Heather Headley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heather Headley
Headley in 2022
Background information
Born	(1974-10-05) October 5, 1974 (age 50) Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago
Genres	R&B soul inspirational gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer actress
Years active	1997–present
Labels	RCA, EMI Gospel

Heather Headley performing on stage in 2018.

Heather Headley is a talented singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago on October 5, 1974. Heather is known for her powerful voice and amazing performances.

She won a Tony Award in 2000 for her lead role in the musical Aida. This is a very important award for theater actors. Later, in 2010, she also won a Grammy Award for her gospel album Audience of One. Heather has also appeared on TV shows like Chicago Med and the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias.

Heather Headley's Early Life and Family

Heather Headley was born in Trinidad. Her parents are Hannah and Eric Headley. In 1989, when she was 15, Heather moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the United States. Her father became a pastor there.

School Days

Heather went to Northrop High School. She was part of the school's show choir, Charisma. She also starred in the school play Funny Girl. After high school, she studied musical theater at Northwestern University. She left college early to join the musical Ragtime.

Family Life

In 2003, Heather married Brian Musso. He was an investment advisor and used to play football for the New York Jets. They both went to Northwestern University. Heather and Brian have three children. Their first son, John David, was born in 2009. Their second son, Jordan Chase, was born in 2014. In 2019, they welcomed a daughter.

Heather often sings with the Vertical Church Band. This is a worship group from Harvest Bible Chapel. She has sung on their songs "How Great Is The Love" and "All Glory."

Heather Headley's Amazing Career

Heather Headley's career started in 1996. She was in the musical Ragtime in Toronto. She also filled in for another actress, Audra McDonald.

Broadway Star

Her big break came in 1997. She played the role of Nala in the original Broadway show The Lion King. People loved her performance. After that, she got the main role in the Broadway musical Aida. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in 2000 for this role.

Heather also performed in special concerts. In 1999, she was in Do Re Mi. In 2001, she was in a benefit concert for Dreamgirls.

Concerts and Special Performances

In 2006, Heather sang for "The Kennedy Center Presents: The 2006 Mark Twain Prize". This event honored playwright Neil Simon. In 2007, she sang with Andrea Bocelli in Italy. They performed "Vivo Per Lei" and "The Prayer".

In 2009, she sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" with Josh Groban. This was for a special event before the presidential inauguration. She also sang on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

London Stage and Broadway Return

From 2012 to 2013, Heather played Rachel Marron. This was in the musical The Bodyguard in London. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance.

In 2016, Heather joined the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. She took over the role of Shug Avery from Jennifer Hudson. The show closed in 2017. In 2022, she played the Witch in Into the Woods. She performed with other famous actors like Sara Bareilles and Neil Patrick Harris.

Heather Headley's Music Journey

Heather released her first album, This Is Who I Am, in 2002. Her song "I Wish I Wasn't" became quite popular. This album earned her two Grammy Award nominations. She was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.

Her second album, In My Mind, came out in 2006. The song "In My Mind" reached number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

In 2009, Heather sang "People Get Ready" with Al Green. This song was on a special album called Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration. In 2010, she won her first Grammy Award. It was for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One.

She released her album Only One in the World in 2012. In 2013, she performed "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" with Il Divo on America's Got Talent.

Heather Headley on TV and in Movies

Heather Headley has also had roles in television and films.

Television Roles

From 2017 to 2019, she had a recurring role on the TV series She's Gotta Have It. She played Dr. Jamison. In 2018, she started appearing on the medical drama Chicago Med as Gwen Garrett.

In 2019, Heather was cast in a main role in the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. She plays Helen Decatur. She also voiced the character Fikiri in The Lion Guard.

Film Roles

In 2021, Heather starred in the movie Respect. This film was about the life of Aretha Franklin. Heather played the gospel singer Clara Ward.

Awards and Nominations

Heather Headley has received many awards and nominations for her work in music and theater.

Music Awards

Theater Awards

See also

In Spanish: Heather Headley para niños