Broadway Star Melba Moore, 80, Still Hits 36-Second Note

Most people slow down as they age, but Broadway legend Melba Moore is proving that the right attitude and workout can keep you hitting impossibly high notes well into your 80s.

Moore, who won a Tony Award in 1970 for the musical Purlie, set a Guinness World Record in 1982 for holding a single note for 36 seconds on her album "The Other Side of the Rainbow." During a 2024 appearance on Sherri Shepherd's talk show, she proved she can still do it.

The secret isn't magic or luck. It's what Moore calls her "PUSH BACK" gym regimen, which she details in her new memoir "This Is It — Marvelous... & Getting Better."

"So many people think that singers need their throat, our vocal chords alone, to be great singers," Moore writes in her book. "That's not true."

Instead, she focuses on core strength, leg work, and endurance training. She does leg curls, thigh squeezes, and lower back exercises that give her the power to hold those legendary notes. The stronger her core muscles, the more wind capacity she has to sustain her voice.

Moore's nearly 60-year career includes starring in the original Broadway production of "Hair" in 1968, hosting her own CBS variety show in the early 1970s, and releasing multiple hit records. But she's not resting on those accomplishments.

On June 24 and 25, she'll perform "Melba Moore: From Broadway, With Love" at 54 Below in New York City, sharing her gift with new audiences.

Her daily routine includes walking on sunny days, simple trips from bedroom to kitchen, and anything that keeps her moving. "MOVE! That's the trick, and not doing it is the trap," she writes.

Why This Inspires

Moore's story reminds us that age doesn't have to mean decline. By treating fitness as fuel for her passion rather than a chore, she's rewriting what's possible in your 80s. Her approach works for anyone: strengthen your core to support what you love doing, stay active every single day, and when life pushes you, push back harder.

At 80, Moore isn't slowing down or considering retirement. She's still hitting those high notes and proving that dedication and smart training can keep you at the top of your game for decades.