Just watched this Holiday special of one Jennifer Hudson coming back to her hometown (which is where I happen to have been born in) on ABC. It takes her from her old high school where she performs in front of the current student roster and where she visits her former music teacher (who also happens to be one of her aunts). Then we see her on a ship in one of the great lakes reflecting back to her family tragedy of the previous year (which she doesn't dwell on) singing a gospel-tinged "Silent Night". From there she goes to her old church to enthusiastic crowds as she leads in warbling "Go Tell It on the Mountain". Then it's on to a mall she hung out in (the place is empty during filming) doing "The Christmas Song" which she dedicates to a relative. She then performs in a hotel with Michael Buble-"Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Let It Snow". And then after reuniting with her cousins and aunts (with one of them once again being that teacher) for another song, Ms. Hudson closes the program with "O Holy Night" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"...Mostly enjoyable program with Ms. Hudson doing an aside in between her numbers of how Christmas truly touches her. At times, she might hold a note too long or sing too loud but there's no denying her joy in simply performing and since she suffered so much tragedy the previous year, she simply deserves this moment in the spotlight. And seeing her with her fiancé and baby and riding the Ferris Wheel there was simply icing on the cake. All I want to say now is, Merry Christmas, Ms. Hudson, from one native Windy City person to another...
