Jennifer Hudson’s NBA All-Star Game Performance Draws Mixed Reactions: She’s ‘Legendary But Such An Awkward Choice For A Halftime Show’

Jennifer Hudson’s NBA All-Star Game Performance Draws Mixed Reactions: She’s ‘Legendary But Such An Awkward Choice For A Halftime Show’

Not everyone enjoyed Jennifer Hudson’s performance at the NBA All-Star Game.

The two-time Grammy winner took the stage for the event’s halftime show at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday night (Feb. 18), where she sang her song ‘Got This.’ 

Jennifer Hudson's full 2024 #NBAAllStar halftime performance ??? pic.twitter.com/BFfOuezoh2

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2024

Users on YouTube quickly weighed in underneath the NBA’s official video of Jennifer Hudson’s performance, with one person writing in part,

“Respect a giant. She’s an EGOT for a reason. The performance was dope. Song choice was dope. She straight killed it. For those that didn’t like it? Sorry but it was NOT for you.”

Other users on YouTube also praised Jennifer Hudson’s performance in the comments:

Meanwhile, some acknowledged the daytime talk show host’s talents but believed she wasn’t the right fit for the All-Star Game on “X,” formerly known as Twitter, 

During the performance, Jennifer Hudson wore a 2024 All-Star Game-themed jacket and a custom jacket with her name and the number 17 during her performance. Hudson often sports the number 17 because she was the 17th person and youngest woman to earn EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award) honors.

Jennifer Hudson

In an interview with Gayle King in 2022, Hudson gave a candid response about what being an EGOT winner means, and remembered the initial shock she felt when she learned of her new status at the Tony Awards in June for co-producing ‘A Strange Loop,’ which won best musical at the ceremony.

J.Hud

She explained,

“You know, I’m still processing it. To  be able to know fully what that means, the company that I’m in … because it came as a surprise. I did not fully see it coming. I went to celebrate the cast for getting 11 nominations because I don’t feel like I’ve been present.”

Hudson added,

“And then when they said ‘Strange Loop,’ best musical, I was cheering for them and once we got on the stage, everybody started chanting ‘EGOT! EGOT!’ And I was like … ‘Wait, what?’ It blows me away. I call myself 17 because 17th EGOT. I’m the 17th.”

Other EGOT winners include John Legend, Whoopi Goldberg, and Viola Davis. 

Hudson first emerged on the national stage when she competed in the third season of American Idol, finishing seventh. Like many alums from the show’s early seasons, she still went on to have a monumentally successful career despite not winning.

Hudson has acted in films and on Broadway, winning an Oscar for her role in ‘Dreamgirls’ and appearing in the popular musical ‘The Color Purple’ in 2015.

Jennifer Hudson

She entered a new genre in 2022 by launching ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show,’ a talk show that airs daily throughout the week. Hudson has hosted a few NBA legends as guests on the show, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal.

What did you think about Jennifer Hudson’s performance at the NBA All-Star Game? Let us know how you feel in the comments below.

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