Jennifer Holliday

Actor and singer Jennifer Holliday is best known for her award-winning role of Effie “Melody” White in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, a performance that earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as well as Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards. Her interpretation of the showstopping Act 1 finale, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” also won her the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. This recording made her a music star, leading to a successful recording career and hit songs on the pop, dance, and gospel charts. A second Grammy came three years later for her rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday.” More recently, Holliday was back on Broadway performing the role of Shug Avery in the Tony-winning revival of The Color Purple.