The world-renowned Kennedy Center welcomed Grammy and Tony Award winner Heather Headley on Saturday, September 7th, for an evening of show-stopping hits, where The National Symphony Orchestra backed her under the conduction of Steven Reineke.
Heather Headley is currently on hiatus from her successful Netflix show “Sweet Magnolias” following her recent performance in the Broadway revival of Into the Woods. During her performance, Headley’s set list omitted her R&B material and instead showcased favorites from her illustrious stage career, featuring selections from “Aida,” “The Lion King,” and “The Color Purple.” The audience was treated to a spirited rendition of “One Night Only” from the orchestra from “Dreamgirls” before Headley graced the stage in a stunning gown.
The show kicked off with a lovely one-two punch of “Over the Rainbow” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” which set the stage for an emotional rendition of “Still Hurting” from “The Last Five Years.” Following a medley of popular tunes, it was time for an intermission. The show’s second half focused on Gospel with tunes including “River Deep” and “Your Song.” One highlight of the show’s second half was the guest and first winner of “The Voice,” who easily won the crowd with his smooth vocals.
The night closed out with the tune “Make Them Hear You” from “Ragtime” and was followed by an encore of the Whitney Houston classic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” While some fans may have been let down not hearing Headley’s classics such as “In My Mind,” “He Is,” and “I Wish I Wasn’t,” it was clear she has a voice that can sing anything with elegance.
Final Grade: A
I’ve always been a fan of Eric Bellinger. My admiration stems not only from the records he has released under his own name but also from the impressive career he built behind the scenes. Long before casual R&B listeners recognized his face, they were already familiar with his songwriting through tracks he penned for artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, and Wale.
As many of you know, I had the opportunity to visit Paisley Park earlier this week while vacationing in Minnesota. During the tour, our guide shared that an expanded edition of Prince’s album “Parade” is expected to be released to celebrate its 40th anniversary. After spending the day exploring the Twin Cities, it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit one of the most fascinating and underrated albums in Prince’s legendary catalog.
One of the reasons I’ve always considered Prince to have the edge over Michael Jackson is his remarkable collection of ballads and