Heather Headley

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Heather Headley
Headley in 2022
Headley in 2022
Background information
Born (1974-10-05) October 5, 1974 (age 49)
Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actress
Years active1997–present
Labels
EMI Gospel
Spouse(s)Brian Musso
Heather Headley on stage at The Muny Theater in St. Louis, MO. 2018.

Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a

Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for her album Audience of One. In 2018, she recurred as Gwen Garrett on the NBC medical drama television series Chicago Med.[1]

Personal life

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 high school, Headley attended Northwestern University from 1993 to 1996,[4] to study musical theatre until the last day of her junior year, when she made the decision to become a part of the musical Ragtime and leave 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".

Career

Headley's stage career began in 1996 when she was cast as a member of the ensemble in the original Toronto production of the musical

Dreamgirls alongside McDonald and Lillias White in 2001.[12]

In the autumn of 2006, Heather performed

Mark Twain Prize", honoring playwright Neil Simon. The ceremony was later broadcast on PBS
.

On July 5, 2007, Headley made a guest appearance for

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.[13] 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

What's On Stage Award for this performance.[15][16]

Heather joined the Andrea Bocelli UK Tour playing

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.[17]

In May 2022, Headley played the Witch in the Encores! version of Into the Woods. She starred alongside Sara Bareilles, Neil Patrick Harris, Gavin Creel, and Denée Benton.

Music

Headley released her debut album,

Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best New Artist
making her the first Tony Award winner to be nominated for this award.

Her second album,

Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The second single "Me Time" was sent to Urban AC radio only. An album track, "Am I Worth It", served to promote Headley's New March of Dimes
Educational Campaign "I Want My 9 Months".

In 2009, Headley, along with

People Get Ready" on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.[20]

In January 2010 she won her first

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One on the EMI Gospel label.[21]

In December 2010, Headley performed a duet version of "Blue Christmas" and "My Prayer" with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on his "My Christmas" tour in 5 US cities.[22][23][24] At the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on December 4, 2010, the audience insisted on a second encore with Bocelli. Bocelli had to summon the detail to go and bring her back on stage.[citation needed]

Headley released her album

Only One in the World on September 25, 2012, with the lead single "A Little While".[25]

In September 2013, Headley appeared on

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from The Lion King.[26] She also appeared with Il Divo on Broadway for a limited concert run in 2013.[27]

Television and Film

Starting in 2017, Headley appeared in a recurring role on the TV series She's Gotta Have It as Dr. Jamison.[28] In 2018, she appeared in a recurring role as Gwen Garrett on the TV series Chicago Med.

In 2019, Headley was cast as one of the three leads in the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias.[29] She also voiced the part of Fikiri as Makini's Mother in The Lion Guard.

In 2021, Headley starred as gospel legend Clara Ward in Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic.[30]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
sales threshold
)
US US R&B
This Is Who I Am 38 14
In My Mind
  • Release date: January 31, 2006
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 5 1
  • RIAA: Gold
Audience of One 27 6
Only One in the World
  • Release date: September 25, 2012
  • Label: in:ciite Media
  • Formats: CD, music download
 187 25
Broadway My Way
  • Release date: November 14, 2018[31]
  • Label: in:ciite Media
  • Formats: music download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country

Compilation albums

Title[citation needed] Details
Playlist: The Very Best of Heather Headley

Singles

Year Song Peak chart positions[citation needed] Album
US Hot 100 US R&B
US Dance
 US AC US Gospel Hot Adult R&B
1999 "A Step Too Far" (with Elton John and Sherie Rene Scott) — — — 15 — — Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
2002 "He Is" 90 38 4 — — 1 This Is Who I Am
2003 "I Wish I Wasn't" 55 15 5 — — 1
2005 "In My Mind" 75 16 1 — — 2 In My Mind
2006 "Me Time" — 35 — — — 5
2008 "Jesus Is Love" — 59 — — 10 29 Audience of One
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" — — — — — — Non-album single
2012 "A Little While" — — — — — — Only One in the World
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other

Song Year Album
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" 1997 The Lion King on Broadway Cast Recording
"Shadowland"
"The Madness of King Scar"
"Love Will Find a Way" (with Kenny Lattimore) 1998
Return to Pride Rock
"Just One Dream"[citation needed] 2001
Disney California Adventure Park
)
"
People Get Ready" (with Al Green
) 		2009 Oh Happy Day

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role[citation needed] Notes
1992 Fantasmic! Princess Medley Short
2001 Elmo's Magic Cookbook Pocket Queen Video
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Rosa Negra Singer
Breakin' All the Rules Herself
2021 Respect Clara Ward

Television

Year Title Role[citation needed] Notes
2017–19 She's Gotta Have It Dr. Clara Jamison Recurring cast
2018–21 Chicago Med Gwen Garrett Guest: season 3 & 6, recurring cast: season 4-5
2019 The Lion Guard Fikiri (voice) Episode: "Journey of Memories"
2020– Sweet Magnolias Helen Decatur Main cast

Awards and nominations

Music

Year Award Category Recording Result[citation needed]
2002 Soul Train Award Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "He Is" Nominated
2003
Billboard Music Award
 R&B/Hip-Hop New Artist of the Year Nominated
NAACP Image Award
 Outstanding Female Artist Nominated
Outstanding New Artist Nominated
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Solo "This Is Who I Am" Won
Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist - Solo "He Is" Won
Best R&B/Soul Single - Solo Nominated
2004 Grammy Award Best New Artist Nominated
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "I Wish I Wasn't" Nominated
2006 BET J Cool Like That Award Nominated
2010 Grammy Award Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album "Audience Of One" Won
Best Gospel Performance
 "Jesus Is Love" Nominated

Theatre

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2000 Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical Aida Won [32]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award
 Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Sarah Siddons Award Awardee [33]
2013 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical The Bodyguard Nominated [34]
WhatsOnStage Award Best Actress in a Musical Nominated [35]

References

  1. ^ Heather Headley on playing an unpopular boss on 'Chicago Med': 'I love it!' The Grio. September 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "Heather Headley Biography" FilmReference.com, accessed August 28, 2011
  3. ^ a b Jones, Kenneth. "June 10 is Heather Headley Day in Fort Wayne, IN" playbill, June 10, 2000
  4. ^ Yang, Rachel. "Northwestern alumna Heather Headley replaces Jennifer Hudson in Broadway’s 'The Color Purple'" dailynorthwestern.com, May 12, 2016
  5. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "In Step With Heather Headley"Parade, accessed August 28, 2011
  7. ^ "Heather Headley on Twitter: "The Commander has summoned a Lieutenant...We're a little nervous, a lot excited, & so overwhelmed with the miracle.."". Twitter. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "Heather Headley and Husband Welcome Third Child". April 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "PLAYBILL ON-LIne's BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Heather Headley". May 30, 2000.
  10. ^ a b "Headley Broadway" playbill (vault), accessed February 14, 2019
  11. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Stokes Mitchell & Heather Headley to Sing 'Do Re Mi' w/ Nathan Lane May 6-9" playbill, April 23, 1999
  12. ^ Portantiere, Michael. "Review. 'Dreamgirls'" theatermania.com, September 25, 2001
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew, "'Obama Inauguration Celebration', with Beyonce, Headley, Usher, Latifah, Broadcast Jan. 18" Archived January 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Playbill.com, January 18, 2009.
  14. ^ " The Bodyguard Musical leads the way with 4 Olivier Award nominations" showsinlondon.co.uk, April 26, 2013
  15. ^ "Bodyguard musical star Heather Headley wants to make Whitney role her own". BBC. May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  16. ^ ""I Will Always Love You" - Heather Headley (The Bodyguard Musical)". YouTube. June 14, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  17. ^ Paulson, Michael (April 7, 2016). "Jennifer Hudson to Exit 'Color Purple'; Enter Heather Headley". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  18. ^ This Is Who I Am allmusic.com, accessed February 15, 2019
  19. ^ In My Mind allmusic.com, accessed February 15, 2019
  20. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (March 27, 2009). "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters.
  21. ^ "Heather Headley Grammy" grammy.com, accessed February 14, 2019
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Tony Winner Heather Headley Will Join Andrea Bocelli for December Concert Tour" playbill, September 14, 2010
  23. ^ Rodman, Sarah. "Singing in the season" The Boston Globe, December 3, 2010
  24. ^ Powers, Keith."Andrea Bocelli delivers highs, lows" Boston Herald, December 7, 2010
  25. ^ One in the World[permanent dead link] allmusic.com, accessed February 14, 2019
  26. ^ Champion, Lindsay. "B'way Meets Opera! Watch Il Divo & Heather Headley Sing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" on America’s Got Talent" broadway.com, September 19, 2013
  27. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Il Divo – A Musical Affair, With Heather Headley, Concludes Broadway Engagement Nov. 13" playbill, November 13, 2013
  28. ^ Brody, Richard (November 22, 2017). "Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It" Remake Is a Panorama of Anguish, Ambition, and Identity". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  29. ^ "'Sweet Magnolias': Monica Potter, Brooke Elliott & Heather Headley to Headline Netflix Series". May 30, 2019.
  30. ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372186/
  31. ^ "Tony Winner Heather Headley Releases Solo Album Broadway My Way November 14 | Playbill". Playbill. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  32. ^ "Heather Headley". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  33. ^ "Awardees" sarahsiddonssociety.org, accessed February 14, 2019
  34. ^ "Olivier Winners 2013". Olivier Awards. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  35. ^ "Full list: Winners announced of the 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards" whatsonstage.com, February 17, 2013

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heather_Headley&oldid=1219550354"