Heather Headley

Artist Image: Heather Headley

Biography

Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Trinidadian-American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She has won a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and a Drama Desk Award, and she has been nominated for a host of other acting and music accolades. Headley was born in Trinidad, the daughter of Hannah and Eric Headley. At age four, Headley began playing the music of her native Trinidad, including calypso, and soca. In 1989 she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen with her mother and brother 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. After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre until the last day of her junior year, when she made the difficult decision to become a part of the musical Ragtime and drop out of school. In 2003 Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Both attended Northwestern University. On December 1, 2009, they welcomed their first child John David. In 1997, she originated the role of Nala in The Lion King, the Broadway musical. 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. In 1999, she appeared in the Encores! production of Do Re Mi, with Nathan Lane, Randy Graff, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. She also starred in a concert version of the musical Dreamgirls alongside Audra McDonald and Lillias White. 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 5 July 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. 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 for this performance. Headley released her debut album, This Is Who I Am, in October 2002 with RCA Records. Although its first single, "He Is", was not very successful, the second single, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved moderate success. The work on this album earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best New Artist. Her second album, In My Mind, was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time, Headley released her second album In My Mind in January 2006. The title track "In My Mind" (written and produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders) was released as the first single; and its music video was directed by Diane Martel. The song reached number-one on the U.S. 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 Al Green, released a version of the song "People Get Ready" on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration. On the January 31, 2010, Heather won her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One on the EMI Gospel label. In December 2010, Headley performed a duet version of "Blue Christmas" and "My Prayer" with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Bocelli's "My Christmas" tour in six cities. 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 back and get her to come back on stage. Heather Headley announced that she will release her new album Only One in the World on September 25, 2012 with the lead single "A Little While".

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1974
Number of Albums 14
Record Label
Website www.heatherheadley.com
Wikipedia Heather Headley on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Trivia

What was Heather Headleys most incredible hit?

In My Mind

...l album. R&B Singer member Heather Headleys most incredible hits like In My Mind stayed in the list of 100 top songs. If yes, we will inform you about...
Where is the McKee Street Church of the God located?

Anderson

... pastor of the McKee Street Church of the God with its headquarters in Anderson , she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, at fifteen. Moreover, Headley perfo...
How old was Heather Headley when she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana?

fifteen

...with its headquarters in Anderson, she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, at fifteen . Moreover, Headley performs regularly with the Harvest Bible Chapels V...
What church does Heather headley perform regularly with?

Harvest Bible Chapels Vertical Church Band

...ifteen. Moreover, Headley performs regularly with the Harvest Bible Chapels Vertical Church Band with the songs How Great Is The Love and All Glory th...
How old is Heather Headley as of 2021?

36

...s and musical theater at Northwestern University. Heather Headleys age is 36 as of 2021, having been born on 26 August 1984. Heather Headley stands ta...
Where did Heather complete her high schooling?

Northrop High School

...ather Headley Education: Heather completed her high schooling at Northrop High School . Further, she went to study communications and musical theater a...
How tall is Heather headley?

5 Feet 6 Inches

...of 2021, having been born on 26 August 1984. Heather Headley stands tall, 5 Feet 6 Inches , and Weight 76 KG. She has dark shading hair and brown eyes....
What year was Heather born?

1984

...ty. Heather Headleys age is 36 as of 2021, having been born on 26 August 1984 . Heather Headley stands tall, 5 Feet 6 Inches, and Weight 76 KG. She has...
On what date was Heather Headley born?

26 August 1984

...versity. Heather Headleys age is 36 as of 2021, having been born on 26 August 1984 . Heather Headley stands tall, 5 Feet 6 Inches, and Weight 76 KG. Sh...
How much weight does Heather have?

76 KG

...of 2021, having been born on 26 August 1984. Heather Headley stands tall, 5 Feet 6 Inches, and Weight 76 KG . She has dark shading hair and brown eyes....
Where was Heather Headley born?

Trinidad

... church, but her route to Soul stardom was anything but usual. Born in Trinidad , the daughter of ministers at Barataria Church of God, Heather was sin...
What instrument did Heather play before kindergarten?

piano

...inisters at Barataria Church of God, Heather was singing and playing the piano before kindergarten, and lived a life in which music was always integra...
Where did her family move when she was a teen?

Fort Wayne, Indiana

... integral. When Headley was a teen, her family moved stateside to Fort Wayne, Indiana , where her father became pastor of a local church. After graduat...
What was Headley's father's job at a local church?

pastor

... family moved stateside to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where her father became pastor of a local church. After graduating from high school in Fort Wayne, she...
What did she study at Northwestern University?

communications and musical theater

..., she attended Northwestern University, where she studied communications and musical theater . Her strong, clear singing voice brought attention, and s...
In what Broadway production did Nala play the lioness Nala?

The Lion King

...role to play the lioness Nala in the Broadway production of Disney's The Lion King . She was a smash in the role, and Disney followed in 2000 by offeri...
What year did Disney give Headley the lead role in Aida?

2000

...ney's The Lion King. She was a smash in the role, and Disney followed in 2000 by offering her the lead role in its Elton JohnTim Rice musical Aida. Wh...
What award did Headley receive for her performance on Aida in 2000?

Tony Award

...he show received mixed reviews, Headley again excelled and received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Headley's growing notoriety led RCA to...
Who offered Headley a recording contract?

RCA

...Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Headley's growing notoriety led RCA to offer her a recording contract, the first fruit of which was the 2002...
At what age did Heather start playing concert piano?

four

...sic and performance art. She started playing concert piano by the age of four , later immersing herself in the eclectic music of her culture: calypso, ...
How old was Headley when she arrived in the United States?

15

...o sing professionally. Upon arriving in the States with her family at age 15 , Headley quickly adapted to America's ways. She soaked up American music ...
What was the name of the genre of music Headley grew up listening to?

calypso, soca, and reggae

... later immersing herself in the eclectic music of her culture: calypso, soca, and reggae . This foundation would later motivate Headley to sing profess...
Where did she study communications and musical theater?

Northwestern University

...school, and later studied communications and musical theater at Northwestern University . In 1997, she was cast as Nala in the Broadway production of T...
When was she cast as Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King?

1997

...tudied communications and musical theater at Northwestern University. In 1997 , she was cast as Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Headl...
When did Headley win a Tony Award?

1998

... Nubian princess Aida was captivating, and it earned her a Tony Award in 1998 . Three years later, Headley moved from the stage to the studio to record...
What is Heather Headley's nationality?

Trinidadian

...at The Muny Theatre 2018. Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Trinidadian born American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She ...
What award did she win in 2010 for her album Audience of One?

Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

...r the titular role of Aida. She also won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for her album Audience of One. In 2018, she recu...
Headley attended Northrop High School and was a member of what show choir?

Charisma

...d 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. ...
Who did Headley marry in 2003?

Brian Musso

...ce in the school's production of Funny Girl. In 2003, Headley married Brian Musso , an investment advisor who briefly played for the New York Jets. On ...
What team did Brian Musso briefly play for?

New York Jets

... married Brian Musso, an investment advisor who briefly played for the New York Jets . On December 1, 2009, they welcomed their first child John David....
On what date was Headley's first child born?

December 1, 2009

... married Brian Musso, an investment advisor who briefly played for the New York Jets. On December 1, 2009 , they welcomed their first child John David....
Headley dreamed of a career as what?

a singer

...ater, she began taking piano lessons and began to dream of a career as a singer . Standing in the empty church at which her father, Iric Headley, was p...
Who was Headley's father?

Iric Headley

...areer as a singer. Standing in the empty church at which her father, Iric Headley , was pastor, she gave solo performances for an audience of onehersel...
What instrument did Headley use as a microphone in her solo performances?

hairbrush

...astor, she gave solo performances for an audience of oneherselfusing a hairbrush as a microphone. She pretended to sing for a large crowd, yet at the ...