The 'American Idol' alum will portray a character previously played by Queen Latifah while the Broadway actor is reprising his Tony-winning role.
- April 26, 2016
AceShowbiz -
Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein are tapped for NBC's "Hairspray" live musical. Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, says, "We are beyond thrilled with this incredibly talented duo of stars for Hairspray Live!."
Fierstein will return as Edna Turnblad, the role that earned him a Tony Award on the Broadway version, while Hudson is tapped as Motormouth Maybelle. John Travolta and Queen Latifah played the respective characters in the 2007 movie remake.
Greenblatt gushes, "Harvey Fierstein created the role of Edna Turnblad on Broadway in an indelible Tony-winning performance that demanded to be memorialized on film, and we're happy he wanted to step into her shoes one last, unforgettable time. We're also so grateful that the incomparable Jennifer Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle and we know her rendition of 'I Know Where I've Been' will literally stop the show."
