Valisia LeKae

Valisia LeKae (born September 25, 1979) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her performance as Diana Ross in the Broadway musical Motown: The Musical. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, LeKae developed a love for Motown music while listening to records in her grandfather's barbershop. She began singing in church at a young age and later worked at the Dollywood theme park. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Psychology, she pursued a career in acting. In 2013, LeKae received a Tony Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Diana Ross. She left the show in 2013 to undergo treatment for ovarian cancer and became a spokesperson for The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.