Jennifer Hudson has been signed to an exclusive contract with Epic Records, it was announced today by Epic Chairman and CEO LA Reid, following up Ms. Hudson’s show-stopping tribute performance of Prince’s “Purple Rain” at the 16th annual BET Awards.
Collaborating as executive producers on Ms. Hudson’s upcoming Epic Records debut will be LA Reid and Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Entertainment.
This will mark the first time that LA Reid and Clive Davis have collaborated in nearly a quarter-century, since they worked together on Whitney Houston’s all-time best-selling The Bodyguard soundtrack album of 1992.
At that time, Mr. Davis was President of Arista Records, and Mr. Reid headed LaFace Records and was a go-to producer with partner Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds.
“Jennifer Hudson is the defining voice of this generation,” said Mr. Reid. “Her award-winning presence on records, in film, and on stage establishes her as one of the premiere artists to emerge in this century.
I’m enjoying collaborating with my friend and mentor Clive Davis on Jennifer’s first Epic album and excited for her fans to hear what we’re up to…all will be revealed soon!”
“I signed Jennifer in 2007 believing her to be the strongest candidate as the next generation’s Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston,” said Mr. Davis. “She has become that, as LA and I excitingly reunite to capture Jennifer at her all time best.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to embark on this new chapter with two of the most prolific musical legends of this generation,” said Ms. Hudson. “There is no doubt that this is just the beginning of a very special collaboration and I know that the result will be something unforgettable. I am looking forward to the creative process and sharing new music very soon!”
Hudson, whose tribute at the 54th annual Grammy Awards® in 2012 to Whitney Houston (the day after her death) was an iconic, heartbreaking, musical event, gave the BET Awards ceremony its most heart-wrenching moment with her gospel rendition of “Purple Rain.”
In honor of the occasion, Ms. Hudson was wearing the same memorable white hooded tunic that Prince wore at a previous awards show appearance. See the performance HERE:
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