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Singers Who Shined on Broadway - When Broadway needs voices to make a musical soar and put butts in the seats, it often calls on rank-and-file superstars of R&B. Here's a look at those singers, crooners and super divas who've rocked New York City's famed theater disctrict.  (Photos from left: Cindy Ord/BET/Getty Images for BET, Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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Fantasia - After her successful but rocky debut on Broadway in The Color Purple in 2007, the Grammy-winning singer returns to the Great White Way to star in the upcoming After Midnight, a musical celebrating Duke Ellington.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Ashanti - The former Murder Inc. chanteuse landed the role (and some hefty praise) as Dorothy in a brief revival of The Wiz, starring alongside Christian Dante (the Scarecrow) and Joshua Henry (Tinman).  (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

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Toni Braxton - In 1998, the R&B diva replaced white actress Kim Huber in the Disney Broadway smash stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, becoming the first Black actress to lead a Disney Broadway musical. She returned to the B’Way stage in 2003, when she was given the lead in Aida, another Disney stage production.  (Photo: Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images)

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Michelle Williams - The former Destiny’s Child star made her acting debut in 2003 when she replaced Toni Braxton in the Broadway musical Aida.  (Photo: Steven A Henry/WireImage)

Photo By Photo: Steven A Henry/WireImage

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Jordin Sparks - The American Idol winner joined the cast of the groundbreaking Broadway hit In The Heights. For 12 weeks she starred as the character Nina Rosario.(Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

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Deborah Cox - Nineties R&B star Deborah Cox hit Broadway in 2004, starring as the lead in the Elton John-Tim Rice musical Aida.  (Photo: Manny Carabel/Getty Images)

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Mya - Grammy-winning songstress Mya won the role of murderess Velma Kelly in the hit Broadway musical Chicago in 2008.(Photo: Joseph Marzullo / WENN)

Photo By Photo: Joseph Marzullo / WENN

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Jill Scott - This Philadelphia R&B vet didn’t exactly hit the Broadway stage, but did tour Canada with a production of the hit musical Rent.  (Photo: Robert Mora/Getty Images)

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Heather Headley - Before becoming a star singer, Heather Headley’s voice shined on Broadway, first in The Lion King (originating the role of Nala) and then in the Broadway adaptation of Aida (originating the title role), for which she won a 2000 Tony Award for Best Actress.  (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 

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Brian McKnight - The iconic crooner made his Broadway debut in 2007 in the smash musical Chicago.  (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images