Yolanda Adams on Her Broadway Debut, Motherhood, and the Full Circle Promise Behind Hell’s Kitchen

Gospel icon Yolanda Adams, the powerhouse voice behind four Grammy Awards, sixteen Stellar Awards, and countless anthems of hope, is stepping into a brand new spotlight, the Broadway stage. She joins the cast of Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys-driven musical now lighting up the Super Theater, marking a milestone she describes as exciting, nerve wracking, joyful, and deeply personal.

For Adams, this moment is more than a professional achievement. It is the fulfillment of a promise and a dream she once shared with her mother. “I grew up doing theater,” Adams said. “When I was in high school, I was inducted into the Thespian Club, which was a huge deal. I always thought acting would come first, but music took off. Still, my mom would tell me again and again that she dreamed of seeing me on Broadway. She said she saw nominations, she saw Tonys. I said, I receive that mom. And here we are.” Although her mother never got to witness this chapter, Adams carries her with her into Hell’s Kitchen. “I believe she’s surrounding me and cheering me on,” she said.

Even before taking the stage as Miss Liza Jane, Adams had already dipped her toes into the Broadway world by contributing an original song to SpongeBob SquarePants, The Musical. The track, “Super Sea Star Savior,” became a surprise fan favorite. “My first try writing for Broadway was successful, and I am so grateful,” she said.

Adams says preparing Alicia Keys’s iconic catalog for the stage has been equally meaningful. “Alicia writes songs that are timeless and timely. We need these songs right now. You can hear what she felt when she wrote them, and ten years later they mean even more.”

Stepping into the role of Miss Liza Jane also allowed Adams to pull from the most central part of her life, motherhood. “It makes it easy because I remember everything I taught my daughter Taylor,” she explained. “The praises, the encouragement, the admonishments. I know what it means to want the best for your child.”

As a gospel titan entering the Broadway space, Adams acknowledges the significance of her presence. “I hadn’t really thought about it,” she said, “but you’re right, there aren’t many of us. If someone sees this and thinks, oh, Yolanda did it, maybe I can do it too, then that’s a blessing.”

As she prepares for opening night, Adams is focused on bringing full authenticity to her character. “I want people to see Miss Liza Jane, not Yolanda. I want them to say, that’s her.”

This season, she is entering her Broadway debut with gratitude at the center. “I am thankful for everything, especially my family. They don’t just ground me, they root me. I am thankful to be in New York, and thankful for this opportunity. I am thankful for the fullness of my life, and the love that God placed in my heart for humanity.”

For tickets and more information on Hell's Kitchen visit www.HellsKitchen.com.