After two decades, Broadway icon and Disney legend Lea Salonga is back to grace Hong Kong Disneyland with her presence in a special concert on January 10, 2026. Best known as the singing voice of Jasmine and Mulan, there is so much more to Salonga than meets the eye (or ears). David Ho delves into some fun facts about the star
She has been in show business since she was a child
Salonga kicked off her career at at the tender age of seven, when she starred in musical theatre productions in the Philippines. She also recorded her debut album Small Voice at just nine.
She finally got her international breakthrough at 18, when she originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon on London’s West End in 1989. Salonga would reprise the role on Broadway two years later. The run would net her a Tony Award, and pave the way for decades more of stage work.
She credits her family for keeping her level headed
Despite hitting it big at a relatively young age, the Tony Award-winning star has managed to stay out of trouble and remain grounded. “I think it helps when the authority figures in your life never ever did the, ‘Ang galing-galing mo,’ (Tagalog for ‘you are amazing’) because I’ve seen that happen to some of my contemporaries from childhood and that can mess you up because the real world is not that,” she says.
“And so I think because I wasn’t treated with that kind of quote-unquote admiration from that young age, my entry into the real world, it felt more normal because I knew that no one was going to indulge this 18-year-old and if I needed a stern talking to, I would get one even when I was over there.”
She comes from a musical family
Salonga’s brother is also in the performing arts as a conductor. He is currently the resident conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. As a matter of fact, Lea will be joining her younger brother in a special show for Hong Kong MusicalCon 2026. The Magic of Musicals: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra × Lea Salonga will be taking place on on January 11 and 12, 2026, at Xiqu Centre. The siblings will be joined by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for renditions of Broadway classics.
Fun fact: Salonga and her brother recorded a duet called “Happiness” on her 1981 album Small Voice. They have revisited it for live performances.
She uses her voice for good
We know her best as a singer. But Salonga has also used her voice for various causes, from world hunger and reproductive education to tackling anti-Asian hate and gendered violence.
Salonga has a good track record as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. She’s been a vocal champion for visibility, acceptance, and marriage equality. Most importantly, she has also been hugely supportive of her transmasculine child Nic Chien, as he started his transition by going on testosterone a year ago.
She continues garnering an impressive amount of credits
Salonga was surprise guest star for the first season finale of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, where she performed a song that was a spoof take on her Disney classic “A Whole New World”. She has also extended her musical expertise as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines, The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.
Some may also be surprised to hear she provided the singing voice for Celine, Rumi’s foster mum, on KPop Demon Hunters.
Also see: #review: Stream or skip KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix?
