Jennifer Hudson made her triumphant entrance in Hairspray Live!

Coming off the bench halfway through the event, Jennifer Hudson made her triumphant entrance in Hairspray Live! with the show-stopping number «Big, Blonde and Beautiful.» She followed that up with the even bigger ballad «I Know Where I’ve Been,» showing off her full, peerless vocal range.

Hudson plays Motormouth Maybelle, the Baltimore DJ and record store owner who convinces protagonist Tracy Turnblad’s mother Edna to embrace her curves before appearing on live television. The role was played by R&B legend Ruth Brown in the original 1988 film version, and rap great Queen Latifah in the 2007 musical adaptation.

Watch video of the performance below.