American Idol alum and former The Voice coach Jennifer Hudson closed Wednesday’s 2020 Democratic National Convention with a powerful rendition of the Sam Cooke classic song “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Wearing a flowing orange gown, Jennifer delivered powerful notes from a beautiful, empty ballroom as a saxophonist wailed along. The DNC staged the convention, like many other events, with COVID-19 restrictions in mind. Performances were taped ahead, while live speeches were staged in socially distanced locations around the country.
Jennifer performed on a night that brought democratic heavy hitters such as Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama to the podium. Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris closed the night with her nomination speech.
Sam Cooke released “A Change is Gonna Come” in 1964. Cooke wrote the song after he and his entourage were turned away from a whites only motel in Louisiana. The song has since become an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement.
Next, Jennifer stars in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, scheduled for January 2021.
Watch Jennifer Hudson perform “A Change is Gonna Come” below.
