Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer Yvette Holliday (born October 19, 1960) is an American singer and actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1980–1981) and Dreamgirls (1981–1983), and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the Dreamgirls number and rhythm-and-blues/pop hit, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", for which she won a Grammy Award in 1983. She also won a 1982 Tony Award for Dreamgirls.

Infobox

Born

Jennifer Yvette Holliday (1960-10-19) October 19, 1960 (age 65)

Origin

Houston, Texas, U.S.

Genres

mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li R&Bsoulpopgospeldancejazz

Occupations

Singeractress

Instrument

Vocals

Years active

1979–present

Labels

GeffenAristaIntersound Records

Tables

· Discography › Studio albums

USPop

Title

USPop

Album details

USR&B

Peak chart positions

USGospel

Peak chart positions

USIndie

Peak chart positions

SWE

Feel My Soul

Title

Feel My Soul

Album details

Released: October 3, 1983 Label: Geffen Formats: LP, cassette

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

Say You Love Me

Title

Say You Love Me

Album details

Released: August 19, 1985 Label: Geffen Formats: LP, cassette

Peak chart positions

110

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

—

Get Close to My Love

Title

Get Close to My Love

Album details

Released: August 18, 1987 Label: Geffen Formats: CD, LP, cassette

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

I'm on Your Side

Title

I'm on Your Side

Album details

Released: July 23, 1991 Label: Arista Formats: CD, LP, cassette

Peak chart positions

184

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

On & On...

Title

On & On...

Album details

Released: November 8, 1994 Label: Intersound Formats: CD

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

—

Goodness & Mercy

Title

Goodness & Mercy

Album details

Released: April 19, 2011 Label: Euphonic / New Day Christian Formats: CD, digital download

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Col 7

—

The Song Is You

Title

The Song Is You

Album details

Released: January 21, 2014 Label: Shanachie Formats: CD, digital download

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

Col 7

—

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	USPop	USR&B	USGospel	USIndie	SWE
Feel My Soul	Released: October 3, 1983 Label: Geffen Formats: LP, cassette	31	6	—	—	24
Say You Love Me	Released: August 19, 1985 Label: Geffen Formats: LP, cassette	110	34	—	—	—
Get Close to My Love	Released: August 18, 1987 Label: Geffen Formats: CD, LP, cassette	—	—	—	—	26
I'm on Your Side	Released: July 23, 1991 Label: Arista Formats: CD, LP, cassette	184	29	—	—	41
On & On...	Released: November 8, 1994 Label: Intersound Formats: CD	—	—	10	—	—
Goodness & Mercy	Released: April 19, 2011 Label: Euphonic / New Day Christian Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—
The Song Is You	Released: January 21, 2014 Label: Shanachie Formats: CD, digital download	—	27	—	46	—

· Discography › Compilation albums

USR&B

Title

USR&B

The Best of Jennifer Holliday

Title

The Best of Jennifer Holliday

Album details

Released: September 10, 1996 Label: Geffen Formats: CD

Peak chart positions

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jennifer Holliday

Title

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jennifer Holliday

Album details

Released: October 3, 2000 Label: Geffen Formats: CD

Peak chart positions

—

Fresh Takes

Title

Fresh Takes

Album details

Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Light Formats: CD, digital download

Peak chart positions

—

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	USR&B
The Best of Jennifer Holliday	Released: September 10, 1996 Label: Geffen Formats: CD	50
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jennifer Holliday	Released: October 3, 2000 Label: Geffen Formats: CD	—
Fresh Takes	Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Light Formats: CD, digital download	—

· Discography › Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Album
Title	Year	US Pop	US R&B	US Dance	UK Pop	Album
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"	1982	22	1	—	32	Dreamgirls - OBC
"I Am Changing"	1982	—	29	—	—	Dreamgirls - OBC
"I Am Love"	1983	49	2	—	—	Feel My Soul
"Just Let Me Wait"	1983	—	24	43	—	Feel My Soul
"Hard Time for Lovers"	1985	69	17	26	82	Say You Love Me
"No Frills Love"	1985	87	29	1	—	Say You Love Me
"Heart on the Line"	1987	—	48	—	—	Get Close to My Love
"I'm on Your Side"	1991	—	10	—	—	I'm on Your Side
"Love Stories"	1991	—	29	—	—	I'm on Your Side
"On & On (Stronger)"	1994	—	—	—	—	On & On...
"To Teach Me"	1994	—	—	—	—
"Let Jesus Love You"	1995	—	—	—	—
"No Frills Love (Remix)"	1996	—	—	1	—	The Best of Jennifer Holliday
"A Woman's Got the Power"	1999	—	—	7	—	Non-album single
"Think It Over"	2000	—	—	1	—
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"(Rosabel with Jennifer Holliday)	2001	—	—	6	—
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"(Jennifer Holliday with Rosabel)	2007	—	—	10	—
"Givin' Up"	2007	—	—	—	—	Why Did I Get Married? - OST
"God Is Faithful"	2011	—	—	—	—	Goodness and Mercy
"Get Up, Get Ready"	2011	—	—	—	—	Goodness and Mercy
"Hold On"	2012	—	—	—	—	Lysistrata Jones - OST
"Touch"	2014	—	—	—	—	The Song Is You
"Baby, Tonite"	2019	—	—	—	—	Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

· Theatre credits

1980

Year(s)

1980

Production

Your Arms Too Short to Box with God

Role

—

Location

Ambassador Theatre & Belasco Theatre

Category

Broadway

1981–1983

Year(s)

1981–1983

Production

Dreamgirls

Role

Effie Melody White

Location

Imperial Theatre

Category

Broadway

1995

Year(s)

1995

Production

Grease

Role

Teen Angel

Location

Eugene O'Neill Theatre

Category

Broadway

2001; 2022

Year(s)

2001; 2022

Production

Chicago

Role

Matron Mama Morton

Location

Shubert Theatre & Ambassador Theatre

Category

Broadway

2003

Year(s)

2003

Production

Like Jazz

Role

—

Location

Mark Taper Forum

Category

Los Angeles/Regional

2014

Year(s)

2014

Production

The Color Purple

Role

Sophia

Location

Various

Category

Mini-Tour

2016–2017

Year(s)

2016–2017

Production

The Color Purple

Role

Shug Avery

Location

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Category

Broadway

Year(s)	Production	Role	Location	Category
1980	Your Arms Too Short to Box with God	—	Ambassador Theatre & Belasco Theatre	Broadway
1981–1983	Dreamgirls	Effie Melody White	Imperial Theatre	Broadway
1995	Grease	Teen Angel	Eugene O'Neill Theatre	Broadway
2001; 2022	Chicago	Matron Mama Morton	Shubert Theatre & Ambassador Theatre	Broadway
2003	Like Jazz	—	Mark Taper Forum	Los Angeles/Regional
2014	The Color Purple	Sophia	Various	Mini-Tour
2016–2017	The Color Purple	Shug Avery	Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre	Broadway

· Filmography › Film

2002

The Rising Place

Role(s)

Sadie

2010

Change in the Wind

Role(s)

Hattie McDaniel

Notes

Voice role

2022

The Road to Galena

Role(s)

Florrie

TBA

Role(s)

Fairy Tale Forest

Notes

Ava

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2002	The Rising Place	Sadie
2010	Change in the Wind	Hattie McDaniel	Voice role
2022	The Road to Galena	Florrie
TBA	Fairy Tale Forest	Ava	Voice role

· Filmography › Television

1986

The Love Boat

Role(s)

Dr. Charlene Thomas

Notes

Episode: "The Shipshape Cruise"

1996

Ellen

Role(s)

Herself (uncredited)

Notes

Episode: "Fleas Navidad"

1997

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Role(s)

The Dream Diva (voice)

Notes

Episode: "King Midas and the Golden Touch"

1997–2001

Role(s)

Ally McBeal

Notes

Lisa Knowles

1999

Touched by an Angel

Role(s)

Norma

Notes

Episode: "Then Sings My Soul"

2000

Hang Time

Role(s)

Charlotte Hayes

Notes

Episode: "The Gospel According to Silk"

2009

Musical Theatre of Hope

Role(s)

Singer

Notes

Television film

2011

Happily Divorced

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Episode: "Vegas Baby"

2022

The Masked Singer

Role(s)

Herself/"Miss Teddy"

Notes

Three episodes

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	The Love Boat	Dr. Charlene Thomas	Episode: "The Shipshape Cruise"
1996	Ellen	Herself (uncredited)	Episode: "Fleas Navidad"
1997	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	The Dream Diva (voice)	Episode: "King Midas and the Golden Touch"
1997–2001	Ally McBeal	Lisa Knowles	Recurring role; 6 episodes
1999	Touched by an Angel	Norma	Episode: "Then Sings My Soul"
2000	Hang Time	Charlotte Hayes	Episode: "The Gospel According to Silk"
2009	Musical Theatre of Hope	Singer	Television film
2011	Happily Divorced	Herself	Episode: "Vegas Baby"
2022	The Masked Singer	Herself/"Miss Teddy"	Three episodes

· Awards and nominations

1981

Drama Desk Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Notes

Your Arms Too Short to Box with God

1982

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Role(s)

Dreamgirls

Notes

Won

Grammy Awards

Role(s)

Best New Artist

Notes

—

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female

Role(s)

"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"

Notes

Won

Theatre World Awards

Role(s)

—

Notes

Dreamgirls

Tony Awards

Role(s)

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Notes

Won

1983

Feel My Soul

Role(s)

Nominated

1985

Best Inspirational Performance

Role(s)

"Come Sunday"

Notes

Won

1988

CableACE Awards

Role(s)

Performance in a Music Special

Notes

Cinemax Sessions (Episode: "A Gospel Session: Everybody Say Yeah!")

2001

NAACP Image Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Notes

Ally McBeal

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
1988	CableACE Awards	Performance in a Music Special	Cinemax Sessions (Episode: "A Gospel Session: Everybody Say Yeah!")	Won
1981	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical	Your Arms Too Short to Box with God	Nominated
1982	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Dreamgirls	Won
1982	Grammy Awards	Best New Artist	—	Nominated
1982		Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female	"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"	Won
1983		Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female	Feel My Soul	Nominated
1985		Best Inspirational Performance	"Come Sunday"	Won
2001	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Ally McBeal	Nominated
1982	Theatre World Awards	—	Dreamgirls	Won
1982	Tony Awards	Best Leading Actress in a Musical	Dreamgirls	Won

References

The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music
Ebony
https://web.archive.org/web/20061208040104/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n1_v47/ai_11413566
She would soon be much thinner, while he would again be heavy and remain so for most of the rest of his last years.
In 2006, the concert became available on DVD under the title Night of Gospel Glory, "starring Paul Simon & Friends."
Echeverria Jr., Steve (March 28, 2008). (The Herald Tribune) "Nightlife: The original Dreamgirl." Retrieved on April 23,
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080327/FEATURES/803270609/1376
Capitalentertainment.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20110825124300/http://www.capitalentertainment.com/pr_jholliday.html
Jennifer Holliday to Star as Effie White in Dreamgirls for the ‘Last’ Time at St. Louis' Muny Broadway.com, Retrieved Ja
http://www.broadway.com/buzz/159814/jennifer-holliday-to-star-as-effie-white-in-dreamgirls-for-the-last-time-at-st-louis-muny/
Nader, Juli (November 21, 2006). "Exclusive: Jennifer Holliday Says She Created Role in Dreamgirls and Doesn’t Want to B
http://www.blackprwire.com/display-news.asp?id=2803
ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/GMA_Day/video/gma-days-epic-diva-surprise-pint-sized-singing-58235049
"Out Of The Dark - Jennifer Holliday's battle with depression - includes related article on black women and depression Essence - Find Articles"
https://web.archive.org/web/20060827141622/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_2_30/ai_54831757/pg_4
Jet
https://books.google.com/books?id=m7oDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34
Books.google.com
https://books.google.com/books?id=XsQDAAAAMBAJ&q=jennifer+holiday+texas+southern+university&pg=PA24
Broadwaycares.org
https://broadwaycares.org/nothing-like-a-dame-2002/
Broadwayworld.com
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jennifer-Holliday-to-Record-Track-on-LYSISTRATA-JONES-Album-20120405
Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-16-me-holliday16-story.html
CBS
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/original-dreamgirl-discusses-film/
NPR
https://www.npr.org/2013/12/12/ci50468531/original-dreamgirl-jennifer-holliday-im-not-going-nowhere
Jennifer Holliday Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on November 6, 2019
https://www.billboard.com/music/jennifer-holliday/
Sverigetopplistan
https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/search?query=jennifer%20holliday
"UK Charts > Jennifer Holliday"
https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19750/jennifer-holliday/
"1981 Awards – Drama Desk"
https://www.dramadesk.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/1981-awards/
"1982 Awards – Drama Desk"
https://www.dramadesk.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/1982-awards/
"Jennifer Holliday"
https://www.grammy.com/artists/jennifer-holliday/3153
"Past Honorees"
https://www.theatreworldawards.org/past-recipients
"The 1982 Tony Awards"
https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1982/category/any/show/any/