Carole King Broadway musical finds its star

Jessie Mueller will play Carole King as she rose to fame from her Brooklyn roots

The Carole King Musical has cast Broadway performer Jessie Mueller in the title role.

Beautiful, which tells the story of the legendary singer and songwriter's rise to fame, will open in September.

King, 71, became the first female solo artist to sell more than 10 million copies of a single album with her 1971 release Tapestry.

Mueller was last on Broadway opposite Matthew Broderick in Nice Work If You Can Get It.

She made her Broadway debut in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever opposite Harry Connick Jr and was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance.

Earlier this year, New York-born King become the first woman to be awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. She was given the award by President Barack Obama who called her a "living legend".

Tapestry went on to sell 25 million copies.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical has been written by Oscar-nominated writer Douglas McGrath.

It starts previews on 21 November at the Steven Sondheim Theatre.