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Lena Horne

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA

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BIO

Horne was an American dancer, actress, Grammy-winning singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned over 70 years, appearing in film, television, and theater. Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of 16 and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood.



Horne advocated for human rights and took part in the March on Washington in August 1963. Later she returned to her roots as a nightclub performer and continued to work on television, while releasing well-received record albums. She announced her retirement in March 1980, but the next year starred in a one-woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, which ran for more than 300 performances on Broadway. She then toured the country in the show, earning numerous awards and accolades. Horne continued recording and performing sporadically into the 1990s, retreating from the public eye in 2000. Horne died of congestive heart failure on May 9, 2010, at the age of 92.

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STAGE CREDITS

Lena Horne: "The Lady and Her Music"
[Broadway]
Unknown, 1981
Performer
Tony and Lena Sing
[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1974
Nine O'Clock Revue
[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1961
Jamaica
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1957
Savannah
Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1939
[Broadway]
1939
Performer
Dance With Your Gods
[Broadway]
1934
A Quadronne Girl
Pal Joey
[Los Angeles]
Los Angeles Revival, 1978
Vera Simpson

Movies

The Duke Is Tops
[ 1938 ] Ethel Andrews
Cabin in the Sky
[ 1943 ] Georgia Brown
Swing Fever
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
I Dood It
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Thousands Cheer
[ 1943 ] Lena Horne
Stormy Weather
[ 1943 ] Selina Rogers
Broadway Rhythm
[ 1944 ] Fernway de la Fer
Two Girls and a Sailor
[ 1944 ] Lena Horne
Ziegfeld Follies
[ 1945 ] Lena HorneLove
Words and Music
[ 1948 ] Lena Horne
Duchess of Idaho
[ 1950 ] Lena Horne
Meet Me in Las Vegas
[ 1956 ] Lena Horne
Death of a Gunfighter
[ 1969 ] Claire Quintana
The Wiz
[ 1978 ] Glinda the Good

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1981 - Special Citation

Lena Horne, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music


winner
Tony Awards - 1981 - Special Tony Award

Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music

Tony Awards - 1958 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Lena Horne, Jamaica

Videos

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News


Video: SIX On Broadway Welcomes Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow and More Photo
Video: SIX On Broadway Welcomes Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow and More
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 17, 2026

SIX the Musical added some new jewels to its crown tonight with the debuts of Dylan Mulvaney and Grammy Award winner Abigail Barlow. Check out video from inside the theatre as the new queens take the throne!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 16, 2026- Broadway Celebrates Valentine's Day and Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 16, 2026- Broadway Celebrates Valentine's Day and More
by - Feb 16, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is February 16, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
Broadway's Lena Horne Theatre to Celebrate 100 Years This Weekend Photo
Broadway's Lena Horne Theatre to Celebrate 100 Years This Weekend
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 13, 2026

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Lena Horne Theatre as a new cast of Queens begins their reign for Twenty Twenty SIX.
Kravis Center Celebrates 20 YEARS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL Photo
Kravis Center Celebrates 20 YEARS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 4, 2026

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will present the 20th Annual African American Film Festival (AAFF) from February 19–22, marking two decades of programming dedicated to Black cinema.
THE WIZ National Tour Tickets On Sale This Week at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre Photo
THE WIZ National Tour Tickets On Sale This Week at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 30, 2026

THE WIZ will return to Chicago as part of Broadway In Chicago’s touring season with a limited engagement at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. The national tour includes Dana Cimone, Alan Mingo Jr., Sheherazade, Kyla Jade, D. Jerome, Cal Mitchell, and Elijah Ahmad Lewis.
THE WIZ Comes to Austin With Tickets on Sale Friday Photo
THE WIZ Comes to Austin With Tickets on Sale Friday
by Stephi Wild - Jan 29, 2026

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back and coming to Austin. Tickets for The Wiz will go on sale Friday, Jan. 30, for eight performances from May 12 to 17 at Bass Concert Hall.
Interview: Marc Shaiman Talks SOME LIKE IT HOT, His Just-Published Memoir, and More Photo
Interview: Marc Shaiman Talks SOME LIKE IT HOT, His Just-Published Memoir, and More
by R. Scott Reedy - Jan 28, 2026

To say that the Tony Award-winning 2022 musical “Some Like It Hot,” which Broadway in Boston is presenting at Citizens Opera House through February 8, has quite a pedigree is putting it mildly.
Which Broadway Theatres Are Historically Most Desirable? Photo
Which Broadway Theatres Are Historically Most Desirable?
by Ben Waterhouse - Jan 23, 2026

Last week Hell’s Kitchen, located at the Shubert Theatre, announced that they would close on February 22. Aside from the unfortunate news that is for all who work on the show, it stands to wonder what might take that theatre in the next couple of months, and could that happen before the Tony Awards deadline? Furthermore, why is the Shubert Theatre in particular considered so desirable? 
SIX Releases New Block of Tickets Through November 2026 Photo
SIX Releases New Block of Tickets Through November 2026
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 23, 2026

A new block of tickets was just released for Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s Tony Award®-winning global smash hit musical SIX. As of that time, tickets will be available through November 22, 2026. SIX celebrated its official Broadway opening night at the Lena Horne Theatre.
Kelsie Watts Sets Final Performance in SIX; Jasmine Forsberg to Return Photo
Kelsie Watts Sets Final Performance in SIX; Jasmine Forsberg to Return
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 22, 2026

Kelsie Watts, who is currently starring as Jane Seymour in Six on Broadway, will play her final performance in the production. Six on Broadway recently unveiled new cast members set to join the show.
Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow, and More Join SIX on Broadway Photo
Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow, and More Join SIX on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Jan 16, 2026

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s musical, SIX, has found its new Queens! The cast will be led by Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow, Olivia Donalson, Abigail Barlow, and Anna Uzele.
SIX THE MUSICAL Welcomes New Queens and Extends Run at the Vaudeville Theatre Photo
SIX THE MUSICAL Welcomes New Queens and Extends Run at the Vaudeville Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jan 14, 2026

SIX THE MUSICAL announces an extended booking period at the Vaudeville Theatre, now open for reservations through January 2027. The celebrated production introduces new cast members as it continues to captivate audiences.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld January 13, 2026- WICKED To Welcome New Witches and More Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld January 13, 2026- WICKED To Welcome New Witches and More
by - Jan 13, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 13, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Nederlander Employee Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation Photo
Nederlander Employee Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation
by Joshua Wright - Jan 12, 2026

A former Nederlander employee has filed a federal lawsuit alleging racial and gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation at the Lena Horne Theatre.
27 Best Restaurants in the Theatre District in NYC Photo
27 Best Restaurants in the Theatre District in NYC
by Sidney Paterra - Jan 8, 2026

Who knows better about where to eat in the theatre district than the people who hang out the most in the theatre district? We've asked the experts- BroadwayWorld readers/avid theatregoers to weigh in on which restaurants are their favorites to grab a bite before or after a Broadway show. The results are in...
Dancer and Actor Carmen de Lavallade Dies at 94 Photo
Dancer and Actor Carmen de Lavallade Dies at 94
by Stephi Wild - Jan 2, 2026

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that actress, choreographer, and dancer Carmen de Lavallade has died at age 94. Learn more about her and read the full obituary here.
Tickets Now On Sale For SIX in Omaha Photo
Tickets Now On Sale For SIX in Omaha
by Stephi Wild - Jan 2, 2026

Omaha Performing Arts has announced that tickets for the Tony Award-Winning electrifying new musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss are now on sale.
Review: Rosemary Loar's Buoyant, Original JINGLES AND JAZZ at The Green Room 42 Photo
Review: Rosemary Loar's Buoyant, Original JINGLES AND JAZZ at The Green Room 42
by Gregory Fletcher - Dec 24, 2025

Rosemary Loar delivered a warm, cozy evening of Christmas music marked by range, originality, and skill. Even the most well-worn holiday chestnuts sounded newly minted, revealing fresh beauty and emotional depth.
THE WIZ National Tour is Coming to San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts Photo
THE WIZ National Tour is Coming to San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 11, 2025

THE WIZ is back and coming to San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts for a limited engagement. The musical features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others).
Helicline Fine Art to Continue HIRSCHFELD: STROKES OF GENIUS With Original Drawings A Photo
Helicline Fine Art to Continue HIRSCHFELD: STROKES OF GENIUS With Original Drawings And Lithographs
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 9, 2025

Helicline Fine Art is continuing HIRSCHFELD: STROKES OF GENIUS, a glorious celebration of Al Hirschfeld's artwork. Additional works have been added to the exhibition which includes more than six dozen Hirschfeld original drawings and lithographs
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.

How many West End shows has Lena Horne been in?

Lena Horne has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Lena Horne been nominated for?

Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Special Tony Award (Tony Awards) for The Lady and Her Music and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Jamaica.

What awards has Lena Horne won?

Lena Horne has won several prestigious awards for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, including the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards, a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and a Special Tony Award from the Tony Awards.

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