Jennifer Holliday to sing Sunday in Columbus

BY ALLISON KENNEDY - akennedy@ledger-enquirer.com --

Two-time Grammy Award singer and actress Jennifer Holliday will be the keynoter for "Heart to Heart" -- part-revival service, part concert -- at 6 p.m. Sunday at St. John AME Church. She and the Rev. Debora Grant, St. John's pastor, met through mutual friends about a dozen years ago.

"Our spirits just connected. We share some of the same passion for people," said Grant.

The event Sunday is a fundraiser for two groups: Bethany Christian Services, which aids in adoption and foster care; and Y Dream, a new initiative through St. John that helps encourage young people.

"It's about leadership development and empowering young people to dream -- to see possibilities rather than impossibilities," Grant said.

Holliday is probably best known for her debut single from Dreamgirls, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

Holliday, who turns 48 next Sunday, landed her first big role on Broadway in 1979. She got the part the same day she auditioned for the Broadway production of "Your Arms Too Short To Box With God," according to Wikipedia.com.

Her next role was Effie Melody White in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, based on the career of the Supremes. Holliday originated the role of Effie and remained with the show for nearly four years after its 1981 opening.

Among her acclaim is Holliday's sweep of awards in 1982, including the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a Grammy award for her recorded version of the song, and Drama Desk and Theater World awards for the performance.

Jennifer Holliday's version of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" made her a star on Broadway. In 1982, a pop version of the song was released as a single. The song became very successful, peaking at number-one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

Her follow-up song, "I Am Love," became another hit in 1983. Holliday's later R&B hits included "Hard Time For Lovers" (1985), "No Frills Love" (1985), "Heart on the Line" (1987), "I'm on Your Side" (1991) and "A Woman's Got the Power" (2000).

Additionally, the actress has also made appearances on the shows "Touched By An Angel" and "Hang Time," and she had a half-dozen appearances in a recurring guest star role on "Ally McBeal," where she played choir director Lisa Knowles.

In the 1990s, Holliday lost a substantial amount of weight and has talked about her health struggles with depression. Initially, she lost the weight by dieting. But eventually, in an effort to avoid regaining the weight, Holliday had gastric bypass surgery.

Holliday is a native of Riverside, Texas.

IF YOU GO

Who: Jennifer Holliday

When: 6 p.m. Sunday

Where: St. John AME Church, 3980 Steam Mill Road

Cost: Free admission, with offerings taken

For more information: 706-682-6944

Contact Allison Kennedy at 706-576-6237