Heather Headley

Headley was born in Trinidad, the daughter of Hannah and Eric Headley (Barbadian).[2] In 1989, she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States[3] at the age of fifteen with her mother and brother Eric Junior when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God with headquarters in Anderson, Indiana. Headley attended Northrop High School, and was a member of their resident show choir, Charisma, and starred as Fanny Brice in the school's production of Funny Girl.[3] After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University from 1993 to 1996,[4] to study communications and musical theatre until the last day of her junior year, when she made the decision to become a part of the musical Ragtime and drop out of school.

In 2003, Headley married Brian Musso, an investment advisor who briefly played for the New York Jets.[5] Both attended Northwestern University.[6] On December 1, 2009, they welcomed their first child John David. Headley had her second son Jordan Chase August 18, 2014.[7] In April 2019, the couple welcomed a third child, a daughter.[8]

Headley regularly performs with Vertical Church Band, the worship team from Harvest Bible Chapel. She is featured in their song "How Great Is The Love" and "All Glory".

In 1997, she originated the role of Nala in the Broadway musical The Lion King.[9] Headley's performance was well received, and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning the Tony Award for Best Actress in 2000.[9] In 1999, she appeared in the Encores! staged concert production of Do Re Mi, with Nathan Lane, Randy Graff, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.[10] She starred in an Actors' Fund of America benefit concert version of the musical Dreamgirls alongside Audra McDonald and Lillias White in 2001.[11]

In the autumn of 2006, Heather performed Hal David and Burt Bacharach's song "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", from the 1968 musical Promises, Promises, for "The Kennedy Center Presents: The 2006 Mark Twain Prize", honoring playwright Neil Simon. The ceremony was later broadcast on PBS.

On July 5, 2007, Headley made a guest appearance for Andrea Bocelli's Vivere Live in Tuscany concert in Lajatico, Italy. They performed Vivo Per Lei and The Prayer. Headley sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (also known as "America") with Josh Groban on January 18, 2009, during the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.[12] On March 12, 2009, Headley sang "I Wish" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

From November 2012 until August 2013, Headley played the role of Rachel Marron, in the musical adaptation of Whitney Houston's 1992 movie, The Bodyguard at London's Adelphi Theatre. She was nominated for an Olivier Award[13] and a What's On Stage Award for this performance.[14][15]

Heather joined the Andrea Bocelli UK Tour playing Glasgow Hydro on November 23 and at the Leeds First Direct Arena on November 24, 2013.

On May 10, 2016, Headley assumed the role of Shug Avery from Jennifer Hudson in the recent Broadway revival of The Color Purple, which closed on January 8, 2017 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.[16]

From 2017, Headley is co-starring in Spike Lee's Netflix reboot of She's Gotta Have It as Dr Jamison.[17] She also voices of the part of Fikiri as Makini's Mother in The Lion Guard.

• Official website
• Heather Headley at IMDb