DELTA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES:
Note: Central Outreach Wellness Center located on the North Side, participants who schedule a free wellness exam will receive a discount of $20.00 off their Pride in the Street ticket.
May 10, 2017—Pittsburgh, PA—The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning recording artist and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson will be headlining its Pride in the Street event on Saturday, June 10 on Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.
Pride in the Street is part of Pittsburgh Pride, which is the largest event that celebrates the diversity of the Pittsburgh region specifically for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. Produced by the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, this ticketed concert turns Liberty Avenue, between 9th & 10th Street, into a live music venue featuring local, regional and national entertainment. Last year’s, Pride in the Street featuring Kesha was the Foundation’s first sold out concert with over 7,000 attendees.
From humble beginnings in Chicago, Jennifer Hudson has gone on to worldwide acclaim as a singer and actress making quite an impact in the world of music and film.
“We’re excited to welcome Jennifer to Pittsburgh for the first time,” said Gary A. Van Horn, Jr., the Foundation’s president. “She’s been a fierce advocate for the LGBT community using her influence in music and film to bring people together, which is what Pride is about. We think everyone will be excited to see—and hear—an amazing performance!”
“I’m excited to perform on Liberty Avenue and use my voice to support the LBGT community in their quest for equality,” added Hudson.
In 2004 when Hudson auditioned for the third season of American Idol, she commented to judge Randy Jackson that she had been singing on Disney Cruise Lines leading him to say, “We’re expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you.” Hudson went on to receive the highest number of votes in the “Top 9” after her performance of Elton John’s “Circle of Life,” but two weeks later was eliminated during the “Top 7.” In May 2010, the Los Angeles Times claimed Hudson to be the third greatest Idol contestant in the history of the show, placing behind season one winner Kelly Clarkson and season four winner Carrie Underwood.
But everything happens for a reason and Hudson’s first album Jennifer Hudson, released in 2008, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA, with sales exceeding a million copies worldwide. The record was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the 2009 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Her second album I Remember Me, released in 2011, also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. Her third and most recent album JHUD peaked in the top ten and featured the Grammy-nominated track “It’s Your World.” She also was the principal singer of The Color Purple musical album, which earned her the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Her latest single “Remember Me” was released on March 2017 as the lead single from her upcoming fourth album.
Hudson’s film career was launched when, in 2005 after six months of auditions, she beat out over 700 actresses for the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls and went on to win an Academy Award in 2007. Her breakout film performance also garnered a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA and an NAACP Image Award. Additional credits include being honored by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the National Board of Review and being named “Entertainer of the Year” at the Soul Train Awards. Hudson also received an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2009 for her role in Fox Searchlight’s The Secret Life of Bees. Prior to that, Hudson co-starred in the box office hit Sex and the City: The Movie.
Jennifer Hudson counts her LGBT fans as one of the main reasons for her success.
“I’ve always admired and respected the gay community for their courage, independence, confidence, and spirit.”
Her upbeat single “I Still Love You” off of her third album sent a powerful message about her support for marriage equality as it followed the journey of a father’s last-minute decision to attend his gay son’s wedding. In addition to spreading a positive message through the song, Hudson also decided to make a video as a way to give back to her fans. The video ends positively with everyone at the end of the clip, dancing, singing and having what looks to be the best time ever at the wedding reception, which just so happens to be Hudson’s favorite scene.
“It’s about love and everyone should have love and have the right to love who they want to love,” Hudson said. “I love seeing people come together, so I thought it was a very real, beautiful inspiring moment,” she said. “And I just think the video is beautifully shot.”
“I grew up surrounded and supported by the gay community and I just wanted to make sure I show them the same support and this is my way of doing it,” she said. “No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love.”
Hudson has made headlines with high-profile performances including President Obama’s “Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” event held at the White House, Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, and singing the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention. She appeared on the telethon “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief,” performing the Beatles’ “Let it Be.” She also recorded the song “One Shining Moment” for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.
The day after the death of Whitney Houston, Hudson paid tribute to her by singing Houston’s iconic “I Will Always Love You” during the 54th Grammy Awards. In 2013, she performed “Same Love” with Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert and later that year, was awarded with the 2,512th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2016, Hudson was announced as a coach on the 2017 Series of The Voice UK. starring judges will.i.am and Tom Jones, as well as fellow newcomer Gavin Rossdale.
Through a special collaboration with Central Outreach Wellness Center located on the North Side, participants who schedule a free wellness exam will receive a discount of $20.00 off their Pride in the Street ticket. The offer is limited; call to schedule an appointment.
Pride in the Street is all-ages general admission show. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Proper government ID is required.
DELTA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES JENNIFER HUDSON TO HEADLINE 2017 PITTSBURGH PRIDE IN THE STREET
WHEN: Saturday, June 10, 2017
WHERE: Pride in the Street, Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh
GATES: 7 PM
TICKETS: Start at $45 at pittsburghpride.org/tickets or 888-71-TICKETS
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Pittsburgh’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade occurred on June 17, 1973 and had 150 participants. Under this year’s theme “Rise UP” Pittsburgh Pride’s 10 days of events will attract an estimated 150,000 people making it the 4th largest special event in Pittsburgh and the largest Pride event in Pennsylvania. Traditionally celebrated in June, Pride marks the spontaneous demonstration by members of the LGBT community that took place on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, which is widely recognized as the beginning of the human rights movement. The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh has produced Pittsburgh Pride since 2008.