Tony and Grammy Winner Heather Headley Brings Her Transcendent Vocals to App Summer

BOONE, NC — Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, presents the incomparable Heather Headley — accompanied by the 36-piece Western Piedmont Symphony and the 12-person Western Piedmont Symphony Singers — in a performance of fan favorites from the Broadway and pop songbooks, Sunday, July 13 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Headley, who possesses an unparallelled set of pipes, wowed critics and audiences alike in her star-making debut as Nala in The Lion King and, shortly thereafter, with her Tony Award-winning turn as the titular Nubian princess of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Since then, she has received Grammy awards and nominations for her R&B and gospel solo albums as well as enjoyed acclaimed roles on TV’s Chicago Med and Netflix’s hit series Sweet Magnolias. Tickets are $25-$65, with discounts for App State faculty/staff and local residents. To purchase, visit appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.

The concert will feature a mix of popular songs, from both Broadway and radio, including “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “True Colors,” “Your Song,” “The Prayer,” “Music of the Night,” “For Good,” “I Will Always Love You,” and many more. Raves Billboard Magazine: “Heather Headley is among the top singers with a vocal that absolutely astounds with its intensity... This woman is one of the great entertainers of the day, on record and on stage.”

App Summer, June 28-July 26, features a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts programming. This season’s artists include Amos Lee, Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer, Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman and Edgar Meyer, Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony, Peabo Bryson, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, The 5 Browns, as well as more music, visual arts, and international films. Visit AppSummer.org to explore the full season and purchase tickets.

Heather Headley Tickets
$65 Tier 1, $55 Tier 2, $45 Tier 3, $25 App State students. Discounts: 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3 for App State faculty/staff and local residents of Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties. To purchase, visit appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.

About Heather Headley

Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley considers her multi-faceted career a blessing. She was born and spent most of her childhood on the beautiful Caribbeani island of Trinidad. The family moved to the United States in the early ’90s where Heather’s love for the arts continued.

In 1997, Heather won the role of Nala in the original Broadway cast of the Elton John and Tim Rice’s hit Tony-winning musical The Lion King. While still in The Lion King, Heather was asked to audition for the title role in the writing duo’s next Broadway venture together, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Her portrayal of the Nubian princess, Aida, won her the praise of critics and the prestigious Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. In addition to other awards, she also received the coveted Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. That year she was listed as one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People and Essence Magazine’s 30 Women to Watch. In 2012, Heather made a triumphant return to the stage, starring in The Bodyguard in London’s West End, where she gained the critics praise and a new fan base overseas.

Heather continued her musical success on the pop charts with her 2002 debut album on RCA Records, This Is Who I Am, which featured productions by several top-flight producers. Two songs, “He Is” and the album track “I Wish I Wasn’t,” both emerged as Top 5 R&B and Dance chart hits. Heather earned numerous accolades for This Is Who I Am, including Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Heather returned in January 2006 with In My Mind, her long-awaited second solo album. The opening title tune single became Heather’s first #1 hit, topping the Dance and R&B charts.

In 2009, Heather released Audience of One, for which she won the Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In 2012, she released Only One in The World, an album that featured songs that Heather wrote as well as some of her favorite songs that she covered. To the of delight of both audiences and critics, Heather made her return to Broadway in 2016, starring in the Tony Award-winning The Color Purple in the role of Shug Avery. In 2018, Heather had a recurring role on Chicago Med playing the formidable Gwen Garrett. Heather can currently be seen as a series regular on the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias.

About Tickets for An Appalachian Summer

With ticket prices ranging from $5-$65, as well as several free events and discounts for both children, students, and App State faculty/staff, App Summer offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets. Purchase in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office (733 Rivers St), online at AppSummer.org, or by phone at 828-262-4046.

App State Faculty/Staff: 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3. Contact Box Office for discount code.

Local Residents (Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties): 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3 for select events. Enter zip code before selecting tickets online.

About An Appalachian Summer

Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus, and features a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film programming. An Appalachian Summer began in 1984 as a chamber music series and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to varied artistic tastes, preferences, and price points. The series has become one of the region’s leading arts events, attracting more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer. App Summer has been named one of the “Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society.

For more information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046, visit in person at 733 Rivers Street, or explore AppSummer.org.

Corporate Sponsors

Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer, App State Campus Store, Broyhill Family Foundation, Appalachian Home Care LLC, Art Cellar Gallery, Explore Boone, Goodnight Brothers, Highstreet Insurance Partners, Mast General Store, SkyBest Communications, Creekside Electronics, Grandview Events & Catering, Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Rosemyr Corporation, Courtyard by Marriott, Graystone Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express-Boone

Media Sponsors

WBTV, WCYB, PBS North Carolina, Our State Magazine, The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, WNC Magazine, Creative Loafing Charlotte, Yes! Weekly, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record, WZJS 100.7 and WATA 96.5, WHKY 1290AM and 102.3FM, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WASU 90.5FM, and WKSK The Farm

Restaurant Sponsors

Coyote Kitchen, The Local, Lost Province, Pepper’s, and Timberlake’s Restaurant

COMPLETE 2025 SCHEDULE

Amos Lee
Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm

Rosen-Schaffel Competition & Winner’s Recital
Sunday, June 29 at 10am & 3pm

Touch (film)
Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30pm

Summer Exhibition Celebration
Thursday, July 3 at 5pm

Celebrating Our Country and Community Through Music
Thursday, July 3 at 7:30pm

Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer
Sunday, July 6 at 7:30pm

Arzé (film)
Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30pm

Tessa Lark (violin), Joshua Roman (cello), and Edgar Meyer (double bass)
Wednesday, July 9 at 7:30pm

Joan Osborne & Lisa Loeb
Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm

Rosen Sculpture Walk
Saturday, July 12 at 10am

Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony
Sunday, July 13 at 7:30pm

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (film)
Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30pm

Peabo Bryson
Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30pm

Alonzo King LINES Ballet: “Deep River”
Saturday, July 19 at 7:30pm

The Last Journey
Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30pm

The 5 Browns
Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30pm

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes
Saturday, July 26 at 7:30pm

ARTTALK

July 3, 9, 18 & 23