For Filipinos who grew up singing along to A Whole New World or Reflection, Lea Salonga has always been a familiar voice. Now, her name has officially become part of Hollywood history.
On 4 September 2026, the award-winning Filipina singer and actress became the first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking a major milestone not only in her remarkable career but also for Filipino representation on the global entertainment stage.
She received the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category during a ceremony held outside the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
From Manila to the World Stage
Salonga’s journey to Hollywood Boulevard began long before her name was immortalised on the famous pavement.
She started performing professionally as a child in the Philippines before making her international breakthrough as Kim in Miss Saigon. Her performance in the musical took her from London’s West End to Broadway and earned her both a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award.
Her Tony win in 1991 was particularly significant. Salonga became the first Filipino and the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Actress in a Musical, helping open doors for Asian performers on some of the world’s biggest theatre stages.
But for an entire generation of Disney fans, Salonga’s voice may be even more recognisable than her theatre career.
In 1992, she provided the singing voice for Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin, performing the beloved song A Whole New World. Six years later, she returned to Disney as the singing voice of Fa Mulan in Mulan, bringing Reflection to life.
Her work on the two animated classics eventually earned her recognition as a Disney Legend.
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A Star That Represents More Than One Career
Salonga’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony brought together friends, fellow performers and fans to celebrate a career spanning more than four decades.
Among those attending were Mulan voice actress Ming-Na Wen, Darren Criss, Brandy and H.E.R. Brandy, who famously played Cinderella in Disney’s 1997 television film, paid tribute to Salonga’s ability to connect with audiences through her voice.
For Salonga, however, the moment was about more than receiving another accolade.
Reflecting on her achievement, she described her career as taking her places she never imagined she would go. She also shared a hope that a young Filipino visiting Hollywood in the future might see her name and think that reaching such heights is possible for them too.
That sentiment makes the star especially meaningful for Filipinos.
From performing as a child in the Philippines to becoming a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, Disney Legend and now the first Filipina with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Salonga’s story is one of talent, longevity and breaking barriers.
And yes, her name is now right there on Hollywood Boulevard for everyone to see.
