I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story (2025 Lifetime Movie)
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Cast: Joaquina Kalukango, Francesca Bianchi, Lance Gross
Director: Alicia K. Harris
Writer(s): Njeri Brown
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
The film chronicles Gaynor’s rise to fame, from her humble beginnings to becoming one of the most iconic voices in music history. Dubbed America’s “Queen of Disco,” the movie will feature many of the songs that catapulted Gaynor to the top of the charts, including her legendary hit “I Will Survive,” which became a cultural phenomenon and a powerful anthem of empowerment for millions worldwide. The biopic will also delve into the deeply personal challenges Gaynor faced, including overcoming her long and tumultuous marriage to her husband and manager.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Based on a True Story
1968—Gloria is a lounge singer who hates being a lounge singer. Her mother tells her to be right with Jesus before she immediately dies.
1969—Gloria is in New York with her sister working in nightclubs. A music producer approaches her backstage and hooks her up with a band called City Life. They have a jam session that goes very well. They respect her as a musician and start working on making old standards into funky disco hits.
Damn, it doesn’t take long before she turns on the band and signs a contract ditching them so fast! It’s the right call, and the song is number one on the disco charts, which helps define the sound. Gloria goes back to the band, and they forgive her surprisingly. (Writing credits for them on the song helps, and she tells them she fought for that.)
1975—Gloria and The City are playing Studio 54. They are extremely famous at the moment. Gloria’s personal life is thriving, too. She starts dating her backup singer’s brother, Linwood. Linwood spoils Gloria and insists she reads her contracts. (NOVEL CONCEPT!) Linwood is controlling and won’t even let Gloria do Coke in the 1970s!!!!! (It is hard for me to tell if he is good for Gloria or not.)
Gloria straight up falls off the stage during a performance. (OMG! So scary!) The show’s adrenaline allows Gloria to finish the concert and appear unphased. She wakes up the next morning unable to move and ends up in the hospital for four weeks. The label and City Life drop her, and Gloria is in danger of being a one-hit-wonder.
Linwood gets Gloria a single. Gloria hates the song and its message. She agrees to record it as long as she can have creative control for the B-side. That song is “I Will Survive.” It is an instant hit and re-released as the A-side. The song won the only Grammy for Best Disco Recording in 1980.
Gloria and Linwood get married and move into a beautiful home. The only problem is, Disco is DEAD! Gloria thinks it might be time to focus on children and family. Linwood has another idea an takes them on an international tour. Linwood wants Gloria to ditch the live band and sing with tracks to save money.
Stephanie Block becomes Gloria’s assistant and starts advocating for her when she thinks Linwood is pushing his cash cow too hard. Gloria tries to stand up for herself, but Linwood calls her selfish for wanting to go home to the States. They get into a fight, and Linwood leaves Gloria to finish the International tour on her own. (Ewwww, he parties with other ladies and spends Gloria’s money while she is killing herself on tour.)
Gloria is quick to discover Linwood’s indiscretion. She calls her sister and has a breakdown. She has got to kick Linwood on his ass. Gloria can’t do anything because she is suffering from exhaustion. Stephanie books them a flight home, and Gloria catches Linwood partying. Linwood tells Gloria he is making connections and has plans for her. He fires Stephanie and keeps control of his star.
Gloria wants to work on her next Album and move into an R&B direction. Linwood says no and pushes Gloria to keep touring overseas. She sees a change in him. He is even doing Coke now. Gloria decides if you can’t beat them, join then, but THE VOICE OF GOD knocks the try out of her hands. The Voice of God also tells her to write a song. She does and finally stands up to Linwood.
2000- Gloria is in the hospital again, exhausted. She decides to divorce Linwood and ends her management agreement. Linwood tells her she will fail without her. Gloria and Linwood litigate for YEARS!!!!
With Linwood out, Stephanie is back and agrees to be Gloria’s manager. They bring back the live musicians and legitimize Gloria as an artist for high-end events.
Just as things are looking up, Gloria’s sister tragically dies a horrific death. While trying to stop a domestic disturbance, the sister was murdered. Beaten to death. (Very sad! Also, very true)
Gloria finally works on that gospel album, but she gets back surgery before she does. Two years later, she released a new album, and it was a success, earning her another Grammy. Because JESUS loves her
The movie ends with facts about Gloria’s life and continued thriving life. Good for her!
Stray Thoughts
The Lifetime Biopics have improved much, but there wasn’t much here, and the interesting parts were breezed over. Tell me more about the sister, show me more of Gloria’s health struggles, and many options.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: N/A (0 knives)
Lifetime Tropes: BioPic
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it Up (Give it a shot!)
Put a Cork in it! (Skip it!)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media at @LifetimeUncorked and @patrickmiguel.
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 A&E Television Networks, LLC
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
The promo sounded like bad karaoke. No thanks.