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Television Tue Dec 15 2009
Jennifer Hudson: Home for the Holidays
It is no secret how proud Jennifer Hudson is of her Chicago roots--and she showed us just how much in "Jennifer Hudson: "I'll Be Home for Christmas," her holiday special that aired last night on ABC-7.
In the special, the singer/actress took viewers on a journey to her favorite parts of the city that included a ride down the Chicago River and a stop at Navy Pier and her other Chicago stomping grounds, including Evergreen Plaza, as she sang holiday classics along the way.
One of Hudson's stops included a visit to her alma mater, Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. There, she gave an auditorium full of students a mini-concert where she belted out her rendition of holiday classics like "O Holy Night" and "The Christmas Song." Next, the Grammy and Academy Award winner visited the South Side church where she honed her singing chops and sang more holiday tunes, this time, backed by the Soul Children of Chicago choir. Together, they sang a high-energy, gospel-influenced version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and other Christmas songs.
Singer Michael Bublé also joined Hudson for a couple of duets that included "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Let It Snow."
The show was an excellent showcase for Hudson's singing talent, (not that we don't already know about her powerhouse vocals) and her fans everywhere were certainly treated to a warm and family-friendly holiday special.