Jennifer Hudson to Perform Tribute to Kobe Bryant During NBA All-Star Game

Jennifer Hudson has been tapped to open the 69th annual NBA All-Star game on Sunday at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The singer’s hometown performance will pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and their seven friends who died in a tragic helicopter crash in January.

Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled and Quavo will join the previously announced Chicago artist Chance the Rapper to perform during Sunday’s halftime show. Additional Chicago natives Common and Chance’s brother and rapper Taylor Bennett will also appear over the weekend. Windy City legend Chaka Khan will sing the National Anthem prior to Sunday’s tip-off.

The star-studded weekend will include a number of additional performances. On All-Star Saturday Night, Queen Latifah will team with Chicago youth for a performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today.” Later in the night, Dame D.O.L.L.A, who was injured in a game last night, was scheduled to perform with Chicago’s Jeremih and Lil Wayne Saturday night, but the performance is now tentative. Friday’s Rising Stars event will feature Chicago Children’s Choir singing the National Anthem in advance of NBA Rising Stars event and Bennett will perform at halftime.

The NBA All-Star weekend’s events, which take place at United Center and Wintrust Arena this weekend, will be broadcast on TNT.