The Tribune

SUPERSTAR singer and actress Jennifer Hudson wowed the crowd at Atlantis at the weekend at a star-studded gala in honour of Sir Sidney Poitier.

The Grammy Award-winner performed her hit single Spotlight and later a medley of Whitney Houston hits at the concert, which was part of a weekend of festivities to celebrate Sir Sidney and to launch The Bahamas’ 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Bahamian dignitaries, celebrities and international stars like Oprah Winfrey and BeBe Winans showed up to support and honour 85-year-old Sir Sidney.

During the tribute concert, video messages to Sir Sidney came from Morgan Freeman, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Charles Carter among others. BeBe Winans sang in between screen stories showing Sir Sidney’s lifetime contributions.

The historic photo of US President Barack Obama presenting Sir Sidney with the Presidential Medal of Freedom was also shown.

Hudson closed her show with her own heartfelt rendition of “To Sir, With Love,” the theme from the 1967 film of the same name.

The Atlantis concert followed a fireworks extravaganza on Friday night, another concert featuring Bahamian artists and a dedication ceremony earlier on Friday in which the western PI bridge was renamed the ‘Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.’