Jennifer Hudson Lip-Synched Super Bowl Performance?

[MonarC]

http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/33761...per-bowl.jhtml


Producer insisted that Hudson and Faith Hill use pre-recorded tracks.

By now, you're probably either read about or seen Jennifer Hudson's stirring rendition of the national anthem before Sunday night's Super Bowl. In her first public performance since seen her mother, brother and nephew were slain in October, Hudson delivered a stunning version of the anthem.

But after the game, the show's producer, "American Idol" music director Ricky Minor, told The Associated Press that, at his request, Hudson lip-synched the anthem to a previously recorded track.

"This was such an important performance, because it's the first time everyone has seen Jennifer. But she's in such a great place, with such great spirits, and time can heal her wounds. She's on fire right now and totally grounded," said Minor, who has produced a number of Super Bowl pregame performances, including Whitney Houston's iconic 1991 rendition of the anthem, also in Tampa, which is considered one of the all-time greats.

Minor explained that he insisted that both Hudson and Faith Hill, who performed "America the Beautiful" before Hudson, sing to the prerecorded tracks the NFL requires them to submit a week before the game.

"That's the right way to do it," Minor said. "There's too many variables to go live. I would never recommend any artist go live, because the slightest glitch would devastate the performance."

Minor described Hudson as being very calm and prepared for her performance. While many artists try to reach for the Houston standard on the huge Super Bowl stage, he said Hudson's soaring take was more personal than patriotic.

"She's from the church," Minor said. "So we wanted to give it a gospel feel, use a little organ, rhythm and really give it a feel that matched Jennifer. We wanted her to emote the lyrics and connect with the song."

After the performance, Minor said Hudson returned to the dressing room and anxiously asked him, "How did I do?"

"I told her, 'Touchdown!'" Minor told the AP after the performance. Minor added that Hudson's two cell phones lit up "like slot machines" following her performance, including a text from her "Dreamgirls" co-star, Jamie Foxx. "His text said 'Amazing. It brought tears to my eyes,' " Minor said. "She's just getting so much love."

Hudson, 27, who has yet to discuss her family tragedy in public, will next appear at the Grammy Awards on February 8.

MTV

[TripperFan]

Even if Jennifer did lip sync - so big deal. It was her first appearance since her family was murdered. If anything, if I were her manager, I think I would have wanted it that way. You never know when emotions are going to hit you. Unfortunately I missed that part - only saw a bit of a clip on the news but it looked like she did a great job - lip synced or not.

It was nice to see Springsteen perform raw! I would have been so pissed if he had lip synced, but he's the BOSS - it would never happen!

Best half time show I've seen in years!

[JamesG]

Apparently it's been confirmed that she did...

Hudson Lip-Synced Super Bowl Performance
2 February 2009 11:05 AM, PST


Jennifer Hudson lip-synced the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday after producers insisted she sing to a prerecorded track to avoid a potentially disastrous performance. Hudson wowed millions of American TV viewers with her comeback, broadcast from Tampa, Florida - her first public appearance since her mother, brother and nephew were shot dead in October.

And the show's producer, Ricky Minor, urged Hudson to sing accompanied by the recording.

He tells Usmagazine.com, "This was such an important performance, because it's the first time everyone has seen Jennifer. But she's in such a great place, with such great spirits, and time can heal her wounds. She's on fire right now and totally grounded.

"That's the right way to do it. There's too many variables to go live. I would never recommend any artist go live, because the slightest glitch would devastate the performance."

When Dreamgirls star Hudson stepped off the stage, Minor was the first to congratulate her success: "I told her, 'Touchdown!' She's just getting so much love."

Hudson's mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson, 29, were shot dead in Donerson's Chicago, Illinois home. The body of the Oscar-winner's seven year old nephew, Julian, was found in a car elsewhere in the city three days later.

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder and home invasion.

-IMDB News

[TripperFan]

Actually I read after posting in this thread this morning that it's STANDARD - that they all lip sync the national anthem because of the terrible acoustics. Unless they wear bigass headphones for it, it's almost impossible to sing properly live.


Sad that she was nervous and couldn't muster a smile, but it's the first step so I'm sure it'll get easier with each performance.

[MonarC]

I think Whitney Houston did it live correct me if im wrong. It seems live to me anyways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CmKRpqa_E

[browneyes106]

^ She did.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by MonarC

I think Whitney Houston did it live correct me if im wrong. It seems live to me anyways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CmKRpqa_E

I think she's one of the few who can do it - I suspect Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin are others. Don't get me wrong, Jennifer's a great singer, but it does take the real greats to pull it off live. I don't think Barbra Streisand would even attempt it (knowing her and her obsession with perfection).

[catlover79]

Here's a similar story: after Connie Francis went through a brutal rape, divorce and the murder of her brother, she left the public eye and stayed out of sight for about 7 years. Her first appearance back was on American Bandstand (I think - it was one of Dick Clark's shows) and she lip-synched to a pre-recorded track. I think she said later that it was the only way she'd be able to get through it.