Amber Riley, Jennifer Hudson.Photo: Chris Millard/Warner Bros.Amber RileyjoinedJennifer Hudsonfor a knockout version of theDreamgirlssong “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” onThe Jennifer Hudson ShowMonday.FormerGleestar Riley, who wonThe Masked Singerlast week, both have ties to the role of Effie in the musical. Hudson’s Effie was an Oscar-winning career-maker in 2006 for theAmerican Idolalum, while Riley took to the London stage in the role in 2016.Before the performance, Riley recalled when Hudson joined her in London for theDreamgirlsopening night.“You’d best believe I was going to be there,” Hudson said. “I made a point, I said I got to go see Amber in this. It was amazing. Beautiful job.“On Instagram Monday, Rileyshared the clipand wrote, “A ‘DREAM’ come true! Thank you for always being so kind to me and always supporting me, and for being such a powerhouse trailblazer. I love you @iamjhud!“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Riley felt a kinship with the character: “Playing Effie, I’m sure you became close to that character, like I became close to that character, and really knew her. Having her story be like this gift, and not being able to be out in the front, I feel like doing things likeMasked Singer, doing things likeDancing With The Stars, I get to be the winner for those stories, so it’s full-circle for me.“Riley wasn’t always playing starring roles, though. She used to be a ghost singer.“Producers used to have me do demos,” Riley said. “And also when some artists couldn’t do what I did in the demo, they would have the artist come in, and I would imitate that artist to try and fix vocals. … It’s like a ghostwriter. They used to have me come in and say, ‘It’s just the background’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not, it’s the lead.’ I know my voice when I heard it.”
Amber Riley, Jennifer Hudson.Photo: Chris Millard/Warner Bros.
Amber RileyjoinedJennifer Hudsonfor a knockout version of theDreamgirlssong “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” onThe Jennifer Hudson ShowMonday.FormerGleestar Riley, who wonThe Masked Singerlast week, both have ties to the role of Effie in the musical. Hudson’s Effie was an Oscar-winning career-maker in 2006 for theAmerican Idolalum, while Riley took to the London stage in the role in 2016.Before the performance, Riley recalled when Hudson joined her in London for theDreamgirlsopening night.“You’d best believe I was going to be there,” Hudson said. “I made a point, I said I got to go see Amber in this. It was amazing. Beautiful job.“On Instagram Monday, Rileyshared the clipand wrote, “A ‘DREAM’ come true! Thank you for always being so kind to me and always supporting me, and for being such a powerhouse trailblazer. I love you @iamjhud!“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Riley felt a kinship with the character: “Playing Effie, I’m sure you became close to that character, like I became close to that character, and really knew her. Having her story be like this gift, and not being able to be out in the front, I feel like doing things likeMasked Singer, doing things likeDancing With The Stars, I get to be the winner for those stories, so it’s full-circle for me.“Riley wasn’t always playing starring roles, though. She used to be a ghost singer.“Producers used to have me do demos,” Riley said. “And also when some artists couldn’t do what I did in the demo, they would have the artist come in, and I would imitate that artist to try and fix vocals. … It’s like a ghostwriter. They used to have me come in and say, ‘It’s just the background’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not, it’s the lead.’ I know my voice when I heard it.”
Amber RileyjoinedJennifer Hudsonfor a knockout version of theDreamgirlssong “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” onThe Jennifer Hudson ShowMonday.
FormerGleestar Riley, who wonThe Masked Singerlast week, both have ties to the role of Effie in the musical. Hudson’s Effie was an Oscar-winning career-maker in 2006 for theAmerican Idolalum, while Riley took to the London stage in the role in 2016.
Before the performance, Riley recalled when Hudson joined her in London for theDreamgirlsopening night.
“You’d best believe I was going to be there,” Hudson said. “I made a point, I said I got to go see Amber in this. It was amazing. Beautiful job.”
On Instagram Monday, Rileyshared the clipand wrote, “A ‘DREAM’ come true! Thank you for always being so kind to me and always supporting me, and for being such a powerhouse trailblazer. I love you @iamjhud!”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Riley felt a kinship with the character: “Playing Effie, I’m sure you became close to that character, like I became close to that character, and really knew her. Having her story be like this gift, and not being able to be out in the front, I feel like doing things likeMasked Singer, doing things likeDancing With The Stars, I get to be the winner for those stories, so it’s full-circle for me.”
Riley wasn’t always playing starring roles, though. She used to be a ghost singer.
“Producers used to have me do demos,” Riley said. “And also when some artists couldn’t do what I did in the demo, they would have the artist come in, and I would imitate that artist to try and fix vocals. … It’s like a ghostwriter. They used to have me come in and say, ‘It’s just the background’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not, it’s the lead.’ I know my voice when I heard it.”
source: people.com
