VIDEO: First Look at Jennifer Holliday in Broadway's THE COLOR PURPLE

Jennifer Holliday returned to Broadway this month for the first time in 15 years to take on the role of Shug Avery in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. The Tony and Grammy Award winner replaced Heather Headley, who took her final bow on October 2. Below, watch Holliday speak with USA Today about the iconic role, as well as footage of her amazing performance.

Holliday catapulted to stardom 35 years ago in the smash Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, with her show-stopping performance as Effie "Melody" White, the iconic role which garnered her a Tony Award for Best Actress in A Musical. She was discovered at age 17 while singing in her church choir in Houston, Texas by Broadway dancer Jamie Patterson, who persuaded and guided her to New York, where she made her Broadway debut in Vinnette Carroll's Your Arms Too Short To Box With God as a featured soloist.

Beyond Broadway, Ms. Holliday appeared as cast regular Lisa Knowles on the quirky FOX TV hit show, Ally McBeal. She has also enjoyed a successful recording career, winning her first Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her torch-ballad signature song, "And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Going." Most recently, Ms. Holliday received rave reviews and top soul-music charts recognition for her latest CD, The Song Is You.

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