Lea Salonga Talks 'Hopeful' Christmas Album, “Sounding Joy”: 'I've Made a Good Living Making People Cry' (Exclusive)

'Sounding Joy,' Salonga's first Christmas album in over two decades, releases on Nov. 1

Lea Salonga is bringing the Christmas cheer by revitalizing some classics!

It’s been over two decades since the Broadway legend, 53, released her first Christmas album (aptly titled The Christmas Album), and she says she felt that it was finally the right time to release another.

“I mean, why not a holiday album?,” Salonga jokingly tells PEOPLE.

“And given what we had all gone through [the past few years] and what the album has had to undergo in its own process of getting it done and figuring everything out, it just feels now much more hopeful and joyful,” she adds.

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The Tony award winner is referring to the nearly five-year wait to finally get her new album titled Sounding Joy out after its initial release was scheduled in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “shut down” of various recording studios around the world, including where she was recording in Manila, Philippines, presented the singer and her producers with new challenges to releasing the LP.

“We had gotten more than half of the songs recorded, at least the principal vocals,” she recalls. “And, and then, you know, the Philippines, like the rest of the world, [went] under lockdown [after COVID-19]… so I wasn't able to go back into the studio to complete the main vocals until 2024.”

Salonga says she finally finished recording the album around March or April of this year, and additional elements like live strings, brasses and the rest of the live instruments were recorded to “round out everything.” They also had to mix and master the songs.

“We really did our due diligence as far as making sure everything sounded right and that everything was right for this album,” shares the singer.

She further notes that the album embodies the message of “human resilience” and overcoming tragedy and obstacles, as “so much has happened [in all] of our lives since we started recording it."

"I think all of us are finally relieved and happy that it's coming out," she said.

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The album features several renditions of classic songs including The Ronettes’ “Sleigh Ride,” WHAM’s “Last Christmas,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” — and one of Salonga’s favorites “River” by Joni Mitchell. It also features ballads “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” from Bing Crosby and “Silent Night/What Child Is This?”

“I mean, I've made a really good living making people cry,” she jokes. “I wanted to lean into the less than joyful stuff that happens as well… and [show] that sometimes there's gonna be a holiday season where for whatever reason that joyfulness just isn't present.”

However, the album doesn’t come without some surprises, including a duet with American Idol star Clay Aiken on a rendition of Jordan Smith’s “Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be).” Salonga reveals that she watched his “journey” on Idol and has “been a fan of his for a while,” which is why she was ecstatic about finally working with him.

“He's delightful and lovely, and you know, just jaw-droppingly funny,” she says of the “Invisible” singer, 45.

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Aiken will even be joining Salonga as a “special guest” at her concert in the Philippines as part of her upcoming tour for the album. “I'm hoping that the humidity is kind to him because not everybody is ready for Filipino humidity," she laughs.

The tour will start in the Philippines in November before hitting San Francisco, San Diego, Northridge, Cali., Scottsdale, Ariz. and conclude in New York City on Dec. 20. The Miss Saigon star says she looks forward to performing the songs on the album live.

“It always makes me feel really excited when I go, I run down a set list — and especially a holiday set list — and it's like, ‘Oh, here we go. Here comes this song that I really love so much,’ ” she tells PEOPLE. “Doing a holiday tour will be a lot of fun. I don't think I've ever done one. So, this is gonna be new."

It’s a new horizon for the Filipino-born actress who has already accomplished so much in her life. She was the first Asian performer to win a Tony Award (for her performance in 1991’s Miss Saigon), and her vocals have serenaded millions across the globe as the singing voice of Disney princesses Jasmine and Fa Mulan in the animated films Aladdin and Mulan, respectively.

But she doesn't want to stop pioneering the way for future generations, especially those of Asian descent, telling PEOPLE, “As I look back, it's like I realize that whatever stepping stone I happen to make, it means that there's gonna be another person behind me that will not have as hard of a time, I hope.”

“We have a responsibility to, you know, make the [entertainment industry] environment more kind… if it's easier for somebody else later, then that's great,” she says. “Then I think I did good.”

Sounding Joy is out now.