When Jennifer Hudson [1] invites a guest with musical talent onto her show, it's almost expected that they'll treat us to an epic duet. During a March 29 appearance on the "Jennifer Hudson Show," Reba McEntire stopped by and casually performed Aretha Franklin's "Respect" alongside the talk-show host. While speaking about their love for the queen of soul [2], Hudson asked McEntire if they could sing a bit of the track, and they swiftly broke out into song.
To the surprise of no one, the two vocal powerhouses delivered an exciting performance that had Hudson's guests on their feet, singing along and clapping their hands. The pair fed off each other's energy, alternating lines with passion before launching into a beautiful harmony for the chorus.
Both musicians have connections to Franklin and the recognizable hit. The country singer has performed the song several times over the years, including at the 1988 CMA Awards. Hudson notably portrayed the musical icon [3] in the "Respect" biopic [4] in 2021, garnering numerous awards for her impressive depiction. Considering Franklin handpicked Hudson for the role [5] herself, it's no surprise the talk-show host belted out the words and notes with ease during the segment.
In the past, Hudson has also brought talented musicians like Amber Riley [6] and Sheryl Lee Ralph to perform "Dreamgirls," [7] as well as Adam Lambert for a stunning opera production [8]. Watch her latest duet with McEntire above.
