Heather Headley did not disappoint when she performed recently with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the Kennedy Center. The Tony and Grammy award-winning vocalist is celebrated for the show-stopping favorites from her fantastic stage career, including “Aida,” “The Lion King,” “The Color Purple,” and along with other iconic music.
Steven Reineke led the NSO that accompanied Headley. The Heritage Signature Chorale also added their splendid vocals on several songs.
The evening was built from Headley’s 2018 album, “Broadway My Way.” The multi-octave singer began by singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow. ” Then, from “Aida,” she sang “Easy as Life,” followed by “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King.” The NSO followed these songs without Headley, by playing “He Lives in You.”
Headley’s special guest was Javier Colon, the singer and composer who won on the inaugural season of the television show “The Voice.” Their duets of the songs “The Prayer” and “Amazing Grace” resulted in one of the many standing ovations from the audience during the evening.
Some of the Heritage Signature Chorale members could be seen dabbing their eyes after the moving renditions from Colon and Headley.
Headley is not on a national tour, but she is extremely popular in the D.C. area for the various types of music she sings. Headley won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the title role of “Aida.” She also won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for her album “Audience of One.”
Headley’s fans have missed her performing in a musical or singing her favorite songs. Whatever she decides to sing, Headley has a unique style. She interprets her musical theater version of a song in a way that still draws you in.
“I look at songs like dresses. Now and then, I hear something and, like a dress, I go, ‘I’d like to try that on,”’ said the multi-octave singer in her analogy of a dress and a song. “I might have to hem or take in the dress. It’s just nice to try different things.”
Headly can make any song work for her desired approach.
When Elton John wanted Headley to sing his early composition “Your Song” when he received the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors. Headley first said, “No.” The two had a close working relationship since John had written the lyrics for “Aida” and “The Lion King.” Finally, Headley performed the song to John’s extreme delight.
Keeping Headley busy for now, is a starring role in the Netflix series “Sweet Magnolias,” where she plays the character Helen Decatur. The series, going into its fourth season, is filmed in Atlanta.