When Jennifer Holliday stepped onto The Jennifer Hudson Show, it felt like a passage of musical royalty being honored in real time. The two Jennifers—one who originated the role of Effie White on Broadway, the other who brought it to the silver screen—stood side by side and re-imagined the iconic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” Their voices intertwined, each with her own weight of history behind the notes.
The emotional weight of that moment was not lost. Hudson, ever gracious, acknowledged Holliday’s influence and even recalled a powerful moment during her Oscar acceptance speech when she ran back to say, “And Jennifer Holliday, too!” Holliday confessed in their sit-down that hearing her name in that spotlight meant more than she can express—even fifteen years later.Beyond the performance, Holliday offered wisdom for any future Effie. She urged authenticity above theatrics, reminding that each night’s emotional truth should guide the performance. “Every night can be different, because you can feel every night,” she said, cautioning that once the role is done, the artist must reclaim herself—reminding us all that the legend lives in both stage and soul.
That episode wasn’t just a TV moment—it was a reminder of intergenerational artistry, reverence, and the connective tissue of musical theatre. For fans of Dreamgirls, Holliday, or Hudson, this was more than tribute; it was a living echo of voices that shaped an era.
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