Leslie Odom Jr has returned to Broadway with a starring role in Purlie Victorious from the late Ossie Davis.
The multi-talented star released his latest album in mid-November, When a Crooner Dies.
The star revealed to Ebony that releasing the music helped him overcome one of the most challenging moments of his life.
“I went through a tough season. Those are waiting there for all of us, I ain’t special… I journaled through it, prayed through it and hoped that I would get to see the other side of it. Once I did, I decided to find the courage to write about it.”
Times are happier now for Leslie Odom Jr, and he’s deep into the holiday spirit.
“Nicolette, she starts decorating for the holiday and playing Christmas music early… We were just listening to Christmas with Brandy and picking out our Christmas tree as a family. There’s a whole voting and naming process. It’s a big deal because the tree is the centerpiece of the whole season and our holiday decor.”
How Leslie Odom Jr Dealt With A Challenging Time
Leslie Odom Jr revealed that life dealt him challenges he didn’t know how to handle.
So, he went dark, leaving social media and focusing on life.
And instead of looking outward for help, Leslie chose to write the album he needed to hear.
“I remember when I was a kid, people made music that stuck to your bones that you would turn to when you were going through something. I hope this is one of those records that people can turn to in their season of challenge and difficulty. I hope people will make the time to listen to it.”
The album is only 10 songs long–spanning 31 minutes–but Leslie Odom Jr took his time writing it.
The album came out precisely how he hoped, and working on it was his therapy.
