There have been countless covers of “Hallelujah” over the years, but Jennifer Hudson’s soulful “Hallelujah” at Royal Albert Hall really is unparalleled. The Chicago, Illinois R&B star gave her take on the Leonard Cohen classic at the Global Citizen Prize ceremony, and she had the audience hanging on her every word.
J.Hud opened the song with a heavenly vocal melody, then delivered the opening verse with passion and conviction. The girl has an unmatched set of pipes and just went to town on the song, showing off incredible dynamic control and bringing out the beauty of the song so effortlessly. Fans online flocked to listen to the song, resulting in the video clocking up 16 million views.
Hudson performed with only the most minimal piano backing for the opening verse, which put the spotlight fully on her vocals. She rose to the challenge like a boss and gave everything she had to the performance. From the main vocal refrain onwards, a choir and full band added a tasteful accompaniment that really let J.Hud shine on the number. The call and response between her and the choir at the end was a great way to end the special performance.
Fans online couldn’t get enough of Hudson’s “Hallelujah”, adding comments such as “She is one of the best vocalists of all time” and “There are very few performers who can consistently deliver like Jennifer Hudson. It is a testament to her talent, dedication, and professionalism. She sets the bar for everyone in the music industry.” Hudson has many hit videos on YouTube, including her performance of “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” during her time as a coach on The Voice UK.
“Hallelujah” is a signature song for J.Hud, and she has sung the Leonard Cohen tune at several high-profile events, including on the 2017 season of The Voice, which was her coaching debut on the show.
Hudson rose to public attention in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, where she placed seventh overall. She subsequently released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.
In later years, Hudson became a coach on both the US and UK versions of The Voice, from 2017 to 2019. Her artist, Mo Adeniran, won the 2017 season of The Voice UK, which made Hudson the first female coach to win the show.
If you enjoyed Jennifer Hudson’s soulful rendition of “Hallelujah” at the Royal Albert Hall, you can check out more of her incredible performances. Follow her on her official YouTube Channel where you can find the 16 million-view masterpiece alongside other performances. You can also stay updated on her activities on her official Facebook page.