The Ford exhibit at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center, Detroit, January 15, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.The Ford exhibit at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center, Detroit, January 15, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.
Windsor

Jennifer Hudson to headline auto show's charity preview

Detroit's annual taste of Hollywood will feature an Academy Award winner as its main performer.

Organizers of the 2023 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) announced Tuesday morning that singer, actress, and TV talk show host Jennifer Hudson will headline the show's glitzy Charity Preview on Friday, September 15, at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

"It’s a thrill to have such an incredible talent, especially one who portrayed the Detroit music legend, Aretha Franklin, grace our auto show stage on a night that celebrates everything great about this city," said Thad Szott, Detroit Auto Show Chairman.

Hudson first became known after appearing on TV's "American Idol", finishing seventh in the third season in 2004. Two years later, she made her film debut by playing Effie in "Dreamgirls". At 25, Hudson became the youngest Black performer to win a competitive Oscar.

Hudson has since become the 17th person to win all four major American entertainment awards, the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). She has released three albums, all of which cracked the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Her 2008 single "Spotlight" reached number one on the U.S. R&B-Hip Hop chart.

The black-tie Charity Preview is traditionally held the night before the auto show opens to the general public and is known for attracting celebrities who rub elbows with those in the auto industry. The money raised from ticket sales supports a variety of charities across southeastern Michigan.

This is the second year the auto show, one of the most prestigious in the world, will be held in September, complete with an indoor-outdoor layout in and around Huntington Place. The late-summer exhibition coincides with the rollout of the 2024 vehicle models and will be the scene of numerous debuts from automakers.

Complete information about the auto show can be found on the official NAIAS website.

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