Stephanie Mills stars as Auntie Em in NBC's holiday production of "The Wiz Live!"

A legendary Grammy and American Music Award-winning recording artist, Stephanie Mills has released five best-selling albums and 10 Billboard No. 1 singles. Mills also starred as Dorothy in the four-time Tony Award-winning production of "The Wiz," which opened on Broadway in 1975.

Mills hails from Brooklyn, New York, and grew up singing in her home church. At age nine, she won Amateur Night at the acclaimed Apollo Theater for six consecutive weeks. She then went on to perform in her first Broadway musical, "Maggie Flynn," followed by the classic television series "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Electric Company."

In 1979, Mills signed with 20th Century Fox Records and recorded "What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin'" while working with producers James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. She climbed the charts with major hits like "Sweet Sensation," "Never Knew Love Like This Before" (a gold single), "Two Hearts" (a duet with Teddy Pendergrass), "Keep Away Girls" and "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" Stephanie released three best-selling albums in a row with "What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin'," "Sweet Sensation" and "Stephanie," in a span of just two years.

Mills plans to release a new album entitled "Afraid to Love" in 2016.