Jeannette Bayardelle, former lead singer in the Broadway production 'Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple', will be speaking at the upcoming 2009 Women's Summit 'Navigating Success — Keep Rising' opening on Friday.

Miss Bayardelle knows all about navigating obstacles to reach success. Last December she stepped off a long flight and collapsed.

"I felt like I couldn't breathe," the 31-year-old told The Royal Gazette in a telephone interview. "My legs had been hurting me on the flight."

She was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered she'd had a pulmonary embolism.

"Blood clots had formed in my legs and travelled to my heart. The doctors were absolutely surprised that I was so young."

She is still waiting for testing to determine the cause. "They couldn't do it before, because I was on medication," she said.

Miss Bayardelle was born in the Bronx, New York and first sang publically at the age of five in her church. Her first solo was the hymn 'Through It All'.

She started singing professionally while a student at Hunter College where she received a Bachelor of Science in Health Science.

Since graduating she has combined a musical theatre and gospel singing career.

"Along the way, there were people who thought I should get a real job," said Miss Bayardelle. "My life has been about sticking to what I believe God called me to do."

She started off in 'The Colour Purple' as an understudy.

"A swing as an understudy does not get you on stage, unless someone else is out," she said. "There are usually several understudies. In this case there were 11. As a swing, I would go on when someone was sick.

"Then I was promoted to the role, which was unusual. They don't usually promote understudies like that."

The play is based on Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning-novel by that name.

The story takes place in 1930s Georgia. It follows the struggles of Celie, a young black woman, who is raped and impregnated.

Miss Bayardelle held the role in the Broadway play version for three years. She won an award for her role, from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She recently left the production because of her health.

She released her first gospel album, 'Praise Report', in 2005. A lot of the songs on it were written by her while she was on tour with 'The Color Purple'.

The CD includes a duet with Michelle Williams of the former R&B group Destiny's Child. Her second album, 'Transferable', will be released shortly. Some of the songs on it have been inspired by her near-death experience.

"When you go through something like this so suddenly, it certainly changes your outlook on life," she said. "With no warning you have to be put in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

"With something potentially terminal happening to you, you value life.

"You feel like 'Wow, just at that point it could have been over'." She said after she left the hospital, it really started to hit her.

"The hardest thing for me was going through the recovery," she said. "While I was in the hospital I didn't feel the effects. Afterward, you start having psychological issues. You start asking yourself, 'what if that happens again?'"

She started to ask God why she had been saved. She started to look for her purpose in life.

"I remember waking up one morning and feeling I was so happy to be alive, that God is happy. This is a second chance."

She was inspired to write the song 'Suddenly', which is featured on her new album. Some of the lyrics are: "Suddenly my day seems brighter, suddenly my way seems lighter, suddenly I can spread my wings, I can fly."

She lives in New York, where she said her family has been very supportive of her singing career. Her mother, Claudie, usually travels with her.

Miss Bayardelle visited Bermuda seven years ago.

"I used to work for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines," she said. "I was a performer. It was fun. I got a chance to see some of the world."

The Women's Summit is on from September 4 to 6 at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel. Other speakers include Cindy Trimm, Patricia Russell-McCloud, and Neletha Butterfield, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Director and founder of the Care Learning Centre.

The conference will include a one-woman play, parade of nations, a spa event, panel discussion, health screenings and leadership awards. For more information about the conference visit www.navigatingsuccess.com or telephone 292-2663or e-mail info@navigatingsuccess.com.

l For more information about Miss Bayardelle visit www.jeannettebayardelle.com