Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande to end 'Hairspray Live' show with special duet
LOS ANGELES -- Vocal powerhouses Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande will end NBC's Hairspray Live! with a duet.
The news was announced during a press junket for the televised musical on Wednesday. The show, filmed on the Universal lot, airs live on Wednesday Dec. 7 on NBC.
Hudson and Grande, who play Motormouth Maybelle and Penny, respectively, will sing "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)."
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The song was originally sung by Queen Latifah in the 2007 film.
The uplifting musical comedy delves into the issues of racial segregation in Baltimore in the 1960s, a storyline which director Kenny Leon (The Wiz Live) feels is more relevant post-election.
Newcomer Maddie Baillio, from Texas, has been tapped to play the lead role of Tracy Turnblad.
Other cast members include Kristin Chenoweth (Velma Von Tussle), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad), Harvey Fierstein (Edna Turnblad; he is also one of the show's writers), Derek Hough (Corny Collins), Sean Hayes (Mr. Pinkie) and Rosie O’Donnell (gym teacher).
At a press junket on Wednesday, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt also announced that Chenoweth and Hayes will host a live pre-show ahead of the actual musical.
The two co-starred in Broadway musical Promises, Promises together in 2010. The pre-show will feature behind-the-scenes footage ahead of the big night.
NBC is also partnering up with affiliates in five cities -- Baltimore, Houston, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Philadelphia -- to have local viewing parties which will be featured during the show.
Topics NBC
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
