Lea Salonga

Life and career

1971–1989: Early life and career beginnings

Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga was born on February 22, 1971, in Manila, Philippines, to Maria Ligaya Alcantara Imutan (b. 1937) and Feliciano Genuino Salonga Jr. (1929–2016), a rear admiral in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Genealogical research presented on Finding Your Roots revealed that she is of Filipino and German descent, with maternal ancestry traced to the Prussian region. Her great great grandfather was named Pedro Malhabor who hailed from Prussia, in present day Germany. She has a younger brother, Gerard (b. 1973), a musical conductor, composer, and arranger. At age six, she and her family relocated from Angeles City to Quezon City, later settling in San Juan.

At age seven, she made her professional stage debut in Repertory Philippines' production of The King and I (1978) and later played the title role in Annie in 1980 and 1984. She appeared in numerous other stage productions with the company, including The Sound of Music (1980) and The Fantasticks (1988). In the 1980s, Salonga frequently sang for the Marcos family during state dinners at the Malacañang Palace in Manila. Salonga's recording and screen careers developed simultaneously. In 1981, she released her debut album, Small Voice, which achieved Gold certification in the Philippines, and made her film debut in Tropang Bulilit. She earned a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) award nomination for Best Child Actress and won three consecutive Aliw Awards for Best Child Performer from 1980 to 1982.

Between 1983 and 1985, Salonga hosted the television program Love, Lea.** She and her brother, Gerard, won second prize at the 1985 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival with Tess Concepcion's "Musika, Lata, Sipol at La La La" (Music, Tin Can, Whistle and La La La), and that same year, she opened for Menudo during their Manila concerts, later performing with them again and contributing to their album In Action (1987). As a teenager, Salonga appeared in films such as Like Father, Like Son (1985), Captain Barbell (1986), and Ninja Kids (1986) and appeared regularly on German Moreno's teen variety show That's Entertainment. She completed her primary and secondary education at Operation Brotherhood (OB) Montessori Center, then passed the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) and continuing on a pre-medical track at Ateneo de Manila University. In 1988, Salonga released her second album, Lea, starred in the film Pik Pak Boom, and opened for Stevie Wonder in Manila. That same year, Salonga auditioned in Manila for the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, singing "On My Own" from Les Misérables, a choice she later credited as the turning point of her international career, and "The Greatest Love of All." After final auditions and three days of intensive work sessions in London that December, she was offered the role.

1989–1992: ''Miss Saigon'' and ''Aladdin''

When Miss Saigon opened at the Broadway Theatre in 1991, Salonga reprised the role of Kim. For her performance, she won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theatre World, and Tony awards, becoming the first actress of Asian descent and the second-youngest performer to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her casting prompted a brief dispute with the Actors' Equity Association, which sought to prioritize Asian-American performers, but the decision was overturned after producer Cameron Mackintosh argued no suitable replacement could be found. In the same year, People magazine named her one of its 50 Most Beautiful People. She also performed for President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush at the National Rehabilitation Hospital's Victory Awards at the Kennedy Center, as well as for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during the Royal Variety Performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Beyond Miss Saigon, Salonga's work began attracting attention outside of theatre. In early 1992, while performing in Miss Saigon, Disney casting director Albert Tavares attended a performance and left a note, expressing interest in her for a project. Her agent soon arranged an audition, where she performed "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid (1989). Salonga was then invited to record a demo of "A Whole New World" and was ultimately cast as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992), the first Disney princess of color. The song was released as a single and, as of March 2025, has been certified Platinum three times. Later in 1992, Salonga starred alongside Aga Muhlach and Ariel Rivera in the film Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival, and appeared alongside Julie Andrews, Ben Kingsley, Peabo Bryson, and Marilyn Horne on the studio cast recording of The King and I. That same year, her agent submitted her for the role of Eliza Doolittle in the 1993 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady, but the casting director declined to audition her, citing her race. Shortly afterward, Mackintosh invited her to join the Broadway production of Les Misérables.

1993–1996: ''Les Misérables'', films, and other musicals

In early 1993, Salonga played the role of Éponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables at the Imperial Theatre. After leaving the production, she performed "A Whole New World" from Aladdin (1992) with Brad Kane at the 65th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, where the song won an Oscar, having already won a Golden Globe Award and Grammy Award. That same year, she released her self-titled international debut album with Atlantic Records, which achieved Platinum status in the Philippines. In 1994, Salonga played in various musical theatre productions in the Philippines and Singapore, including Sandy in Grease, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and the Witch in Into the Woods. In March 1994, Salonga performed at the New England Presidential Dinner in Boston, where President Bill Clinton expressed his appreciation for her having traveled "thousands of miles to sing" before an audience that included First Lady Hillary Clinton and Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Three months later, she opened for Frank Sinatra during his concerts in Manila.

In 1995, Salonga starred alongside John Lithgow and Jeff Daniels in the role of Geri Riordan in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film Redwood Curtain. In the same year, she also starred again alongside Aga Muhlach in the film Sana Maulit Muli, earning a nomination for Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres (Best Lead Actress) at the 19th annual Gawad Urian Awards. She reprised the role of Éponine in the 10th-anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was recorded and later released as a film titled Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert.

In 1996, Salonga was again in Les Misérables as Éponine in the West End production of the musical, playing at the Palace Theatre. In September of that same year, she continued to perform the role at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the musical's U.S. national tour. In December 1996, Salonga represented the Philippines while performing at ONE: The WTO Show, the closing ceremony for the inaugural World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

1997–2000: Recordings, ''Mulan'', and Philippine stage work

In 1997, Salonga released I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, which achieved Gold sales in the Philippines. That same year, she performed at the Hong Kong handover ceremony, appearing before Charles, Prince of Wales and President Jiang Zemin as part of the official celebrations. In 1998, Salonga provided the singing voice of the title character in Disney's Mulan and released the album In Love, which achieved multi-Platinum status in the Philippines. That year, she relocated to New York City, purchasing her own apartment, which she still owned as of 2013. She also appeared in Hey, Mr. Producer!, a London tribute concert to Cameron Mackintosh held at the Lyceum Theatre, performing for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1999, Salonga made a return to Miss Saigon on Broadway. In February of that year, she was featured in an episode of the American Theatre Wing's Working in the Theatre alongside Iain Glen, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Manahan. That same year, Salonga starred as Sonia Walsk in the Singapore Repertory Theatre production of They're Playing Our Song at the Raffles Hotel and released the album By Heart (1999).

In 2000, Salonga reprised her role in They're Playing Our Song, this time staged in Camp Aguinaldo, Philippines, where she began a relationship with her co-star Michael K. Lee. In the same year, she briefly studied philosophy and history at Fordham University and performed in several major concerts, including The Millennium Concert, The Homecoming Concert, and Songs from the Screen, with the latter two recorded and released as albums. In October, she returned to Manila to appear in a Philippine production of Miss Saigon at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex.

2001–2004: Broadway return, concerts, and marriage

In 2001, Salonga returned to the Broadway Theatre production of Miss Saigon, reprising the role of Kim and closing the show on January 28. She then transitioned to television, appearing as Lien Hughes on As the World Turns, guesting in Russell Watson's The Voice concert, narrating the PBS special My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States, and portraying a lymphoma patient in the Season 8 Christmas episode of ER. That November, she starred in the role of Wu Mei-Li in the Los Angeles premiere of the Rodgers and Hammerstein revival Flower Drum Song at the Mark Taper Forum. Her performance earned her the Ovation Award for Lead Actress in a Musical. During this production, fellow cast member Christine Yasunaga introduced Salonga to American businessman of Chinese and Japanese heritage, Robert Chien, and the two began a relationship.

In 2002, Salonga went on to appear in her first non-musical stage role as Catherine in Proof in Manila, headlined The Broadway Concert at the Philippine International Convention Center, and performed in a Richard Rodgers tribute at the 56th Tony Awards with Harry Connick Jr., Peter Gallagher, and Michele Lee. In July, Salonga and Chien became engaged. When Flower Drum Song transferred to Broadway at the Virginia Theatre in October, Salonga reprised her role opposite Jose Llana. The Broadway revival cast album was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, and her performance was praised by New York critics, earning her a nomination for The Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award. She also returned to Working in the Theatre in September, appearing with John Cullum, Edie Falco, Stanley Tucci, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Charlayne Woodard.

From 2003 to 2004, Salonga remained active in both the Philippines and the United States. She staged her first "all-Filipino" concert in Manila, Songs from Home, for which she won the Aliw Award for Entertainer of the Year, and gave additional performances at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, a holiday concert in the Philippines titled Home for Christmas, and shows in New Jersey. On October 18, 2003, she performed at Malacañang Palace for President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush during a state visit to the Philippines. On January 10, 2004, she married Chien in a televised ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Later that year, she starred as Lizzie in the Manila production of the musical Baby, receiving another Aliw Award nomination, and reprised her Disney role as the singing voice of Fa Mulan in Mulan II.

2005–2007: International ventures and motherhood

In 2005, Salonga embarked on her first U.S. concert tour. On November 7, she performed to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the benefit of the Diverse City Theater Company. That year, she also received the Golden Artist Award at the 53rd FAMAS Awards for her international achievements, sang at the grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, voiced Yasuko Kusakabe in Disney's English-language dub of Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro, appeared on the Daniel Rodríguez album In The Presence (2005), and contributed the foreword to Linda Marquart's The Right Way to Sing.

In 2006, Salonga gave birth to Nic Chien at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa, Philippines. Later that year, she performed "Triumph of the One" before 50,000 attendees at the closing ceremony of the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, held at Khalifa International Stadium. Broadcast throughout Asia, the performance served as a highlight of the event's cultural program, celebrating regional unity and athletic excellence while reinforcing Salonga's reputation as one of the Philippines' foremost international performers.

In 2007, Salonga released Inspired, her first studio album in seven years, which was certified Platinum in the Philippines. That same year, she returned to Broadway as Fantine in Les Misérables at the Broadhurst Theatre, where her performances boosted ticket sales and secured her a place on Broadway.com's Audience Award shortlist for Best Replacement. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attended one of her performances, which also featured Filipino-American actors Adam Jacobs as Marius and Ali Ewoldt as Cosette. During her Broadway run, Salonga performed at Broadway on Broadway and Stars in the Alley, spoke at the Broadway Artists Alliance summer intensives, guested in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and participated in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Nothing Like a Dame benefit. On August 14, President Arroyo appointed Salonga as Komandante (Commander) of the Orden ni Lakandula (Order of Lakandula), in recognition of using her talents to benefit Philippine society and foster cultural exchange. That same day, she received the Congressional Medal of Achievement from the House of Representatives of the Philippines for showing "the extent and depth of the Filipino musical talent" and "opening the way for other Filipino artists to break into the finest theaters in the world." In October, she headlined a concert with the U.S. Military Academy Band in West Point.

2008–2012: ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' columnist and touring

In 2008, Salonga began writing a column for the Philippine Daily Inquirers entertainment section under the title Backstory, debuting with the piece "Introducing: Lea Salonga, writer." She performed select concerts around the world and was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist at the 21st Awit Awards. She also toured Asia in the title role of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which opened in Manila in late 2008 and concluded in mid-2009.

Throughout 2009, Salonga launched her Inspired concert tour in the U.S. and marked several milestones, including singing "Bayan Ko" (My Country) at the state funeral of former President Corazon Aquino and celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Miss Saigon with concerts at the Philippine International Convention Center, including Richard Poon and Ai-Ai delas Alas as guests. The same year, Salonga became a brand ambassador for Avon Products. In 2010, she returned to musical theatre as Grizabella in the Manila staging of the Asia-Pacific tour of Cats and later performed as Fantine in Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary, fifteen years after appearing in the 10th Anniversary production as Éponine.

Salonga was named a Disney Legend in 2011 for her work as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and Fa Mulan in Mulan (1998). She also served as a judge for the Miss Universe pageant in São Paulo, Brazil. In 2012, she originated the role of Kei Kimura in the world premiere of Allegiance at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and starred in Philippine and Singapore productions of God of Carnage. She narrated Disney's Candlelight Processional at Epcot in Walt Disney World.

2013–2018: ''The Voice of the Philippines'' and return to Broadway

In January 2013, Salonga appeared in Lincoln Center's American Songbook concert series at the Allen Room and, the following month, provided the theme song for TV5's reality singing competition Kanta Pilipinas. She also starred as Mother in a concert staging of Ragtime at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall alongside Tyne Daly, Patina Miller, and Norm Lewis. That June, she headlined 4 Stars: One World of Broadway Musicals in Tokyo and Osaka with Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, and Yu Shirota. Later that month, Salonga became one of four coaches on the inaugural season of ABS-CBN's The Voice of the Philippines, joining apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo, and Bamboo Mañalac. In December, she launched her Lea Salonga: Playlist concert tour in the Philippines to commemorate her thirty-fifth anniversary in entertainment, including Martin Nievera and Nic Chien as guests.

2019–2022: ''Yellow Rose'', ''Sweeney Todd'', Dream Again Tour, and ''Pretty Little Liars''

In 2019, Salonga appeared as Aunt Gail alongside Eva Noblezada, Dale Watson, and Princess Punzalan in the film Yellow Rose, which premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. That May, she launched The Human Heart Tour, performing across North America before bringing the production to the United Kingdom, including a special appearance by Rachelle Ann Go in London. She also recorded the theme song "We Win As One" for the Southeast Asian Games, which served as the official anthem for the 2019 event. Later in the year, she starred as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Manila and Singapore, a performance critics pointed to as a standout in her career. In the interim, Salonga performed concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. PBS's Great Performances later aired her Sydney Opera House concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, making the show accessible to home audiences.

In early 2020, following a performance in Dubai, she postponed her planned North American tour in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, she participated in virtual fundraising events and released the song "Dream Again" in August, a hopeful anthem supporting pandemic relief efforts. In 2021, Salonga lent her voice to the character of the Mysterious Woman in Netflix's Centaurworld, and announced the Dream Again Tour with scheduled stops in the United Kingdom, later adding concerts across the United States and Canada. She concluded the year with a performance at Expo 2020 in Dubai, delivering a Christmas concert at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

In 2022, Salonga launched the Dream Again Tour across the United States and Canada in April before extending it to the United Kingdom that summer. In May, she performed "The Prayer" at the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., which was broadcast on PBS. That July, she joined the cast of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin as Elodie Honrada and, in September, portrayed Mama Soubirous in the Manhattan workshop of The Song of Bernadette. Later that month, Salonga was honored at the Time100 Impact Awards as a "life-long role model for children of color," and in October she was featured on Pentatonix's album Holidays Around the World. She concluded the year as the headliner for the annual Christmas concerts with The Tabernacle Choir at the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City, which were nationally televised and released the following year as the album Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

2023–present: ''Here Lies Love'', ''Old Friends'', and Stage, Screen & Everything In Between Tour

In 2023, Salonga made her Broadway producing debut and appeared as Aurora Aquino, mother of Ninoy Aquino, in Here Lies Love at the Broadway Theatre, marking her return to Broadway and her first portrayal of a Filipino role on the Broadway stage. She performed concerts across the United States, appeared at Broadway Backwards at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and sang at the White House for U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. That spring, she received the Gold Legend Award at the Gold House Gala for her contributions to Asian Pacific representation, performed at The Asian American Foundation's Heritage Month Summit and Celebration, and appeared on the world premiere studio cast recording of the musical Wild About You. From September 2023 to January 2024, she starred alongside Bernadette Peters in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends in the West End at the Gielgud Theatre.[[File:BernadettePetersAndLeaSalonga-byPhilipRomano.jpg|alt=|thumb|243x243px|Salonga and [[Bernadette Peters]] at the opening night of [[Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends|Old Friends]] in 2025]]In 2024, Salonga performed again with The Tabernacle Choir at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, reprised her role in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School,** and launched the European leg of the Stage, Screen & Everything In Between concert tour, including a performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. That October, she starred in the Philippine adaptation of Franz Xaver Kroetz's Wunschkonzert, retitled Request sa Radyo, alternating performances with Dolly de Leon. In November, she released Sounding Joy, her first holiday album in more than two decades, launched the Asian leg of the Stage, Screen & Everything In Between concert tour, and performed on the Sesame Street float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In December, she embarked on the Sounding Joy: The Holiday Tour in the United States, which included a concert with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in Boston.

In 2025, Salonga reprised alongside Peters in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, following a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. In the same year, she also appeared on Finding Your Roots,** guest-starred on The Cleaning Lady, and provided the singing voice for Celine in KPop Demon Hunters. In May, she received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award at the 91st Annual Drama League Awards before returning to the Philippines to portray the Witch in Into the Woods in August alongside Arielle Jacobs and Nic Chien. In September, she launched the North American leg of the Stage, Screen & Everything In Between concert tour.

In 2026, Salonga revealed in an interview with TV5 that she had been separated from her husband, Robert Chien, "for a while".

She is set to star in the upcoming short film The Vale: Origins.**

Artistry

Musical style and themes

Regarding her musical repertoire, Salonga has articulated a preference for live, orchestral textures in the studio. Discussing her holiday album Sounding Joy (2024), she explained that "live strings, brasses and the rest of the live instruments" were added "to round out everything," noting the album's central themes of resilience and overcoming adversity. Within her pop output, industry classification places parts of her discography in ballad-leaning, melody-forward idioms; for example, AllMusic lists her studio album By Heart (1999) under the "easy listening" genre.

Recurring lyrical motifs across her discography include love, longing, home, hope, and identity—hallmarks of the Filipino ballad tradition. Scholarly studies of kundiman and OPM highlight how these genres historically privilege romantic affect, melodic expressiveness, and emotional intimacy.

Salonga's studio work also functions as heritage curation. Bahaghari (2017) gathers 15 traditional songs across six Philippine languages—Tagalog, Kapampangan, Ilocano, Bicolano, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano (Bisaya)—and was produced by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. Cayabyab has described the album's organizing principle as a wide expressive and topical spread—"varied in subject, in emotion and in tempo and rhythm . . . a good representation not only of language, but of a variety of subjects and emotions"—underscoring the project's studio aesthetic of restraint in service of text and tune.

Influences

Salonga has cited a wide range of musical artists as shaping her vocal style, but she has repeatedly emphasized Karen Carpenter and Barbra Streisand as among her most important influences. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, she praised Carpenter's ability to "cut down to the essence of a lyric," emphasizing that "it's not just about vocal calisthenics, it's about being simple and clear." She has also described Streisand as "one of my favorites . . . not just because of her talent, which is mammoth, but everything she's done—producing, television, arranging," citing her as a model of versatility and artistic control. In other interviews, Salonga has expressed hopes of someday collaborating with Streisand, calling it a lifelong dream.

Alongside Carpenter and Streisand, Salonga has credited artists such as Olivia Newton-John, The Osmonds, ABBA, Ella Fitzgerald, Julie Andrews, and Elaine Paige with shaping her approach to singing. She admires Paige's "timbre" and "cutting quality," especially in Evita, and often cites these artists for their clarity, emotional honesty, and ability to tell stories through song. Salonga has contrasted this with modern singers whose technical virtuosity sometimes obscures lyrics, stressing that her influences taught her to prioritize communication and lyricism above all.

Voice

Salonga has been described as a soprano, with absolute pitch, also known as perfect pitch Marilyn Stasio of Variety referred to her voice as "golden", while Rex Reed of Observer described it as "clear and as sparkling as Baccarat crystal".

Achievements and legacy

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Lea Salonga

Awards and nominations

Salonga is dubbed the "Pride of the Philippines."Sources for honorific nickname "Pride of the Philippines" include:

• She is among the most awarded artists in the history of the Aliw Awards, with 18 nominations and 15 wins, including three consecutive Best Child Performer awards from 1980 to 1982, Entertainer of the Year in 2004, 2016, and 2018, the first People's Choice Award in 2018, and induction into the Hall of Fame in 2019. She also received FAMAS Award nominations for Best Child Actress in 1982 and Best Actress in 1996 before winning the Golden Artist Award in 2005.

Her international breakthrough came with her performance as Kim in Miss Saigon, for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical in 1990 and, in 1991, became the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award and the second-youngest actress to win for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. For the same performance, she also won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards. In addition, she has received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Musical Theater Album, for the Broadway cast recordings of Flower Drum Song (2004) and Once on This Island (2019). In 2025, Salonga was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award at the 91st Annual Drama League Awards.

Cultural and state honors

Philanthropy and activism

Public health and reproductive rights

In 1987, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Population Center Foundation (later renamed the Philippine Center for Population and Development) established the Philippine Young People's Project and selected Salonga and Menudo to lead the campaign. Music videos, commercials, and live performances were used to sell the message of responsible sexual behavior and to encourage counseling for discussing and solving their problems. Additionally, Salonga promoted the campaign's program Dial-A-Friend, a telephone hotline that provides confidential counseling regarding mental health, relationships, and contraception.

In 2011, Salonga expressed support for the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, later signed and known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 or RH Law. On May 18, 2011, she was interviewed by Jessica Soho on State of the Nation about her views on the controversial bill. In the interview, Salonga showed understanding towards the anti-contraceptive stance held by many Filipino Catholics at the time but stated that the bill was designed "to serve every single Filipino."

LGBTQ rights

Salonga has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ equality and has consistently used her platform to promote inclusion and acceptance. On October 12, 2009, during a benefit concert at the Philippine Center's Kalayaan Hall in New York for Typhoon Ondoy victims, she explicitly aligned herself with marriage equality by declaring, "I believe that every single human being has the fundamental right to marry whoever they want." She was later recognized by The Advocate in 2011 as a "major gay icon," in part due to her early support and resonance with LGBTQ communities.

In February 2016, Salonga used her social media presence to denounce anti-LGBTQ statements made by Filipino politician Manny Pacquiao, responding sharply and drawing attention to the harm of such rhetoric. She further affirmed her solidarity with the transgender community in October 2018, tweeting, "Trans rights are human rights, and trans people will not be erased," conveying her ongoing commitment .

Salonga's advocacy extends beyond statements to active participation in LGBTQ-focused events and initiatives. In March 2025, she was announced as a special guest at Harmony, the annual gala of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, where she presented the Gary Miller Award to George Takei for his contributions to LGBTQ activism.

Perhaps most personally, Salonga has embraced transgender advocacy within her own family. In an April 2025 People magazine feature, she publicly shared her experience raising her transmasculine son, Nic, emphasizing the importance of meeting each child "where they are" and providing unconditional love. She reflected that her theatre background informed her openness and capacity to support Nic through his journey: "I've learned how to raise a child who is their own being."

World hunger

Salonga was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 15, 2010, alongside Raoul Bova, Celine Dion, and Susan Sarandon, in a ceremony tied to World Food Day in Rome. In her acceptance remarks at FAO headquarters, she framed the role in personal terms, emphasizing its importance to her "as an artist, as a woman, as a mother," and expressing gratitude for the chance to support "the hungry and impoverished."

Salonga's appointment drew attention in both entertainment and political media. Philippine press outlets lauded her selection and emphasized its potential to spotlight food security issues, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan issued congratulations and noted the appointment could catalyze stronger policy dialogue on agriculture in the Philippines.

Anti‑Asian hate and gender-based violence

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Salonga emerged as a vocal critic of rising anti-Asian racism and gendered violence. On May 13, 2020, she joined Margaret Cho, Eugene Lee Yang, Judy Chu, and Grace Meng in "United Against Hate," a virtual town hall hosted by NBC Asian America, condemning xenophobic rhetoric and urging solidarity. On April 21, 2021, she appeared in "#AAPI Women Strong: Organizing Beyond a Hashtag," a forum backed by Public Wise, Onward Together, and the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum. She joined voices such as Hillary Clinton, Lucy Liu, and Padma Lakshmi to address how anti-Asian violence intersects with gender and disproportionately affects women.

Salonga has also engaged in culture-based activism. In June 2021, she joined Filipino artists in the "#StopAllHate / #ShareLove" campaign, performing a version of "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" as a response against anti-Asian discrimination. On social media and in public remarks, she has denounced hate crimes, urged legislation to classify attacks on Asians as hate crimes, and responded to the 2022 murder of Christina Yuna Lee.

Screen and stage credits

Main article: Lea Salonga on screen and stage

Screen

Film

• Pik Pak Boom (1988)
• Aladdin (1992)
• Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992)
• Sana Maulit Muli (1995)
• Mulan (1998)
• Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert (1998)
• My Neighbor Totoro (2004)
• Mulan II (2004)
• Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010)
• Allegiance (2016)
• Yellow Rose (2019)
• KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

Television

• That's Entertainment (1986)
• John en Marsha (1987)
• Sesame Street (1993)
• Redwood Curtain (1995)
• As the World Turns (2001, 2003)
• Sofia the First (2012, 2014)
• The Voice of the Philippines (2013, 2014–15)
• The Voice Kids (2014–2019)
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2016)
• The Voice Teens (2017, 2020)
• Centaurworld (2021)
• Pretty Little Liars (2022, 2024)

Stage

Broadway

• Miss Saigon (1991–1992, 1999, 2001)
• Les Misérables (1993, 2007)
• Flower Drum Song (2002–2003)
• Allegiance (2015–2016)
• Once on This Island (2017–2018, 2018–2019)
• Here Lies Love (2023)
• Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends (2025)

West End

• Miss Saigon (1989–1990)
• Les Misérables (1996)
• Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends (2023–2024)

Manila

• The King and I (1978)
• Annie (1980, 1984)
• My Fair Lady (1994)
• Grease (1995)
• Miss Saigon (2000)
• Cinderella (2008)
• Cats (2010)
• Fun Home (2016)
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2019)
• Request sa Radyo (2024)
• Into the Woods (2025)
• Les Misérables (2026)

Discography

Main article: Lea Salonga discography

• Small Voice (1981)
• Lea (1988)
• Lea Salonga (1993)
• I'd Like to Teach The World to Sing (1997)
• By Heart (1999)
• Lea Salonga: The Christmas Album (2000)
• Sounding Joy (2024)

Published works

Books

Columns

• Salonga, Lea (2008–present). "Backstory." Inquirer Entertainment. Makati, Metro Manila: Philippine Daily Inquirer; Inquirer Holdings, Incorporated. .

Audiobooks

Notes

References

References

1. Campbell, Mary. (December 27, 1992). "Lea Salonga moves from the Vietnam era to the French Revolution". [[The Journal News.
2. de Leon, Ed. (June 12, 2020). "Lea nainis na sa nagpipilit sa kanyang maling pangalan". [[The Philippine Star]].
3. (February 3, 2018). "In photos: Celebrities born in February".
4. Drogin, Bob. (December 24, 1990). "'Saigon's' Miss: Actress has big plans even if she can't play Broadway. Ask Mom".
5. Salterio, Leah. (August 21, 2017). "Lea, Gerard Salonga throw surprise party for their mom's 80th birthday". [[ABS-CBN News]].
6. (January 31, 2016). "Lea Salonga's father Feliciano Salonga dies".
7. Salut, EJ. (February 1, 2016). "Lea Salonga's dad passes away". [[ABS-CBN]].
8. Rocca, Jane. (January 26, 2017). "What I know about men...".
9. Callahan, Chrissy. (January 7, 2025). "Lea Salonga reacts to 'wild' discovery her family 'didn't know anything about' on 'Finding Your Roots'". [[Today (American TV program).
10. Rubenstein, Shelley. (June 6, 2022). "Lea Salonga interview: 'One of the best perks of the job is free entry to Disneyland for life'".
11. (2005). "The Right Way to Sing". [[Allworth Press]].
12. Arevalo, Rica. (March 9, 2021). "Lea Salonga on aging gracefully: 'Possible with plenty of laughter and wonderful friendships'". [[Manila Bulletin]].
13. Acar, Aedrianne. (February 20, 2020). "Look: Old photo of Senator-elect Risa Hontiveros & Lea Salonga goes viral".
14. Gans, Andrew. (November 7, 2005). "Salonga makes Carnegie Hall debut Nov. 7; Callaway, McArdle and Montalaban are special guests". [[Playbill]].
15. Binlot, Ann. (August 11, 2023). "Lea Salonga breaks new ground in Broadway musical 'Here Lies Love'".
16. Haun, Harry. (April 11, 2019). "From the archives: How Miss Saigon's Lea Salonga achieved overnight stardom at 20".
17. Bautista, Veltisezar. (1998). "The Filipino Americans: From 1763 to the Present: Their History, Culture, and Traditions". Bookhaus.
18. (October 22, 1982). "Filipino family variety show to be presented Nov. 7 in Hilo". [[Hawaii Tribune-Herald]].
19. (October 7, 2018). "Lea Salonga's career highlights".
20. Arevalo, Rica. (March 9, 2021). "Lea Salonga on aging gracefully: 'Possible with plenty of laughter and wonderful friendships'". [[Manila Bulletin]].
21. (2001). "The Urian Anthology, 1980-1989: Film Essays and Reviews by the Manunuri Ng Pelikulang Pilipino, with a Filmography of Philippine Movies". Antonio P. Tuviera.
22. (2001). "Out of the Shadows: Asians in American Cinema". Edizioni Olivares.
23. Young, Rica. (October 28, 2019). "Where are they now: That's Entertainment cast".
24. Molina, Tony. (March 29, 1988). "Jackielou's plans". [[Manila Standard]].
25. Miralles, Nitz. (July 5, 1988). "Ronnie, Gabby deny rumors". [[Manila Standard]].
26. (December 25, 1988). "Grand opening today". [[Manila Standard]].
27. Pierce, Scott D.. (March 30, 2012). "Stars reveal song that changed their lives in new TV series".
28. Gelfand, Janelle. (April 23, 2016). "Review: Disney princess to 'Dancing Queen,' Lea Salonga charms with Pops".
29. (February 18, 2000). "A Broadway belle hits the books again". [[Asiaweek]].
30. (1991). "The Story of Miss Saigon". [[Arcade Publishing]].
31. Barcelona, Ainhoa. (September 20, 2018). "Disney star Lea Salonga recalls magical meeting with Princess Diana – see what she had to say". [[Hello! (magazine).
32. Reynolds, Nigel. (April 9, 1990). "Return to the Forbidden Planet named best musical". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
33. Branigin, William. (December 25, 1990). "Will she miss 'Saigon'?". [[The Washington Post]].
34. Ignacio, Alwin. (October 23, 2023). "What 'Miss Saigon' means to Pinoys". [[Daily Tribune (Philippines).
35. Rothstein, Mervyn. (March 2, 1990). "'Miss Saigon' finds home on Broadway". [[The New York Times]].
36. Gans, Andrew. (January 22, 2003). "Lea Salonga does double-duty: Flower Drum Song and 'As the World Turns'". [[Playbill]].
37. Gioia, Michael. (July 24, 2015). "'I'm hoping there is a shift,' says Lea Salonga on diversity and the 'United Colors' of this season". [[Playbill]].
38. Lee, Ashley. (November 24, 2015). "Asian actors onstage: Lea Salonga, Phillipa Soo sound off on Broadway representation, cultural perceptions".
39. Branigin, William. (January 1, 1991). "Lea Salonga: She accepts 'Saigon' fuss".
40. Sternfeld, Jessica. (2006). "The Megamusical". [[Indiana University Press]].
41. (May 12, 1997). "Beautiful through the years". [[People (magazine).
42. Groom, Robin. (October 27, 1991). "A harvest of happenings". [[The Washington Post]].
43. Radcliffe, Donnie. (November 18, 1991). "Against the odds: The boisterous Victory Awards". [[The Washington Post]].
44. (October 25, 1991). "Stars glitter for Cameron". [[Bristol Evening Post]].
45. Talley, Lori. (October 24, 2001). "Lea Salonga: Her own rules".
46. Chavez, Yong. (August 21, 2011). "Lea Salonga becomes a Disney legend". [[ABS-CBN News]].
47. Hains, Rebecca. (2014). "The Princess Problem: Guiding Our Girls through the Princess-Obsessed Years". [[Sourcebooks (publisher).
48. "American single certifications – Lea Salonga & Brad Kane – A Whole New World".
49. (December 25, 1992). "Lea nominated best actress". Kamahalan Publishing Corporation.
50. Kuchwara, Michael. (January 1, 1993). "Julie Andrews sparkles for 'King and I' recording". [[Jackson Citizen Patriot]].
51. Holden, Stephen. (May 24, 2013). "Serenely indomitable, whatever the challenge". [[The New York Times]].
52. Handel, Nelson. (March 4, 2005). "Whole new worlds yet to conquer". [[Los Angeles Times]].
53. (January 19, 1993). "'Miss Saigon' star will play Eponine in 'Les Miserables'". [[Deseret News]].
54. (1996). "Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards". [[Ballantine Books]].
55. (October 4, 2014). "Best Original Song - The 65th Academy Awards (1993)". [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]].
56. "Aladdin". [[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]].
57. Pareles, Jon. (March 2, 1994). "Top Grammy to Houston; 5 for 'Aladdin'". [[The New York Times]].
58. (November 4, 1993). "Gourmet gala raises $650,000". [[Staten Island Advance]].
59. (July 25, 1994). "Lea Salonga to host 'Sigaw Manila'". [[Manila Standard]].
60. Gil, Baby A.. (October 11, 2019). "Lea 30 years after Miss Saigon". [[The Philippine Star]].
61. (March 14, 1994). "Remarks at the New England Presidential Dinner in Boston". [[Presidency of Bill Clinton.
62. Tucker, Ken. (April 21, 1995). "Redwood Curtain".
63. Tabanera, Lily Grace. (August 16, 2020). "An honest review of 'Sana Maulit Muli'".
64. Buccat, Rhys. (July 21, 2017). "Tausug film, 'Vilmanians' triumphant at 40th Gawad Urian". [[ABS-CBN]].
65. Parsons, Tony. (October 5, 1995). "The flop that stormed the world". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
66. (March 2, 2007). "Tony winner Lea Salonga gets early start as new Fantine of Les Miz".
67. Hatfield, Phil. (March 6, 1996). "Trainspotting goes back to the stage". [[Daily Gazette (Colchester).
68. Gans, Andrew. (February 13, 2023). "Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will star in limited West End run of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends". [[Playbill]].
69. (April 9, 2019). "Timeline: A look back at some Broadway touring shows at the Blaisdell".
70. "Singapore Ministerial 1996".
71. (1999). "Sulong Pilipina! Sulong Pilipinas!: A Compilation of Filipino Women Centennial Awardees". [[Philippine Centennial.
72. (June 29, 1997). "Gala concert, new play to mark Hong Kong turn-over". [[Playbill]].
73. Gerstel, Judy. (June 19, 1998). "A feast of yin and yang". [[The Toronto Star]].
74. (January 2, 1999). "10: The best of 1998". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
75. (August 22, 1998). "Global music pulse: the latest music news from around the planet".
76. Gonzalez, Bianca. (September 29, 2013). "Lea Salonga on life as Kim, Sonia, Eponine, wife & mom". [[The Philippine Star]].
77. Nadal, Kevin L.. (March 30, 2015). "Filipinos in New York City". [[Arcadia Publishing]].
78. Simonson, Robert. (May 21, 1998). "Judi Dench, Bernadette Peters to join Lea Salonga in London benefit".
79. Mandelbaum, Ken. (January 20, 2004). "DVDs: Mackintosh's Salad Days".
80. Simonson, Robert. (January 17, 1999). "Lea Salonga returns to Bway Miss Saigon, Jan. 18".
81. (February 23, 1999). "NY Wing seminar features multi-national Kidman, Glen, Manahan, Salonga Feb. 23". [[Playbill]].
82. Stephens, Jacintha. (November 5, 1999). "Change of pace". [[Asia Week]].
83. Lo, Ricky. (May 17, 2001). "Lea and Michael: Can marriage be far behind?".
84. Kirk, Don. (August 15, 2000). "Lea Salonga, at home and playing her own song". [[The New York Times]].
85. Tang, Terry. (May 9, 2001). "Woman of the world".
86. Soliven, Preciosa S.. (March 2, 2000). "Presenting Gerard Salonga: the musical composer and orchestra conductor". [[The Philippine Star]].
87. (October 5, 2000). "Regine in Songbird Sings the Classics". [[The Philippine Star]].
88. Gil, Baby A.. (August 15, 2001). "Lea's new album is for people who love movies". [[The Philippine Star]].
89. Lefkowitz, David. (August 15, 2000). "She will be ''Miss Saigon'' again: Salonga to be Kim in October Manila mounting".
90. Tornquist, Cynthia. (January 16, 2001). "Miss Saigon star returns". [[CNN]].
91. Gans, Andrew. (January 22, 2003). "Lea Salonga does double-duty: ''Flower Drum Song'' and "As the World Turns"".
92. Pareles, Jon. (June 5, 2002). "Music review: A dulcet tenor's 'popsical' debut". [[New York Times]].
93. Sierra, Gabrielle. (February 19, 2010). "Lea Salonga comes to the Cafe Carlyle with 'The Journey So Far'". [[BroadwayWorld]].
94. (June 15, 2001). "Lea Salonga confirmed for ''Flower Drum Song''".
95. Ehren, Christine. (November 25, 2002). "''Big River'', ''Napoli Milionaria'' big winners at L.A.'s Ovation Awards".
96. Lo, Ricky. (January 23, 2002). "Go ahead, Lea, live it up... 'love' it up!". [[The Philippine Star]].
97. (October 22, 2020). "Lea Salonga was once tapped to record song demo for 'The Lion King'". [[ABS-CBN]].
98. Simonson, Robert. (January 10, 2002). "Lea Salonga stars in Manila premiere of Auburn's Proof". [[Playbill]].
99. Gans, Andrew. (June 2, 2002). "2002 Tony Awards presented tonight at Radio City Music Hall". [[Playbill]].
100. Manis, Aimee. "Filipina singer Lea Salonga's red wedding in Los Angeles".
101. Gans, Andrew. (October 17, 2002). "The ''Flower'' blooms: Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Drum Song'' opens Oct. 17 on Broadway".
102. Christenfeld, Seth. (December 4, 2003). "Five musical show albums nominated for Grammy Awards".
103. (2003). "The 2003 Drama League nominees and winners".
104. (2003). "American Theatre Wing seminars 'Working in the Theatre'". [[Backstage (publication).
105. (October 5, 2013). "Three icons reunite in 'The Legends and the Classics'". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
106. "Lea Salonga".
107. (October 18, 2003). "Remarks by President Bush and President Arroyo of the Philippines". [[United States Department of State]].
108. Jamora-Garceau, Therese. (October 24, 2010). "Bettina Aboitiz on life & style in Malacañang".
109. "Bringing up Baby". [[Manila Bulletin]].
110. Luppi, Kathleen. (April 1, 2016). "Lea Salonga, of princess fame in 'Aladdin' and 'Mulan,' will be herself in concert in Costa Mesa". [[Los Angeles Times]].
111. Gans, Andrew. (February 12, 2005). "Lea Salonga kicks off U.S. concert tour Feb. 12". [[Playbill]].
112. Strothmann, Ben. (November 8, 2005). "Photo coverage: Lea Salonga at Carnegie Hall".
113. (June 28, 2005). "The 53rd FAMAS Awards: A family affair". [[The Philippine Star]].
114. (September 10, 2005). "Lea topbills HK Disney opening". [[The Philippine Star]].
115. Fenza, W. J.. (March 25, 2006). "Disc reviews". [[The Morning Call]].
116. Lo, Ricky. (July 12, 2006). "Mama Lea".
117. C., Toff. (May 16, 2025). "Lea Salonga pens heartfelt birthday post for son Nic". [[ABS-CBN]].
118. Liew, Lena. (December 19, 2006). "Doha Asian Games comes to close amid mythology of 1001 nights". [[China Daily]].
119. Armero, Arman. (December 15, 2006). "Lea leads closing program". [[Manila Standard Today]].
120. Lugay, Elton. (September 19, 2007). "Lea on leadership". Philippine News.
121. (March 2, 2007). "Voices soft as thunder: Lea Salonga to make early entrance in ''Les Miz'' revival".
122. (June 10, 2008). "Broadway grosses: Lea boosts Les Miz".
123. (May 13, 2007). "Nominees announced for 2007 Broadway.com Audience Awards: Spring Awakening tops list".
124. Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira. (September 27, 2007). "Arroyo goes to Broadway, watches Lea Salonga in Les Miz". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
125. Keddy, Genevieve Rafter. (September 17, 2007). "Photo coverage: Broadway on Broadway 2007".
126. Rupp, Mark. (June 7, 2007). "Photo coverage: Stars in the Alley 2007".
127. (August 17, 2007). "Photo coverage: Lea Salonga at Broadway Artists Alliance".
128. Hernandez, Ernio. (March 16, 2007). "Salonga joins Esparza & Mitchell for 'Broadway Night' at ''Spelling Bee''".
129. Gans, Andrew. (March 9, 2007). "Diva talk: Chatting with 'Les Miz' star Lea Salonga, plus news of LuPone, Cook, and Kuhn".
130. (February 8, 2007). "Order of Lakandula for Lea, climbers". [[The Philippine Star]].
131. "USMA Band fall/winter guest artist series: Come hear the voice of Mulan in ''Mulan'' and Jasmine in ''Aladdin''".
132. Diego Jr., Bayani San. (July 3, 2008). "Lea Salonga, the writer, debuts in PDI". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
133. "List of finalists of the 21st Awit Awards". [[Philippine Association of the Record Industry]].
134. Gans, Andrew. (January 26, 2007). "Lea Salonga to star in ''Cinderella'' tour".
135. Holandes Ubalde, Joseph. (August 5, 2009). "Lea Salonga's 'Bayan Ko' rendition brings mourners back to EDSA '86".
136. (November 13, 2009). "Lea Salonga will have Richard Poon and Ai-Ai delas Alas as guests in her December concert". [[Philippine Entertainment Portal]].
137. Oliveros, Oliver. (December 12, 2009). "Photo coverage: Lea Salonga's Your Songs concert". [[BroadwayWorld]].
138. (July 10, 2009). "Avon launches Anew Rejuvenate and Anew Ambassador Lea Salonga". [[The Philippine Star]].
139. Hernandez, Ernio. (January 13, 2010). "Lea Salonga to star in Manila run of Cats". [[Playbill]].
140. Jones, Kenneth. (June 2, 2010). "Nick Jonas as Marius! Lea Salonga as Fantine! Les Miz anniversary concert to play London". [[Playbill]].
141. Rosky, Nicole. (September 7, 2011). "Lea Salonga set to judge Miss Universe pageant, 9/12". [[BroadwayWorld]].
142. Jones, Kenneth. (September 28, 2012). "''Allegiance'' musical, with George Takei and Lea Salonga, extends run in CA". [[Playbill]].
143. Jambora, Anne A.. (July 9, 2012). "Lea Salonga goes straight in 'God of Carnage'". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
144. (November 23, 2012). "Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Lea Salonga and more set for Epcot Candlelight Processional, now thru Dec 30". [[BroadwayWorld]].
145. Hetrick, Adam. (January 30, 2013). "Tony Award winner Lea Salonga launches American Songbook Series Jan. 30". [[Playbill]].
146. (February 15, 2012). "Lea Salonga on reality singing contests: 'It's a chance at what your future can hold. But it's not a guarantee of anything.'". [[Philippine Entertainment Portal]].
147. Champion, Lindsay. (November 16, 2012). "Lea Salonga, Norm Lewis & Tyne Daly to headline ''Ragtime'' concert". [[Broadway.com]].
148. Gans, Andrew. (June 15, 2013). "Lea Salonga, Ramin Karimloo, Yu Shirota and Sierra Boggess are 4 Stars in One World of Broadway, beginning June 15". [[Playbill]].
149. (June 5, 2013). "'The Voice Philippines' to premiere June 9". [[Rappler]].
150. Ager, Maila. (January 18, 2014). "Lea Salonga's 'Playlist' guests daughter Nicole Chien, Martin Nievera". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
151. Donida, Krissa. (January 15, 2014). "Lea Salonga talks about being back on 'The Voice'". [[ABS-CBN Interactive.
152. Michael, Gioia. (March 17, 2014). "'Love on 42nd Street' CD, with Lea Salonga, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and more, released March 17". [[Playbill]].
153. Henry, Alan. (May 22, 2014). "BWW interviews: Lea Salonga talks Il Divo tour, Allegiance, Miss Saigon, and more!".
154. (September 24, 2014). "Lea salonga joins Il Divo on European leg of A Musical Affair Tour, beginning tonight". [[BroadwayWorld]].
155. Cerasaro, Pat. (July 24, 2015). "Lea Salonga kicks off Australia & New Zealand tour today".
156. Isherwood, Charles. (November 8, 2015). "Review: 'Allegiance,' a musical history lesson about interned Japanese-Americans".
157. (April 18, 2016). "Exclusive clip: 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' finale has the perfect guest star". [[USA Today]].
158. Hetrick, Adam. (November 18, 2015). "Lea Salonga will star in ''Fun Home'' international premiere".
159. Bunoan, Vladimir. (November 12, 2016). "Review: Superb 'Fun Home' cast moves audience to tears".
160. (December 2, 2016). "Lea Salonga wins Entertainer of the Year at Aliw Awards 2016".
161. (March 1, 2017). "Lea excited to mentor teens on 'The Voice'". [[ABS-CBN News]].
162. Tanjutco, Carol. (December 20, 2017). "Ilonggo lullaby crowns Lea Salonga's new Bahaghari album". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
163. Stasio, Marilyn. (December 3, 2017). "Broadway review: 'Once on This Island'".
164. Culwell-Block, Logan. (April 27, 2018). "Tony winner Lea Salonga joins cast of Hollywood Bowl Annie". [[Playbill]].
165. Wild, Stephi. (December 27, 2018). "Lea Salonga returns to Once on This Island today, December 27".
166. (February 10, 2019). "2019 Grammy winners: Complete list".
167. Ng, Philiana. (May 1, 2019). "Broadway icon Lea Salonga opens up about her first big-screen movie in 20 years".
168. Gans, Andrew. (October 16, 2018). "Tony winner Lea Salonga will play U.S., Canada, U.K., China, and more in The Human Heart Tour". [[Playbill]].
169. (May 2, 2020). "Why Lea Salonga will not perform at SEA Games opening ceremony". [[ABS-CBN News]].
170. Meyer, Dan. (October 23, 2019). "What do critics think of ''Sweeney Todd'' in Manila, starring Lea Salonga?".
171. Wild, Stephi. (March 10, 2019). "Lea Salonga to tour Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in November 2019".
172. Ng, Philiana. (October 12, 2020). "Lea Salonga talks 'Yellow Rose,' 'Mulan' criticisms and the power of BTS".
173. (July 8, 2019). "Lea Salonga to perform at the Dubai Opera in March 2020". [[Rappler]].
174. Gans, Andrew. (March 18, 2020). "Lea Salonga postpones North American tour until the fall". [[Playbill]].
175. (May 14, 2020). "'We'll be back in 2021': Lea Salonga reschedules US tour again due to COVID-19".
176. (August 21, 2020). "In the news: Lea Salonga drops inspiring anthem 'Dream Again,' Damon Daunno, Robert Torti featured on Blood Rock EP, more".
177. Alter, Rebecca. (July 30, 2021). "''Centaurworld'' is a cartoon hybrid of infinite possibilities".
178. Meyer, Dan. (October 26, 2021). "Lea Salonga unveils 2022 Dream Again Tour".
179. Barretto, Jennifer. (December 27, 2021). "Legendary Filipino singer Lea Salonga was happy to return to Dubai for concert". [[Gulf News]].
180. Harms, Talaura. (September 28, 2021). "In the news: Lea Salonga tapped for ''Pretty Little Liars'' reboot, Billy Porter and Henry Tisch elected to Actors Fund Board".
181. Gans, Andrew. (September 9, 2022). "Lea Salonga and Sophia Anne Caruso lead workshop of new Frank Wildhorn musical ''The Song of Bernadette''".
182. Mansoor, Sanya. (September 25, 2022). "Lea Salonga, voice of Disney princesses, is a life-long role model for kids of color".
183. Cua, Aric John Sy. (October 28, 2022). "Lea Salonga sings Jose Mari Chan classic with Pentatonix's new Christmas album". [[The Manila Times]].
184. Pierce, Scott D.. (December 16, 2022). "Tabernacle Choir boss is a stern taskmaster, says who? A Disney princess.". [[The Salt Lake Tribune]].
185. "Tony and Olivier winner Lea Salonga will star in Broadway's Here Lies Love".
186. Gans, Andrew. (February 15, 2023). "Wayne Brady, Lea Salonga, Ali Stroker, more set for 2023 Broadway Backwards concert". [[Playbill]].
187. Venkatraman, Sakshi. (April 25, 2023). "Actor Lea Salonga and chef Edward Lee are among the stars at S. Korea state visit". [[NBC News]].
188. Putnam, Leah. (May 1, 2023). "Gold House's A100 list announces honorees Stephanie Hsu, Lea Salonga, more". [[Playbill]].
189. White, Abbey. (May 2, 2023). "Michelle Yeoh, Simu Liu, Daniel Dae Kim to headline TAAF Heritage Month Summit and Celebration". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
190. Masseron, Meg. (June 15, 2023). "New musical Wild About You to record album featuring Lea Salonga, Alex Newell, Joaquina Kalukango, and more". [[Playbill]].
191. Felipe, MJ. (February 28, 2024). "Tabernacle Choir, Lea Salonga amaze Filipino audience". [[ABS-CBN]].
192. Adeyemi, Boluwatife. (April 10, 2024). "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School premiere date revealed, Original Sin Season 2 gets new villain". [[Screen Rant]].
193. Wild, Stephi. (December 4, 2023). "Lea Salonga will embark on a new UK Tour in 2024". [[BroadwayWorld]].
194. (June 25, 2024). "Lea Salonga and Dolly De Leon to star in 'Request sa Radyo' stage play".
195. Hall, Margaret. (September 3, 2024). "Lea Salonga releasing new holiday album, Sounding Joy". [[Playbill]].
196. Wild, Stephi. (November 4, 2024). "Lea Salonga will perform at the Theatre at Solaire this week". [[BroadwayWorld]].
197. Stump, Scott. (November 28, 2024). "Elmo, Oscar and Big Bird make an appearance on the 'Sesame Street' float". [[Today (American TV program).
198. Reedy, R. Scott. (December 15, 2024). "Interview: Lea Salonga talks 'Sounding Joy' with the Boston Pops". [[BroadwayWorld]].
199. Culwell-Block, Logan. (April 8, 2024). "Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will star in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway". [[Playbill]].
200. Evans, Greg. (April 8, 2024). "Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to headline new Sondheim Broadway revue 'Old Friends'; pre-Broadway staging set for L.A.". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
201. Mangalindan, JP. (August 15, 2024). "Finding Your Roots season 11 will feature Chrissy Teigen, Kristen Bell and Laurence Fishburne". [[People (magazine).
202. Lee, Ellen. (March 26, 2025). "Lea Salonga is entering her villain era — and she's loving it". [[HuffPost]].
203. Yap, Jade Veronique. (June 25, 2025). "Lea Salonga credited in Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters' as singing voice of Celine". [[GMA News]].
204. Rabinowitz, Chloe. (January 22, 2025). "Lea Salonga, Whitney White & more to be honored at the 91st Annual Drama League Awards". [[Broadway World]].
205. Wild, Stephi. (January 19, 2025). "Lea Salonga will star in Into the Woods in the Philippines this summer". [[BroadwayWorld]].
206. Rosky, Nicole. (May 20, 2025). "Lea Salonga will launch North American tour this fall". [[BroadwayWorld]].
207. (January 21, 2026). "Lea Salonga opens up about separation from husband: I am happy that he's happy". [[Manila Bulletin]].
208. Gomez, Dessi. (February 12, 2025). "Lea Salonga to topline short film prequel to Abigail Hing Wen novel; John Aoshima and Neil Blevins attached for animation". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
209. Speakman, Kimberlee. (November 1, 2024). "Lea Salonga talks 'hopeful' Christmas album, Sounding Joy: 'I've made a good living making people cry'". [[People (magazine).
210. "Lea Salonga: By Heart".
211. Nicolasora, Michelle Cacho. (April 25, 2014). "Kundiman: A musical and socio-cultural exploration on the development of the philippine art song". Electronic Theses and Dissertations.
212. Anderson, Quiliano Niñeza. (August 2015). "Kundiman love songs from the Philippines: their development from folksong to art song and an examination of representative repertoire". [[University of Iowa]].
213. Wang, Nickie. (December 18, 2018). "Lea Salonga adds more color to OPM with 'Bahaghari'". [[Manila Standard]].
214. Salterio, Leah C.. (December 10, 2018). "Lea Salonga releases album of traditional Pinoy folk songs". [[ABS-CBN]].
215. Ng, David. (March 2, 2011). "Influences: Broadway star and Tony winner Lea Salonga".
216. Estoista-Koo, Kaye. (September 19, 2009). "Lea Salonga dreams of doing a duet with Barbra Streisand".
217. Gans, Andrew. (February 26, 2010). "Catching up with Tony winner Lea Salonga".
218. McNulty, Charles. (February 14, 2025). "'Old Friends' pay tribute to Sondheim in a luxurious pre-Broadway celebration at the Ahmanson". [[Los Angeles Times]].
219. Lewis, John. (July 23, 2019). "Lea Salonga review – musicals star evokes whole new world of stories". [[The Guardian]].
220. Malonzo-Balane, Cristina. (February 26, 2015). "Lea Salonga advises The Voice semi-finalists not to use their stories to campaign for votes".
221. Stasio, Marilyn. (November 8, 2015). "Broadway review: 'Allegiance' with Lea Salonga and George Takei".
222. Reed, Rex. (November 11, 2015). "Two musicals: Only one worth seeing".
223. Wild, Stephi. (December 16, 2018). "Lea Salonga and Erik Santos among Aliw Award recipients". [[BroadwayWorld]].
224. (June 28, 2005). "The 53rd FAMAS Awards: A family affair".
225. Young, Marielle. "Stars who won a Tony Award and an Olivier Award for the same role".
226. Young, Marielle. (April 19, 2016). "Women making history at the Tony Awards".
227. Co, Rona. (December 2, 2006). "Kuya Germs adds more stars to RP Walk of Fame". [[GMA News]].
228. (June 6, 2024). "Lea Salonga celebrated as cultural icon at Madame Tussauds Singapore". [[Manila Standard]].
229. Grein, Paul. (July 2, 2025). "Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Shaq & more getting stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame: Full 2025-26 list".
230. (1999). "Entertainment-Education: A Communication Strategy for Social Change". [[Taylor & Francis]].
231. Shaivitz, Marla. (February 20, 2014). "#TBT: Lea Salonga and Menudo, the Ricky Martin Years". [[Johns Hopkins University]].
232. Rimon, Jg. (December 1989). "Leveraging messages and corporations: the Philippine experience". Integration.
233. Aguilar, R.. (October 1993). "Telephone provides "instant friend"". Network.
234. Montenegro, Candice. (May 19, 2011). "Lea Salonga: You don't have to use contraceptives to be pro-RH". [[GMA News]].
235. Varley, Eddie. (October 19, 2009). "Stage tube: Lea Salonga sings at the Typhoon Ondoy relief benefit".
236. Gieseke, Winston. (October 3, 2011). "Lea Salonga: Reflections on her journey (and ours)".
237. Salonga, Lea. (March 13, 2013). "Time to see gay people in a different light". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
238. (February 21, 2016). "Lea Salonga reiterates support to LGBTs by tackling inconsistency of haters".
239. Caedo, Tisha. (October 26, 2018). "Lea Salonga wants same-sex marriage to be legalized in the PH". [[Cosmopolitan (magazine).
240. Rice, Emmy. (March 16, 2025). "Lea Salonga to join Harmony as special guest". [[BroadwayWorld]].
241. Smart, Jack. (April 7, 2025). "How Broadway star Lea Salonga supports her trans son Nic, 18: 'Meet your kid where they are'". [[People (magazine).
242. Clarke, Hilary. (October 14, 2010). "FAO appoints four new Goodwill Ambassadors". [[Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]].
243. (January 15, 2013). "Get involved: Lea Salonga".
244. (October 18, 2010). "Kiko Pangilinan congratulates Lea Salonga on appointment as Goodwill Ambassador of UN Food and Agriculture Organization". [[Senate of the Philippines]].
245. Ramos, Dino-Ray. (May 12, 2020). "NBC News to host virtual town hall on anti-Asian sentiment during coronavirus; Margaret Cho, Eugene Lee Yang and Lea Salonga set to appear". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
246. Moya, Jove. (April 22, 2021). "Stop Asian hate: Hilary Clinton, Lucy Liu, Lea Salonga come together in solidarity".
247. (March 4, 2021). "Stop AAPI Hate: Industry heavyweights, activists on Hollywood's responsibility". [[Variety (magazine).
248. (June 22, 2021). "Lea Salonga, Daniel Padilla, other Filipino stars join 'Stop All Hate' campaign". [[ABS-CBN]].
249. De Pacina, Michelle. (February 18, 2022). "Lea Salonga reacts to Christina Yuna Lee news: 'My emotions haven't figured themselves out yet'". NextShark.