Beyonce Knowles has signed on to play blues singer Etta James in "Cadillac Records," a 1950s period film about the founder of Chicago's Chess Records and his lineup of stars.

The 10-time Grammy winner joins a cast that includes Adrien Brody as Chess Records founder Leonard Chess, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, and Columbus Short as Little Walter.

Darnell Martin ("Their Eyes Were Watching God") will direct the Sony BMG Films project from his own screenplay. Knowles will also serve as an executive producer.

Knowles earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as girl-group member Deena Jones in the 2006 musical "Dreamgirls." Her other feature credits include "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and "The Fighting Temptations."