In what could turn out to be the best or worst PR move ever brewed up by a brain trust of managers, agents and consultants, soulful singer-actress Jennifer Hudson comes out of hiding and gives her first performance since the triple homicide that took the lives of her mother, brother and young nephew less than four months ago. At Super Bowl XLIII. In front of millions of Americans across the country and a live audience of nearly 70,000. With just her and the microphone, singing the national anthem.
Will she get to “the bombs bursting in air” and flash to her family getting shot to death, and breakdown, right there, in the middle of Raymond James Stadium? Or will she belt out a mournful but magnificently moving cry to the heavens, and touch the heart of every sentimental schmuck who’s watching, and bring said schmucks to tears?
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2009.
