Reunited with their American Idol pianist, Michael Orland, Adam Lambert and Jennifer Hudson thought it was the ideal chance to celebrate their past with a duet that would make any Music Man reader proud. On The Jennifer Hudson Show, Adam and Jennifer gathered around the piano and stunned the audience by playing the beloved opera song “Nessun Dorma.” The pair’s abilities astounded the audience, even though they didn’t practice or have any experience with opera.
They continued performing after that. When they thought back to their initial American Idol auditions, they remembered that Adam Lambert and Jennifer Hudson had performed Aretha Franklin and Queen songs, respectively. They chose to change artists as a result. Jennifer began by covering Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” demonstrating her remarkable range by pitch-raising each line. Adam sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin to demonstrate his soulful abilities.
The singers’ flawless performances astounded the audience, who enthusiastically cheered and applauded the pair when they were done. Strong reactions were seen from online viewers, who expressed shock at the duo’s vocal prowess and versatility as well. “Two all-time great singers—a rock singer and an R&B singer—are doing opera without rehearsal and having to pick up the key as it is being played,” remarked an impressed fan. And they’re capable of that? Whoa.
Jennifer Hudson had previously asked someone to perform an Aretha Franklin song on her show. Readers of Music Man might remember Reba McEntire’s 1988 CMA Awards performance, during which she paid tribute to Aretha Franklin by performing a cover of her song “Respect.” When she performed the song as a duet with Jennifer on her show in 2023, she repeated the performance. As Reba incorporated Jennifer’s voice and the song’s soulful vibe with her signature country vocals, she demonstrated her versatility.
The Jennifer Hudson Show has welcomed guests from a wide range of backgrounds to its couch, but because of Jennifer’s celebrity as a singer, it is the ideal venue for inviting musicians and vocalists to share their craft and perform with the host. Furthermore, by encouraging the singers to venture beyond their comfort zones musically, Jennifer gives the audience a chance to witness these artists perform in a completely new light. With Jennifer Hudson’s incredible vocals and these distinctive guest performances, Music Man readers will definitely want to watch any upcoming duets on the show.