Filipino Broadway legend Lea Salonga is set to become the first Filipina to receive a prestigious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Billboard reports.
The 54-year-old Tony Award-winning singer and actress will join a star-studded list of 35 honorees from the industry, mainly from the fields of recordings, motion pictures, television, live theater/performance, and sports entertainment.
Among the big names that are included in the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025 are Air Supply, Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, and Shaquille O’Neal.
“Just now woke up to this bit of amazing news!” Lea wrote on her Instagram stories, also thanking the Manila International Film Festival for nominating her for the said recognition.
Meanwhile, ceremony dates have yet to be scheduled, according to Billboard.
Previously, three male celebrities with Filipino heritage have received a star on the Walk of Fame. These include Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars, Black Eyed Peas rapper Apl.de.ap, and comedian Rob Schneider.
Salonga rose to international stardom after her Tony Award-winning performance as Kim in “Miss Saigon” and for providing the singing voices of beloved Disney characters Jasmine and Mulan.
Her accolades include a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, as well as nominations for two Grammy Awards. Lea was conferred with the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1990 and the Order of Lakandula in 2007. In 2011, she was honored as a Disney Legend.