Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum R&B recording artist and actor Deborah Cox made her Broadway debut in the lead role in Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical Aida. She most recently starred on Broadway in 2013 as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde and as legendary Josephine Baker in Josephine at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cox began her recording career as a background singer with Celine Dion; she has recorded six award-winning and critically acclaimed albums and has written and recorded on numerous celebrated soundtracks.

The Canadian-born star has an impressive list of #1 Billboard hit records, including twelve #1 songs on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2000 Cox collaborated with Whitney Houston to record the duet “Same Script Different Cast” for Houston’s Greatest Hits CD.

Cox has been recognized for her longstanding commitment to the LGBT community. In January 2015, she received the Out Music Pillar Award. In 2014, she received the California State Senate Award and in 2007, she received the Civil Rights Award from the New York Senate for her efforts in the fight for Human Rights and Equality. She was honored by the Harvey Milk Foundation at the 2015 Diversity Honors for her efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the LGBT community. In June 2016, she was given the Liberty Bell and Proclamation in Philadelphia by Mayor Jim Kenney to proclaim June 12 as LGBTQ Philadelphia Pride Parade and Festival Day.

At TEDWomen, she will be performing with the Lake Area Girls Choir, with some fifty members from all around New Orleans.

R&B, R & B Music, Entertainers, Musician, Music, Singer-Songwriter, Celebrity Social Activism, Pop singer, Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Human Rights, LGBTQ Rights, TED,