The NBA is taking over Indianapolis this week, with festivities culminating in the All-Star Game on Sunday night. The stars will be out — both All-Star rosters are loaded with some of the best players in the world, and plenty of celebrities will be in the building for the NBA’s premier midseason event.

Jennifer Hudson is the headliner, as she will perform at halftime of the All-Star Game. Lil Wayne, Keith Urban and T-Pain are among the other talents in town to perform throughout All-Star weekend. 

Hudson isn’t just singing in Indianapolis. She’s on Stephen A. Smith’s All-Star Celebrity Game roster, so her basketball skills will be tested as well. 

Hudson is one of the most successful singers of the last two decades, and she’ll look to liven up what should already be an excited crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.

Here’s what you need to know about Hudson and her background as she takes the stage during the NBA All-Star Game.

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Who is Jennifer Hudson?

Hudson is a two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and actress. She is one of 19 individuals to earn the title of EGOT winner, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award thanks to her work in multiple areas of the entertainment business.

Hudson first emerged on the national stage when she competed on the third season of “American Idol,” finishing seventh. Like many singers from the early seasons of the show, she still went on to have a monumentally successful career despite not winning. 

Hudson has acted in films and on Broadway, winning an Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls” and appearing in popular musical “The Color Purple” in 2015.

She entered a new genre in 2022 by launching “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” a talk show that airs daily throughout the week. Hudson has hosted a few NBA legends as guests on the show, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. 

The 42-year-old endured personal tragedy that has influenced her career, as the murder of her mother, brother and nephew in 2008 made national headlines. Hudson credits her son for helping her get through the grief and told The Guardian in 2019 that she believes her family would have wanted her to “press forward” and continue her musical career. 

Where is Jennifer Hudson from?

Despite getting the nod in Indianapolis, Hudson isn’t from Indiana. She was born and raised in Chicago, where she became interested in music while performing at church as a child. 

The NBA’s list of All-Star performers does feature an Indianapolis native, as Babyface will sing the national anthem before Sunday’s game. 

Jennifer Hudson net worth

Hudson’s net worth is estimated to be $30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Hudson has been in the music business for 22 years, having signed a small record deal in 2002 before her 2004 appearance on “American Idol” skyrocketed her career. Between her musical talents and many acting gigs over the years, Hudson has built a lucrative career for herself.