Who was in the Hairspray Live! cast? NBC’s December 7, 2016 broadcast starred newcomer Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad, Harvey Fierstein as Edna, Martin Short as Wilbur, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton, Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron as Velma and Amber Von Tussle, Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin, Ephraim Sykes as Seaweed, Derek Hough as Corny Collins and Shahadi Wright Joseph as Little Inez. Below is the full principal cast, the Broadway connections, the songs Ariana Grande sang, and how many Americans tuned in.
By the Musicals On Line team · October 2026
Who played who in Hairspray Live!?
Here is the principal cast as announced by Playbill and listed on Wikipedia and IMDb:
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| Tracy Turnblad | Maddie Baillio |
| Edna Turnblad | Harvey Fierstein |
| Wilbur Turnblad | Martin Short |
| Motormouth Maybelle | Jennifer Hudson |
| Penny Pingleton | Ariana Grande |
| Link Larkin | Garrett Clayton |
| Corny Collins | Derek Hough |
| Velma Von Tussle | Kristin Chenoweth |
| Amber Von Tussle | Dove Cameron |
| Seaweed J. Stubbs | Ephraim Sykes |
| Little Inez | Shahadi Wright Joseph |
| Prudy Pingleton | Andrea Martin |
| Mr. Spritzer | Paul Vogt |
| Rob Barker | Billy Eichner |
| Mr. Pinky | Sean Hayes |
| Gym teacher | Rosie O’Donnell |
The Dynamites were played by Kamilah Marshall, Judine Somerville and Shayna Steele, the trio who created those roles in the Broadway production, according to Playbill and Broadway.com. For what happens to each of these characters in the story, see our Hairspray songs explained guide.
How did Maddie Baillio get the role of Tracy?
Through an open call. NBC and casting office Telsey + Co. held an open audition in New York City on April 24, 2016, and more than 1,000 hopefuls lined up on West 43rd Street to sing “Good Morning Baltimore,” as Playbill reported. Baillio, then a 20-year-old sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College from League City, Texas, won the part, per Playbill and Variety. It was her first professional role.
Which Broadway stars were in Hairspray Live!?
- Harvey Fierstein recreated his Tony-winning Broadway role of Edna Turnblad and also wrote the teleplay (Playbill, The Hollywood Reporter).
- The Dynamites, Kamilah Marshall, Judine Somerville and Shayna Steele, returned from the original Broadway company (Playbill, Broadway.com).
- Jerry Mitchell, the choreographer of the Broadway production, choreographed the broadcast (Playbill, Wikipedia).
- Two earlier Tracys made cameos. Marissa Jaret Winokur, who originated Tracy on Broadway and won a Tony for it, and Ricki Lake, Tracy in John Waters’ 1988 film, appeared as employees of Mr. Pinky’s shop (Playbill, Wikipedia).
Kenny Leon directed, with Alex Rudzinski as live television director, and the score is by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Playbill, The Hollywood Reporter).
What did Ariana Grande sing in Hairspray Live!?
As Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend, Ariana Grande had her big moments in “Without Love” and the finale number “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” as The Hollywood Reporter and the soundtrack listing on Wikipedia both show. You can revisit both in our posts on You Can’t Stop the Beat and Without Love.
She also closed the night. During the curtain call, Grande and Jennifer Hudson sang “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go),” a Shaiman and Wittman song written for the 2007 film but not used there, as Playbill, BroadwayWorld and Entertainment Tonight reported.
How was Hairspray Live! different from the Broadway show?
- Song changes: “The Big Dollhouse,” Broadway’s second-act opener, was cut, and two songs written for the 2007 movie, “Ladies’ Choice” and “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go),” were added (Playbill, Wikipedia).
- Location: the broadcast came from Los Angeles (BroadwayWorld), on the Universal Studios backlot, with some scenes staged outdoors and live audience members used as extras (Wikipedia).
- Length: the live telecast ran from 8 p.m. to 10:54 p.m. ET with commercials (NBC’s ratings release via The Futon Critic).
How many people watched Hairspray Live!?
About 9 million. Nielsen’s final numbers gave it a 2.3 rating among adults 18 to 49 and roughly 9 million total viewers, enough to win the night for NBC, according to Variety and The Futon Critic. That was below NBC’s earlier live musicals: Variety lists 18.62 million for The Sound of Music Live! (2013), 9.21 million for Peter Pan Live! (2014) and 11.5 million for The Wiz Live! (2015).
Where can you watch or hear Hairspray Live! now?
The companion album, Hairspray Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event, came out on December 2, 2016 from Masterworks Broadway/Epic Records, five days before the broadcast. It has studio recordings of all 19 numbers, from “Good Morning Baltimore” to “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go),” per Masterworks Broadway and Playbill. Streaming rights change often, so search your services for “Hairspray Live!” before paying for a rental. For the full story of the stage show, start with our guide to every Hairspray song, and if you are shopping for a fan this season, try our gifts for musical theatre fans list.
Frequently asked questions
Who played Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray Live!?
Maddie Baillio, a 20-year-old Marymount Manhattan College sophomore from League City, Texas, who won the role at an open call in New York in April 2016. It was her first professional role.
Who did Ariana Grande play in Hairspray Live!?
Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend. She also sang the finale, “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go),” with Jennifer Hudson.
When did Hairspray Live! air?
It aired live on NBC on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 8 p.m. ET.
Who played Edna in Hairspray Live!?
Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony Award for the same role on Broadway and also wrote the TV adaptation.
Were the original Tracys in Hairspray Live!?
Yes. Marissa Jaret Winokur (Broadway’s original Tracy) and Ricki Lake (Tracy in the 1988 film) made cameo appearances as employees of Mr. Pinky’s shop.
Sources: Playbill: full cast revealed; Playbill: new Tracy; Playbill: open call; Variety: Baillio cast; Playbill: finale duet; BroadwayWorld; Playbill: Lake and Winokur cameos; The Hollywood Reporter review; Variety: ratings; The Futon Critic: ratings; NBC ratings release (The Futon Critic); Masterworks Broadway; Playbill: soundtrack; Wikipedia: Hairspray Live!; IMDb.
