The INSIDER Summary:
• Jennifer Hudson turned out two show-stopping performances.
• Ariana Grande was an adorable Penny Pingleton and stole the show.
In 2013, NBC started the trend of the live musical with The Sound of Music Live! starring Carrie Underwood as Maria. The event was a hit for the peacock network, garnering nearly 22 million viewers. On Wednesday night, the network continued what it started with the latest live musical, Hairspray Live!
Maddie Baillio stepped into the iconic role of Tracy Turnblad for Hairspray Live!and was surrounded by an all-star cast featuring Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Harvey Fierstein and Kristin Chenoweth.
The live musical event was filled with memorable moments, from Jennifer Hudson's breathtaking performances to its all-star guest cast. Here are the six standout moments from Hairspray Live!
Jennifer Hudson's performances of "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been"
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson showed up to work during Hairspray Live! and turned out two show-stopping performances. Hudson played the beloved Motormouth Maybelle and sang her face off during "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been," once again reminding America that she was voted off American Idol too early.
Ariana Grande stealing the entire thing as the adorable Penny Pingleton
Ariana Grande stole Hairspray Live! as Penny Pingleton and her performance was so endearing that we could hardly breathe. The adorably ditsy and consistently lost Pingleton was the perfect part for Grande, who once again showed off her live-TV chops: Grande earned rave reviews earlier this year when she hosted Saturday Night Live.
Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle
Leave it to the Broadway veteran to show everyone how it's done. Kristen Chenoweth unsurprisingly gave one of the most memorable performances of the evening as Velma Von Tussle. She powered through her rendition of "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" and those final notes she hit were classic Chenoweth.
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