Once in place, Salonga’s star will serve as a lasting reminder of Filipino excellence and Asian representation in the arts.
Filipina Broadway legend Lea Salonga is set to make history as the first Filipina to receive a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. The announcement was made on July 2, 2025, as part of the Class of 2025-2026, as reported by Billboard.
Her star will be categorized under Live Theatre/Live Performance, joined only by comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesia. Among this year’s other honorees are household names like Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Air Supply, Emily Blunt, and more.
With this, Salonga is set to become the fourth Filipino overall to receive the honor, after actor Rob Schneider, singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, and singer-rapper Apl.de.Ap as a member of the Black Eyed Peas.
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Salonga’s nomination was proudly submitted by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), who claimed that the star would symbolize not just her immense talent, but her lifelong impact and dedication to representing Filipino culture and pride.
On her Instagram story, Salonga thanked the MIFF and expressed her excitement: “Just now woke up to this bit of amazing news!”
Salonga was famously known as the first Filipina to play Kim in Miss Saigon, which earned her both the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award for her performances in London (1990) and on Broadway (1991), making her the first Asian woman (and one of the youngest!) to receive a Tony. Her Broadway run continued with characters such as Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables. She also served as the singing voice of iconic Disney princesses Jasmine (from Aladdin) and Mulan.
Recently, Salonga lent her singing voice to character Celine in the Netflix hit Kpop Demon Hunters. This August, she’ll return as The Witch in Theatre Group Asia’s production of Into the Woods at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati.
To qualify for a Walk of Fame star, honorees must have at least five years of excellence in their field, demonstrate community impact, and agree to attend the unveiling ceremony, as outlined in the official Hollywood Walk of Fame website. As a trailblazer for Filipino and Asian artists around the globe, Salonga checks all boxes without question.
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The date and exact location of her ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard are yet to be confirmed, but honorees typically have a two-year window to schedule the unveiling of their star. Once in place, Salonga’s star will serve as a lasting reminder of Filipino excellence and Asian representation in the arts.
