It was on the stages of Chicago's gay clubs that Jennifer Hudson received her earliest training as a performerand next month Ms. Hudson returns to the Boystown stage as headliner for the 2014 Pride Fest.
"I used to go out to the gay clubs when I was a kid," revealed Hudson in an interview with V magazine published earlier this year. "We were 16 or 17 and my best friend would pretend to be my manager. He'd have business cards made up and he'd negotiate for me to sing for $25 a song. I'd have these amazing drag queens style me up and down, honey. They would be up there lip-synching and then I'd get up and sing for real some Whitney Houston or some old-school Shirley Murdock and I would make all the money. That was like my training, basically."
"Jennifer Hudson is the biggest artist we've ever had at Pride Fest," said Jen Gordon, a spokesperson for the Northalsted Business Alliance, in an exclusive interview with Windy City Times. "We've heard what Pride Fest goers have been asking for and who they'd like to see performand this year we were really able to respond. What's so amazing about Jennifer is that she appeals to the LGBT community, to the straight community, and to people of all ages."
Pride Festa two-day event that for many Chicagoans marks the first official party of the summer rolls out June 21-22, the weekend before the 45th annual Chicago Gay Pride Parade. Last year marked the first time the popular street festival was pushed back creating an entire week of Pride-related festivities and alleviating crowd congestion.
"Once the festival expanded to two days the event had much more visibility," said Gordon, referring to the alliance's ability to attract the Grammy and Academy Award winner ( and American Idol finalist ) to this year's event. Now in its 12th year, Pride Fest has featured performers such as Deborah Cox, Ultra Nate, and another American Idol alum, Frenchie Davis. "When Pride Fest was one day or a day and a half long, potential sponsors questioned how many people they were reaching," added Gordon. "Now that Pride Fest is two days long, the sponsorship is in place allowing us the opportunity to bring in big names."
Hudson, a Chicago native, was in Wicker Park earlier this month filming the video for "Walk It Out," her new single produced by Timbaland and J-Roc.
"'Walk It Out' reflects the 'JHud' in me," said Hudson in a press release. "Every bit of it is a reminder and a connection of where I come from. We co-wrote the song together so I'm singing my words. It's my take; my perspective. It's my music and I can't wait to share that with my fans." Hudson's untitled third studio album is due out this summer on RCA Records.
Hudson takes the stage at the 2014 Pride Fest on Saturday, June 21, at 2:30 pm.