J Harrison Ghee, a native of Fayetteville and a graduate of E. E. Smith High School, made history at this year’s Tony Awards. 

Ghee won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for their performance in Some Like It Hot, and Ghee and fellow awardee Alex Newell are the first out nonbinary performers to win Tony Awards.

“My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me. To use them to be effective in the world, to help somebody else's journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give,” shared Ghee during an emotional acceptance speech. “For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human — whoever was told you couldn't be, you couldn't be seen, this is for you.”

Community members are thrilled to witness the success of Ghee who accepted this award with humility and grace, and excited to see what the future holds for Ghee.