Legendary Broadway actress Heather Headley will be crooning some of Whitney Houston’s classic songs in The Bodyguard musical, which premieres November 6 in London’s West End.
The musical features a whole host of Houston’s irresistible classics, including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “Run To You,” “I Have Nothing,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and “I Will Always Love You.” The show has released two preview clips of Headley performing “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing.”
Last year, Headley confirmed via Facebook that she would be taking on Houston’s most infamous role. “Yes! I’ve been offered the role of Rachel in the musical version The Bodyguard. Very honored! The script has been rewritten a bit and it’s very interesting. Needless to say, the music is great (they’re using many of the songs of Whitney’s catalogue) — very challenging, but great. We’ll start on the West End in London and then we’ll move to Broadway (if all goes well — I think it will),” she said.
Headley won a Tony Award in 2000 for best actress in a musical for playing the title role in Aida. She also originated the role of Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King. Her debut album, This Is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2002. In 2010, she also won a Grammy in best contemporary R&B gospel album for her third album, Audience of One. Her new album Only One In The World debuts September 25.
Based on Headley’s preview performance, are you anxious to see The Bodyguard musical if it comes to Broadway?
Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC