Jennifer Hudson and her former Dreamgirls costar Beyoncé looked as radiant as ever when they reunited at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on Monday.
Nearly two decades after starring in their hit 2006 film, an adaptation of the Broadway musical, the 42-year-old singer showed her support for her longtime friend, who received the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.
“I’m so happy I could be there to cheer on my Dreamgirls sister as she received the @iheartradio Innovator Award!!!” the superstar, who officially joined the elite EGOT club in 2022, wrote on Instagram.
She continued, “Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! I love you @Beyonce!!!’
In addition to sharing a photo of them standing side by side with their arms around each other, Hudson uploaded a video of them cuddling backstage.
Jennifer Hudson and her former Dreamgirls costar Beyoncé looked as radiant as ever when they reunited at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on Monday.
The duo starred as Effie White and Deena Jones in the 2006 hit film, Dreamgirls, an adaptation of the Broadway musical
In the video, the mother of three, 42, walked right up to Hudson and greeted her by saying, “Hello beautiful!”
The Texas Hold ‘Em hitmaker complimented Hudson’s Believe duet with Cher.
Hudson’s comments section was flooded with sweet messages from fans, including many calling them “two living legends.”
“What’s better than one QUEEN… TWO,” wrote another.
A third joked: ‘Fine, I’m going to watch dream girls for the 5,000th time in the last few years lol.’
A handful also referred to them by their character names from Dreamgirls, Effie White and Deena Jones.
While accepting the Innovator Award, Beyoncé urged the music industry to be “more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art without preconceived notions.”
After receiving the award from Stevie Wonder, she said: “Innovation starts with a dream, but then you have to realize that dream and that road can be very bumpy. Being an innovator means seeing what everyone else thinks is impossible.
In addition to sharing a photo of them standing side by side with their arms around each other, Hudson uploaded a video of them cuddling backstage
Hudson’s comments section was flooded with sweet messages from fans, including many calling them “two living legends.”
‘Being an innovator often means receiving criticism, which often tests your mental strength. Being an innovator means leaning on faith and trusting that God will catch you and guide you.
“So to every record label, every radio station, every awards show, I hope we become more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art without preconceived notions.”
‘I would like to dedicate this award to all innovators who have dedicated their lives to creating shifts in their art. So thank you for your sacrifices, your powerful voices and your fearless spirit.
“Thank you to Rosetta Tharpe, Miss Tracy Chapman, Linda Martel, Prince, Stevie Wonder, André 3000, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and so many more who defied every label placed on them. Thank you for making your dream come true so we could all follow. And thank you to my team at Parkwood, you all work so hard and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
She then thanked her ‘rock’, her husband Jay-Z, and their three children, Blue Ivy, 12, and six-year-old twins Rumi and Sir.
“My husband, my rock, my best friend, I love you. My three beautiful children who continue to be my inspiration and my greatest blessing.”
She was honored in the wake of her record-breaking release of her album Cowboy Carter, a sequel of sorts to her chart-topping Renaissance and her first album to feature several country-style songs.
While accepting the Innovator Award, Beyoncé urged the music industry to be ‘more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art without preconceived ideas’ (seen on Monday)
After receiving the award from Stevie Wonder, she said: “Innovation starts with a dream, but then you have to realize that dream and that road can be very bumpy. Being an innovator means seeing what everyone else thinks is impossible
‘I would like to dedicate this award to all innovators who have dedicated their lives to creating shifts in their art. So thank you for your sacrifices, your powerful voices and your fearless spirit,” she gushed during her speech
While introducing Beyoncé, Stevie sang her praises as she listed some of her previous iconic achievements, including her 2013 self-titled visual album, her 2016 album Lemonade – which was accompanied by a feature film of the same name – and her 2022 chart-topper. – chart-topper Renaissance, along with a collaborative LP with her husband Jay-Z, a Lion King soundtrack and two critically acclaimed concert films.
At the beginning of her speech, she told Wonder, “I love you” and “I honor you.”
“I want to thank you for paving a way for all of us,” she told him, adding, “If anyone asks me if I can listen to something for the rest of my life, it’s always you.” ‘
She also mentioned that Wonder recently helped her on her Cowboy Carter album by playing the harmonica on her rewritten cover of Dolly Parton’s country classic Jolene.
