Before American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson rose to stardom, she was a live performer on-board a Disney cruise ship. Now, the singer-actress is making her way back to her humble beginnings. But, this time around, she’ll be a headliner.
On Wednesday Jan. 22, Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled its newest attraction Carnival LIVE Concert Series. It was also announced that the “One Night Only” singer would be a headliner for the new series, reports Associated Press.
“I used to work on a cruise ship, a long time ago,” said Hudson before performing at a Carnival news conference in midtown Manhattan. “That’s what I did before I did ‘American Idol.’”
The Grammy award-winning singer also expressed that headlining Carnival LIVE “is like a full circle.” She went on to share her anticipation toward the upcoming experience. “Performing live is one of my favorite things,” said Hudson at an exclusive launch event for Carnival LIVE Jan. 22. “I’m excited to be part of this unique concert series that will allow me to interact with my fans in such an intimate and memorable setting.”
Hudson is slated to perform June 18 on Carnival Ecstasy and June 19 on Carnival Breeze in Cozumel, Mexico.
Carnival’s senior vice president of guest operations Mark Tamis also offered a brief outline of what guests can expect from the new Carnival LIVE. “Onboard entertainment is an important part of the overall guest experience when cruising,” said Tamis.
“With the Carnival LIVE Concert Series, our guests will enjoy an exclusive performance with one of their favorite artists for an extraordinary value. Combined with our enhanced house bands fleetwide, this is just another example of the many ways we are constantly looking to create even more fun and memorable moments for our guests.”
The Florida-based cruise line also announced a number of other notable acts scheduled to perform for the Carnival LIVE series this year. Daughtry, Foreigner, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride and Trace Adkins are among the growing list of entertainers set to headline concerts. So far, 49 shows have been confirmed by Carnival for 2014.
The legendary Chicago-based rock band Styx is scheduled to kick off the new series April 7 on-board the Carnival Ecstasy in Nassau.
Image via Facebook | Jennifer Hudson