HEATHER HEADLEY with the Utah Valley Symphony

"Heather Headley is among the top singers with a vocal that absolutely astounds with its intensity… This woman is one of the great entertainers of the day, on record and on stage (Billboard Magazine)."

Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley considers her multi-faceted career a blessing. She was born and spent most of her childhood on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Her family moved to the United States in the early 1990s, where Heather’s love for the arts continued.

In 1997 Heather won the role of Nala in the original Broadway cast of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Tony-winning musical The Lion King. While still in The Lion King, she auditioned for the title role in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Her portrayal of the Nubian princess Aida won critical praise and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and that year was listed among People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People and Essence Magazine’s 30 Women To Watch.

In 2012 Heather returned to the stage starring in The Bodyguard in London’s West End, where she earned critical praise and a new fan base overseas.

Heather’s recording career began with her 2002 debut album on RCA Records, This Is Who I Am, which produced the Top 5 R&B and Dance chart hits "He Is" and the album track "I Wish I Wasn’t." She earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for that album. In January 2006 she released her second solo album, In My Mind; the title single became Heather’s first #1 hit, topping the Dance and R&B charts.

In 2009 Heather released Audience of One, for which she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In 2012 she released Only One In The World, featuring songs she wrote as well as covers.

Heather returned to Broadway in 2016 starring as Shug Avery in The Color Purple. In 2018 she had a recurring role on NBC’s Chicago Med as Gwen Garrett. In 2021 she won critical praise for her role as the Witch in New York City Center’s production of Into The Woods. Heather can also be seen as a series regular on the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias.