Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Grammy Tribute: Review Revue

Robbie Daw | February 13, 2012 9:43 am

There was much sadness during Grammy night following the untimely death of Whitney Houston. But critics pretty much universally agree that Jennifer Hudson’s tribute to the late singer — where she belted out Houston’s Bodyguard soundtrack cover of “I Will Always Love You” — was a highlight of the ceremony. Head below to read the praise the Internet gave JHud, then let us know your own thoughts on the Oscar winner’s performance. :: The New York Daily News thought Jennifer hit all the right notes: “On a night when Adele dominated the podium and Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj had over-the-top sets, Jennifer Hudson may have stolen the show.”

:: The Washington Post thinks time won’t soon forget this performance: “There were reports that Hudson broke down sobbing in rehearsals for what will surely be one of the most memorable performances of her lifetime, but she was able to remain composed throughout the performance.”

:: The Baltimore Sun agreed that Hudson shined: “Kudos to the producers of the telecast for the way they handled the tribute on short notice, and hosanna in the highest to Hudson who touched a nerve — and then some in her simple and elegant performance.”

:: The Los Angeles Times rounded up the night’s weirdest moments, but noted also noted the following: “The Recording Academy did a tremendous job responding to the sudden death of former pop titan Whitney Houston, arranging a gorgeously simple tribute from Jennifer Hudson.”

:: TV Line praised Hudson, as well: “It was no small task to celebrate Houston’s colossal voice while simultaneously filling the emotional void created by the troubled diva’s passing at the age of 48. But with an awe-inspiring a capella intro and pitch perfection right to the very last note, a clearly emotional J.Hud did exactly that.”

:: Billboard also raved: “Jennifer Hudson, who looked at Whitney Houston as a mentor belted the late singer’s hit, ‘I Will Always Love You,’ with such passion. Hudson emphasized on Houston’s vocal depth by staying true to her own, owning the classic from the start.”

:: Rolling Stone noted Jennifer’s ability to pull it together on such short notice: “Given Houston’s unexpected death Saturday at age 48, there was little time to prepare the segment, but the former American Idol contestant made the most of a difficult task, blinking away tears as she sang a solemn, unadorned tribute on the otherwise flashy show.”

:: Pink Is The New Blog couldn’t have picked a better person for the tribute: “She seemed absolutely intent on getting thru the television broadcast without breaking into tears … at least on camera. You may recall that it was Whitney Houston who presented Jennifer Hudson with her first Grammy Award back in 2008. It seems to me that Jennifer was the perfect person to sing the tribute song to Whitney last night.”

:: Finally, The Atlantic stated the following: “Though she appeared to nearly break down more than once, Hudson’s version was first rate — but in its own way demonstrated just how difficult it is to sing Houston’s signature song, and how remarkable Whitney’s voice really was.”

What did you think of Jennifer Hudson’s tribute to Whitney Houston? Let us know your thoughts below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.