Breaking: Pro-Trump former state Rep. Vernon Jones runs for Georgia secretary of state
Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

Jennifer Hudson will pay tribute to Kobe Bryant at NBA All-Star game

Chaka Khan to sing national anthem
At left, in a March 4, 2018, file photo, Kobe Bryant attends the Governors Ball after the Oscars in Los Angeles. At right, in a May 28, 2019, file photo, Jennifer Hudson sings "Amazing Grace" in tribute to Aretha Franklin during the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winners awards luncheon at Columbia University in New York. Jennifer Hudson is coming to the All-Star Game to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant with her voice. (AP Photo/File)
At left, in a March 4, 2018, file photo, Kobe Bryant attends the Governors Ball after the Oscars in Los Angeles. At right, in a May 28, 2019, file photo, Jennifer Hudson sings "Amazing Grace" in tribute to Aretha Franklin during the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winners awards luncheon at Columbia University in New York. Jennifer Hudson is coming to the All-Star Game to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant with her voice. (AP Photo/File)
By Melissa Ruggieri
Feb 13, 2020

Jennifer Hudson is scheduled to perform a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the Feb. 16 NBA All-Star game in Chicago.

The R&B star will sing prior to player introductions to honor Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven others who perished in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

The game airs at 8 p.m. on TNT.

Hudson, who also sang in tribute to Whitney Houston to open the Grammy Awards the night after Houston’s untimely 2012 death, dealt with her own tragedy with the 2008 killing of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

Along with Hudson, fellow Chicago natives Chance the Rapper and Common will take part in the All-Star events; Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled will perform during halftime.

Chaka Khan – recently revealed as Miss Monster on "The Masked Singer" – will handle the national anthem.

Follow the Atlanta Music Scene on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author

Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.

Follow Melissa Ruggieri on facebookFollow Melissa Ruggieri on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band at the first Harmony for Hope fundraiser to cure ALS on Sept. 24, 2025. (Courtesy of Jolie Loren Rizzi)

Credit: Jolie Loren Rizzi

Zac Brown Band’s John Driskell Hopkins with ALS: ‘Every day is a gift’

John Driskell Hopkins, part of Atlanta country act Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 and created a nonprofit that has raised $4 million for ALS research.

Time is ticking as Dogwood Festival seeks $179K more to survive in 2026

The clock is ticking as the Dogwood Festival scrambles to raise $250K to enable it to operate in 2026. So far, it has raised $71,000 with three weeks to go before deadline.

Atlanta podcast explores murder via stand-up comedy in ‘Wisecrack’

Atlanta true crime producer Jodi Tovay and Tenderfoot TV have created a hit podcast "Wisecrack," which blends humor and tragedy via a murder and a stand-up comic's story.

The Latest

ajc.com

What movies made in Georgia have made the most money since 2008?

‘Ride Along’ producer Will Packer promotes ‘healthy arrogance’ in new book

Check out three new reality shows with Atlanta ties

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik

High Museum to showcase Amy Sherald’s uncensored retrospective next summer

Georgia-born Amy Sherald gained national attention when she pulled her solo National Portrait Gallery exhibit, citing censorship. Atlantans will get to see it in its entirety.

Police, GBI investigating off-duty officer killing man near Buckhead bar

An Atlanta officer responding to a "disruptive patron" call at the 5 Paces Inn shoots the man after seeing him take an item he believed to be a gun from a car, GBI says.

Monday madness guide: Falcons, Hawks to bring traffic to downtown Atlanta

Expect packed MARTA trains and traffic snarls around State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Big crowds of Bills fans are expected to descend on the city.