Jennifer Hudson lends her voice to PrideFest this weekend
Jennifer Hudson will be spending a lot of time on the small screen this fall, as she returns to her talent competition roots, serving as a judge on “The Voice.”
In announcing it, NBC called her “one of the premier voices of our time.”
On Saturday, the contemporary R&B singer will lend that big voice to the LGBT community with her appearance at the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh’s Pride in the Street.
Ms. Hudson, a Chicago native who had been singing on Disney Cruise Lines, got her start on the third season of “American Idol” in 2004 and finished in the Top 7, against popular opinion.
She went on to do quite well. In fact, in 2010, the Los Angeles Times named her the third greatest “Idol” contestant in the history of the show, behind Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
After leaving “Idol,” she won an Academy Award in 2007 for her portrayal of Effie White in “Dreamgirls.” Then, she won a best R&B album Grammy for her 2008 self-titled debut album and was the principal singer of the Grammy-winning “The Color Purple” musical album. She also appeared in “Sex and the City: The Movie,” and on TV in “Smash,” “Empire” and “Hairspray Live.”
Among her headline-making performances have been singing at the White House for President Obama’s “Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement,” performing at Super Bowl XLIII, on the telethon “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” (performing the Beatles’ “Let it Be”) and paying tribute to Whitney Houston the day after her death on the Grammy Awards.
Her third album, “JHUD,” included the song “I Still Love You,” which was set to a video centered around a father’s last-minute decision to attend his gay son’s wedding.
“I grew up surrounded and supported by the gay community and I just wanted to make sure I show them the same support and this is my way of doing it,” she told MTV.com. “No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love.”
She recently released “Remember Me,” the lead single from her upcoming fourth album.
“I’m excited to perform on Liberty Ave. and use my voice to support the LBGT community in their quest for equality,” she said in a statement.
“Reaction has been fantastic,” said Delta’s director of marketing Christine Bryan. “Jennifer has been on our list for some time as she’s been a fierce advocate for the LGBT community using her influence in music and film to bring people together, which is what Pride is about.”
PrideFest will present more than 150 vendors, food booths, family friendly carnival games and inflatable attractions, entertainment on three stages, a DJ dance area and a 300-foot Mobile Zip Line.
Friday (5-11 p.m.): MJ LIVE! Michael Jackson Tribute Concert. This show is direct from the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. It begins at 7 p.m. on Liberty Avenue between Seventh & 10th Streets. Free.
Friday (8 p.m.-2 a.m.): Pub Crawl of the hottest LGBT-friendly bars. Buses will continually loop around the city and hit every location on the crawl. Locations include 5801, Harris Grill and Element (Shadyside/ East Side), Cattivo (Lawrenceville), Cruze Bar and Real Luck Cafe (Strip District), and Images, There Video Lounge, 941/Saloon (Downtown); $30.
Saturday: PrideFest from noon to 5 p.m., followed by Pride in the Street concert at 7 p.m. with Jennifer Hudson and late set by Shawn Hook (“Reminding Me”), $45, attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; www.pittsburghpride.org
Sunday (noon-2:30 p.m.): Rise Up For Our Rights Rally with local, regional and national speakers advocating for causes at the PPG Paints Arena, followed by the EQT Equality March, from PPG Paints Arena to Liberty Avenue with floats, marching contingents and surprises. Kirstin Maldonado, of Pentatonix, will be the closing performer.
For more details, go to www.pittsburghpride.org