*It was a historic Dreamgirls moment when Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Holliday shared the stage for a duet of the iconic song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”
The performance took place on the Wednesday, Sept. 24 episode of “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” with the two powerhouse vocalists delivering a rendition that connected Broadway history with Hollywood success. Holliday first brought the character Effie White to life in the original 1981 Broadway production, while Hudson earned an Academy Award for her portrayal in the 2006 film adaptation.
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As PEOPLE reports, before the song began, Hudson addressed the audience, asking, “Can we give the future Effie’s an example of what they’re going to do in the future?” The duet celebrated more than four decades of the musical’s legacy and showcased the enduring power of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen’s legendary ballad.
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During their sit-down conversation, Holliday reflected on a special moment from Hudson’s Oscar win. “I know I’ve told you before, but that moment when you won your Oscar and you ran back with urgency to shout my name over the music? When you just said, ‘And Jennifer Holliday, too!’ I was like, ‘Yes, I’m a winner, too!’ ” Holliday said.
She added, “So many people forget their husbands and everybody when they do their Oscars speech, but you ran back with urgency. And that, I carry in my heart forever. So I just wanted to let you know that I heard it, I got it, and it meant so much to me, even to this day, 15 years later. It still means so much to me.”
The original Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway in 1981, inspired by the rise of Motown and girl groups of the 1960s and 1970s. Starring Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Holliday, and Loretta Devine, the musical earned 13 Tony nominations and won six awards, including Best Lead Actress for Holliday. The story follows a young Black female singing trio as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of the music industry.
The musical’s legacy continues, with producers announcing that Dreamgirls will return to Broadway in fall 2026. A worldwide casting search is underway, with auditions set in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Paris.
Hudson’s show has become a recurring destination for Dreamgirls reunions. In 2022, Sheryl Lee Ralph appeared to discuss her historic Emmy win and reminisce about her experience as the original Deena Jones. Reflecting on her audition, Ralph said, “These women in the room, they were not singers, they were sangers, baby. The building was literally levitating off the concrete. That’s how wonderful they were. And then there was me.”
Hudson’s recent duet with Holliday represents a full-circle moment for Dreamgirls fans, bridging the show’s celebrated past with its future on Broadway.
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