Lea Salonga is set to make history on September 4 as she becomes the first Filipino to ever receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.
The Broadway icon will receive her star in the category of Live Performance and will be the 2,855th star on the iconic Hollywood Boulevard landmark.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced the milestone in a press release on the Hollywood Walk of Fame's official website, calling Lea a “trailblazer” whose career has reached audiences around the world.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Lea Salonga to the Hollywood Walk of Fame," said Walk of Fame producer, Ana Martinez.
“Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world. We are thrilled to honor her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and especially proud that she will be the first Filipina to receive this iconic recognition. Her achievement is a milestone, not only for Lea, but for the Filipino community and for generations of artists who will follow in her footsteps,” she added.
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The ceremony will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning sports and entertainment journalist Sibley Scoles, while Lea's fellow Mulan star Ming-Na Wen will serve as a guest speaker.
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The recognition comes after Lea's remarkable 45-year career, which has taken her from the Philippine theater and entertainment scene to some of the world's biggest stages.
She is best known internationally for her Tony Award-winning performance as Kim in Miss Saigon, a role that cemented her place in Broadway history. Her work in the world-renowned production has also earned her Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards.
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Lea further broke barriers when she became the first Asian actress to play Éponine in Broadway's Les Misérables. She later returned to the musical as Fantine in its 2006 revival and most recently portrayed Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular in January 2026.
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Beyond theater, Lea's voice has become familiar to generations of Disney fans. She provided the singing voices of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II, leading The Walt Disney Company to name her a “Disney Legend.”
This year, Lea is also expanding her film work as she takes on the role of a lead villain in DreamWorks Animation's first Filipino-themed film Forgotten Island, which is set to premiere in the Philippines on September 23.
Throughout her career, Lea has performed for six Philippine presidents, from Ferdinand Marcos to Benigno S. Aquino III, as well as four U.S. presidents including Joe Biden, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Her list of audiences has also included the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Among her other honors are Time Magazine's Time100 Impact Award and the Gold House 2023 Gold Legend Award.
But Lea's upcoming Hollywood Walk of Fame star represents a milestone beyond her individual achievements.
As the first Filipino honoree, her star will stand as a landmark recognition for Filipino talent in the global entertainment industry and for the generations of artists who have followed her path.
Following her Hollywood Walk of Fame recognition, she will then receive the Icon Award at the third annual Manila International Film Festival's Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 6.