Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an American singer and Tony Award-winning actress who began her professional career in Broadway at the age of 19 with a debut in "Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God." She is best known for originating the role of Effie "Melody" White in the Broadway hit "Dreamgirls," a performance that earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a Grammy Award for the showstopping song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Beyond "Dreamgirls," her contributions to the arts extend to other notable theater productions including roles in "Sing Mahalia Sing: The Mahalia Jackson Story" and "Downhearted Blues: The Bessie Smith Story."

As a recording artist, Holliday has released multiple albums with her second album, "Say You Love Me," earning her another Grammy for the song "Come Sunday." Her most recent album, "This Song Is You," released in 2014, achieved Top 20 status on the R&B charts. Her impact also spans film and television with appearances in movies like "The Five Heartbeats," soundtracks for films including "Why Did I Get Married," and television shows such as "Ally McBeal," "American Idol," and "So You Think You Can Dance."

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Holliday is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, actively supporting the LGBTQ+ community and working as a volunteer advocate for the National Mental Health Association. Her personal challenges with depression and multiple sclerosis, which she manages with exercise, meditation, and reading, have shaped her advocacy efforts. Holliday's deep commitment to connecting with audiences through her heartfelt singing remains central to her performances, as demonstrated in her recent role as Shug Avery in the 2016 Broadway revival of "The Color Purple."