When I heard the spoiler that Jessica Sanchez, the now runner-up on Season 11 of American Idol, would be performing a duet of "And I'm Telling You" from Dreamgirls on the finale, I assumed that they would be busing in AI alumna Jennifer Hudson to sing. I was wrong. They brought in Jennifer Holliday. Holliday created the role of Effie in Dreamgirls, carving out a spot in the history of entertainment. For 31 years, she has been invited to sing the music from that show all over the world. No one sings Effie's songs like her.
I also can't think of another performer who is willing to get this ugly to sell the desperation of that song.
The spectacle was not limited to Jennifer Holliday doing what Jennifer Holliday has done for 31 years. This was the first time that I saw Jessica Sanchez actually drop her efforts to be perfect and come alive onstage. You can learn a lot from working with someone who is all about selling the song by any means necessary. I think Jessica did.
And apparently some white guy with a guitar won for the fifth time in a row or something. Who cares? Jennifer Holliday ate the mic onstage and tore the theater down.
Did I miss anything of importance here? Sound off below. Love to hear from you.