Jennifer Holliday Stuns with Powerful Dreamgirls Performance at the Tonys

Original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday brought down the house at the 2021 Tony Awards Sunday night with a powerful rendition of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Holliday last performed the song at the Tonys in 1982, the same year she won an award for playing Effie White in the iconic musical, but as part of this year's "Broadway's back" theme, she was asked to return to the stage in celebration of the show's 40th anniversary. And return she did: Holliday's performance was one of the best of the night, and it even prompted Tonys host Audra McDonald to joke that she needed some time to recover before moving on. Who wouldn't?

Jennifer Holliday is in top form tonight at The Tonys. She reminded everyone tonight what an immense talent she has... I hope she gets some roles from this ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gFupik0hAP

— The Architect (@Le_Architok) September 27, 2021

Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.