“You’ve got a decision to make,” said entertainment mogul and mega-manger, Irving Azoff to Keep Memory Alive co-Founder, Camille Ruvo – frantic, on the other end of the call.  But I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Let’s rewind, a bit.  It’s Tuesday, April 25th, and Azoff is telling Ruvo that, while on a flight, Gwen Stefani – who’d been scheduled to headline the 21st annual Power of Love™ gala (a mere two days, hence) benefiting KMA and its mission to support the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health – had ruptured her eardrum, and was under strict medical orders not to fly or sing, until it healed.

While, if in Ruvo’s shoes, my reaction to the legendary talent manager might’ve been something along the lines of “Oh, Hell no!” – Ruvo took a calming breath and asked Azoff what that decision might be.

“Well, since we’ve got less than 48 hours, you’ve got your choice of Steely Dan, Cristina Aguilera, or Jennifer Hudson.”

An embarrassment of riches, to be sure; but Ruvo thought about it, and figured that Steely Dan would’ve been lovely, were they not just wrapping-up their residency at The Venetian.  Likewise, Cristina Aguilera would only able to perform two songs (and anytime in the past five years, as one of a dozen other performers, that’d have been fierce, but as a co-headliner, not so much).  But Jennifer Hudson?  This elicited a prompt “Yes, please!” from Mrs. Ruvo, who remembered the dynamic performer’s set from 2013, when Hudson sang at KMA’s 17th annual Power of Love™ gala, honoring the 80th birthdays of celestial twins, Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine.

And what a brilliant decision Ruvo’s turned-out to be.

While it’s impossible to say how good of a show Stefani would’ve given.  That Hudson not only brought the proverbial house down (in this case, the MGM Grand Garden Arena), but did so with a combination of sincerity, style, and spiritual strength, is irrefutable, and left guests reflecting that this was the best last-minute substitution for which anyone could’ve hoped.

The multi-talented Hudson – eliminated in seventh place, from American Idol (2004) – went on to win an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a Golden Globe, for her bravura role as ‘Effie White’ in Dreamgirls (2006); before appearing in such films as Sex and the City (2008) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008).  She’s won two Grammy awards – first for her eponymous 2009 album; and another this year, when her much-heralded Broadway debut as ‘Shug Avery’ earned the revival of The Color Purple its win for Best Musical Theater Album.  She also won a special People’s Choice award for Favorite Humanitarian in 2014, and it’s not hard to figure-out why. 

Having faced tragedy in her own life, Hudson is always among the first to volunteer her talents, to alleviate the suffering of others.  She sang “America the Beautiful” with the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus, at Super Bowl XLVII; sang “Will You Be There” at the memorial for Michael Jackson; sang “I Will Always Love You” at the 54th Grammy Awards, as a tribute to Whitney Houston (who’d died tragically, the night before), and sang “I Can’t Let Go” at the 87th Academy Awards, during the Memorium.

Refusing to take a fee for her performance; Hudson hightailed it from the Bay Area to Vegas, threw on a sexy cocktail dress (showing off that gorgeous body, for which she’s struggled, so publically), and proved she’s so much more than a pretty face.  Meanwhile, that face?  Beat to the proverbial gods, and so expressive – whether lighting up the room with her smile or getting down with that instrument that brought the room to its feet numerous times.  She even had her maquillage coordinated with the event’s color palate!

She started her set (well, less a set, so much as a mini-concert) with a haunting rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” before serving “Remember Me” – the first single from her upcoming Epic Records release.  Her 2014 tribute to marriage equality, “I Still Love You” was next, and got the room dancing.  But it was her medley of songs from Dreamgirls – “One Night Only” and “I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” (or as I refer to it, gay gospel), about the latter of which she proclaimed “I owe my career to this song, and I’ll never forget it…” – that really turned my crank. 

Having watched Hudson for more than a decade, it’s no secret that hers is a major talent; but seeing the way she interacted with the audience – shooing security away, so she could take the time to shake the hands of each and every guest who gathered around the stage – and the genuine desire to help others that she emotes; well, it was something very special that we witnessed, that night.  And you, and you, and you – you should’ve been there.

Jennifer Hudson
Keep Memory Alive’s 21st Annual Power of Love™ gala
MGM Grand Garden Arena | Thursday, April 27th
Click HERE for info

Get into it!
#OneMemory