There are some singers who have a soul power that just cannot be denied. Jennifer Hudson is one of them, no doubt, and she proved that with a show-stopping gospel performance at the CMA Awards with Chris Stapleton on “Night Life” and “You Are My Sunshine.” J.Hud owned the front of the stage while Stapleton laid down a rhythm guitar groove and later vocals, backed up by a smokin’ R&B band.
There are so many great J.Hud moments in the performance. Every time you think she’s hit the limit of her range, she kicks it up another level. The audience 100% knew they were hearing something special that night, as the shock and awe on everyone’s faces were plain to see. Any R&B lovers in readership definitely don’t want to miss this one.
Hudson and Stapleton teamed up for the 55th Annual CMA Awards on November 11, 2021. Their performance proved to be quite the hit on YouTube, where it drew 2.6 million views. Fans were digging it big time and added comments such as “When country went to church! What we just witnessed was THE SOUL OF COUNTRY… unadulterated music” and “You could see it in the faces of the musicians and the audience. They were all part of something amazing and magical that night. Wow.”
The 2021 CMA Awards appearance was the first time Hudson and Stapleton performed on stage together. The dynamic duo hit the stage again on May 14, 2024, when the country star dropped into The Jennifer Hudson Show. This time around, Stapleton took centre stage by performing his single “Loving You on My Mind”, as J.Hud provided impeccable backing vocals and harmonies.
Hudson and Stapleton’s medley of “Night Life” and “You Are My Sunshine” showcased a curious combination of songs, but I’m sure readers will agree that the strange brew worked. “Night Life” was written by country legend Willie Nelson, and he first released it back in 1960. The lyrics of the song address Nelson’s lifestyle at the time, singing for his supper at the Esquire Ballroom club. “You Are My Sunshine” comes from a very different era, and the original songwriter is disputed. The old-time country song is the state song of Louisiana and has been recorded by more than 350 artists. “You Are My Sunshine” originally came to prominence after a hit version by Jimmie Davis in 1940.