By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Although other people have attempted to make the song theirs, original 'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Holliday epitomizes the title 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.'
Though the Tony and Grammy Award winning diva caused a stir with her remarks about the Bill Condon-directed film version (see here) of the legendary Broadway musical, she will recapture her glory -- in an unprecedented way.
Holliday is confirmed to bring her unparalleled vocal bravado exclusively to the E! television network when she performs the show-stopping signature song live on the 'Countdown To The Red Carpet: The 2007 Academy Awards' show, telecast from Hollywood's historic Roosevelt Hotel on Feb. 25.
According to a spokesperson, Holliday will reveal her incredible life story -- that has included the dizzying highs of being a Tony-winner and the unfathomable lows of depression and near-suicide -- during the telecast.
'Countdown' will air from 12:00pm - 6:00pm ET/ 9:00am - 3:00pm PT (live to both coasts) and will also feature an interview with Chris Gardner, the man that Academy Award nominee Will Smith portrays in 'The Pursuit of Happyness.' Former male supermodel Tyson Beckford and 'America's Next Top Model' judge Jay Manuel will also be included on segments focusing on "being red carpet ready."
In other Jennifer Holliday news, she will reprise the role of Effie Melody White in a the revival of 'Dreamgirls' at Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, from July 19 through 29.
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By: Salene on 2/24/2007 7:26AM
I'm a diehard Jennifer Holiday fan! :D :) ;)That song IS Jennifer Holiday's. She has one of the best voices i've ever heard. She was the first woman I know to prove that it's all a myth about IF you lose weight...you also lose your great voice(if you've one). However, we all know that after losing the weight Jennifer Holiday still has one of the best voices EVER! Holiday blew that role up and won a multitude of awards to prove it. But crossing over from Broadway to the mainstream music business...isn't easy(even though she won a Grammy for HER signature Dreamgirl song). But in the early '80's and late '90's she was one of the hottest club sounds out here. Her hit "I'm On Your Side" was slamming. In the '90's Holiday made some great music. That song she did with Foreigner was off the chain! "I Wanna Know What Love Is". She put an extra dose of "all that" on that track. I feel Jennifer Holiday has had much success. "Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God" was her 1st Broadway performance(at the ripe old age of 17(joke). Even though Nell Carter(who backed out to do t.v instead) was originally supposed to play the role of Effie White...Jennifer Holiday got it AND owned it. She even had the honor of being named "Perfomer Of The Decade"...by Time Magazine. She's so many accolades...it ain't funny!!! ;) I loved Jennifer in Ally Mcbeal. :) Sheryl Lee Ralph(the original Deana in Dreamgirls) has a fundraiser called "Divas Simply Singing". It's a fundraiser for the study and prevention of AIDS/HIV(Jennifer has been apart of that as well).Big shoutout to Sheryl Lee Ralph and all that she does for the community("Sometimes I Cry") Sheryl is a great advocate for fight against AIDS/HIV.I've heard that she felt left out of the movie version of Dreamgirls...but what role or part in the movie did she want to be a part of??? Was she upset over not being included in any of the acting parts of the movie or was she upset over not being included in the promotional part of the movie? I never saw any interviews from Sheryl Lee Ralph...good or bad about the movie version. Lorretta Devine has a nice cameo in the movie! :) Lorretta also is an underrated, gifted/accomplished singer and actress.I enjoyed the movie version of Dreamgirls and my favorite song in the movie was "One Night Only". I have other songs from the movie that I enjoy hearing but that one is tops...to me. I purchased the CD and IF it was an album...it would probably be almost worn out by now!!! :)
I truly hope that Jennifer Hudson's career sustains like Jennifer Holiday's has. Irregardless of the fact that Holiday isn't in the limelight as much anymore...she still has had a great career...And I wish her continued success in whatever she does!!! :)
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By: Salene on 2/24/2007 7:34AM
I heard that Jennifer Holiday felt left out of the movie...NOT Sheryl Lee Ralph. I just want to make sure you understand who I'm referring to. I just got a little caught up with talking about Sheryl...that I may have not made that part clear! ;)
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By: sharon on 3/12/2007 10:10AM
We had the privilege of hearing Jennifer Holliday last night in Atlanta. There is NO ONE who can sing like her. She is simply the best and everytime she opens her mouth to sing she proves it. God gave her a gift and I hope she'll share it us for many years to come.
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By: ms_cutiepants on 3/14/2007 12:02PM
Jennifer Holiday really put her all into that song. It's timeless and will go on to be interpreted by many. Jennifer Hudson did an Excellent job but i agree with Sharon nobody is Mrs. Holiday.
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By: Saw the show on 3/18/2007 3:22PM
Okay, first I want to say I recognize the success that Jennifer Holliday had in 1982 when she won the Tony for her show-stopping portrayal of Effie. And I agree she does have the vocal chops that brings goosebumps to my arms and makes me want to close my eyes and cry tears of praise.
HOWEVER, I did see her on the red carpet and I could feel nothing but pity for her. She seemed so hurt that she wasn't a part of the film but at the same time, she made it difficult to understand her cause. She kept talking about how she create the character of Effie White and that she wrote the song that is again a sensation. I might be wrong, but she won the Tony for performing the role, not a award for writing and directing the musical.
And her performance (it might have been the wind was too strong on top of that building off the Red Carpet) was ear cringing. She seemed as if she was trying to hold back but couldn't or was yelling so hard she couldn't sing effectively.
But was so tacky and pitiful was that she performed off the red carpet, on the roof of some building just hours BEFORE Jennifer Hudson was to perform on-stage AT the Academy Award. I just had a feeling of desperation and sadness that she was "shut out" from the glory.
Again, no one, not even Jennifer Hudson, will ever bring life to that song the way Jennifer Holliday did in 1982. So Holliday should just embrace the success of the Dreamgirls movie and take pride in knowing she was a part of the original Broadway Dreamgirls while letting Hudson have her time to shine.
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By: susan on 3/22/2007 12:10PM
There will be no one who can belt it properly like Ms Holliday! She is a class act!
Unlike that Heifer Hudson who is a total joke
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