Hailey Kilgore

Hailey Kilgore (born May 16, 1999) is an American actress and singer. She is widely recognized for her Broadway debut performance as Ti Moune in the 2017 revival of Once on This Island, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Kilgore has also gained prominence for her role as LaVerne "Jukebox" Thomas in the Starz television series Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

Early Life and Education

Kilgore was born in Rochester, New York, and raised in Tigard, Oregon. She developed an interest in performing arts at a young age, participating in local theater productions. After graduating from Clackamas High School, she moved to New York City to pursue her acting career. She briefly attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) College of Performing Arts before her professional career took off.

Career

Broadway

Kilgore's breakout role came in 2017 when she was cast as the lead, Ti Moune, in the highly anticipated Broadway revival of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Fliaher's musical Once on This Island. Her performance earned critical acclaim, and she was subsequently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical at the 72nd Tony Awards, making her one of the youngest nominees in that category. She remained with the production until its closing in January 2019.

Television and Film

Following her success on Broadway, Kilgore transitioned into television and film. In 2020, she joined the cast of the Starz prequel series Power Book III: Raising Kanan, portraying LaVerne "Jukebox" Thomas, a character known for her ambition and musical talent. The series, set in the 1990s, explores the early life of Kanan Stark.

Kilgore has also made appearances in other television shows, including a guest role on the CBS All Access series The Good Fight. In film, she played a minor role in the 2021 Aretha Franklin biographical drama Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson.

Stage Credits

Filmography

Awards and Nominations