in music history. Known for classics like “He’s a Rebel” and the holiday staple “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home),” Love’s early career was marked by both success and controversy, including her vocals being credited to The Crystals under producer Phil Spector.
Love’s story was previously featured in Morgan Neville’s Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which explored the lives of backup singers. However, this new film places Love at the center, documenting her journey from background vocalist to celebrated icon in her own right.
According to the production, Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been will also examine her experiences navigating a racially segregated and often inequitable music industry, set against the backdrop of the civil rights era.
The film includes a wide range of interviewees, including Cher, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick, David Letterman, Nancy Sinatra, Steven Van Zandt, Paul Shaffer, Marc Shaiman, Lou Adler, Jimmy Fallon, and Robert Smigel, among others. The documentary aims to provide an intimate, first-person portrait of Love’s resilience, artistry, and cultural impact.
Beyond music, Love’s career has spanned film, television, and Broadway. She appeared in the Lethal Weapon franchise as Trish Murtaugh, performed in Broadway productions of Grease and Hairspray, and recently appeared in Netflix projects including Holiday Rush and The Christmas Chronicles 2.
In addition to producing the documentary, Taraji P. Henson continues to expand her footprint in film and television through TPH Entertainment, which is developing multiple scripted and unscripted projects across major studio partnerships, including Fox Entertainment Studios and Netflix.