Multi-award-winning performer Audra McDonald is the 2024 Grand Marshal, announced Pasadena Tournament of Roses® President Alex Aghajanian on Dec. 1.
As the embodiment of the theme “Celebrating a World of Music,” McDonald stands as a testament to the global resonance of melodies. Her illustrious career in theater, music and television is a harmonious tribute to the universal language that unites cultures worldwide.
The announcement was a celebratory event, just 30 days before the 135th Rose Parade® presented by Honda, attended by Tournament Members, local public figures and community members. McDonald made the ceremonial walk down the front steps of Tournament House to the song “On Broadway” and enthusiastic applause.
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Audra McDonald shines as a multifaceted luminary, effortlessly captivating audiences with her talent in theater, music and television, crafting a legacy marked by unparalleled performances and acclaimed portrayals on both stage and screen. She is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor.
The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two GRAMMY® Awards and an Emmy® Award, McDonald received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2015 and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. She won Tonys for her performances in “Carousel,” “Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” and “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” which also served as the vehicle for her Olivier-nominated 2017 West End debut.
On television, McDonald won an Emmy as the official host of PBS’s “Live From Lincoln Center” and is known for recurring roles on “Private Practice,” “The Good Wife,” “The Good Fight” and “The Gilded Age.”
Her film credits include Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” and MGM’s 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic, “Respect.” A Juilliard-trained soprano, she maintains a major career as a Grammy-winning recording and concert artist. Her latest solo album, “Sing Happy,” was recorded live with the New York Philharmonic for Decca Gold.
McDonald is a founding member of Black Theatre United, a board member of Covenant House International and prominent advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her favorite roles are those performed offstage, as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson and mother.
McDonald will ride in the 135th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and join in the pre-game celebration of the CFP Semifinal at the 110th Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential, both are held on January 1.
