Heather Headley

"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. The family moved to the United States in the early 90s 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, Heather was asked to audition for the title role in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. Her portrayal of the Nubian princess Aida won her 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. That year she was listed as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and Essence Magazine's 30 Women To Watch. In 2012 Heather made a triumphant return to the stage, starring in The Bodyguard in London's West End, where she gained critics' praise and a new fan base overseas.

Heather continued her musical success on the pop charts with her 2002 debut album on RCA Records, This Is Who I Am, which featured productions by several top producers. Two songs, "He Is" and the album track "I Wish I Wasn't," both emerged as Top 5 R&B and Dance chart hits. Heather earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for This Is Who I Am. She returned in January 2006 with 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, an album that featured songs Heather wrote as well as covers. To audience and critics' delight, Heather returned to Broadway in 2016 starring in the Tony Award-winning The Color Purple as Shug Avery. In 2018 she had a recurring role on NBC's Chicago Med as Gwen Garrett. In 2021 Heather won critics' praise for her role of 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.