To Be Broadcast: Tuesday, April 21, 2009

New York, NY - April 21, 2009 - INSIDE EDITION speaks with legendary singer Jennifer Holliday about her guest performance at Jennifer Hudson's concert at the Fox Theater in Atlanta on April 16^th.  Holliday surprised audiences by singing "I Am Telling You" with Hudson as a duet.

Hudson became famous for her Oscar-winning role as Effie in the film Dreamgirls.  But Hudson's success incensed Holliday, who originated the role of Effie on Broadway. 

Holliday tells INSIDE EDITION that when Dreamgirls was released, she felt frozen out of the film even though the producers used her voice to market the film, and she was inconsolable.

Holliday: "My friends thought it was me...The whole movie situation was the worst thing I have ever had to deal with in my entire adult life."

Holliday tells INSIDE EDITION that she was angry when Dreamgirls first came out.

Holliday: "On a scale of one to ten, my initial anger was fifteen.  I would say the anger has subsided to a seven."

It turns out that Hudson reached out to Holliday, inviting her to perform on her tour in Atlanta.  Holliday tells INSIDE EDITION that following the tragic deaths of Hudson's mother, Darnell, brother, Jason and nephew, Julian, she felt sympathy for Hudson.

Holliday: "How could I not have compassion and sympathy?"

Holliday also tells INSIDE EDITION that during the duet, she and Hudson shared a competitive edge.

Holliday: "I think we have to.  That edge of competitiveness can't die.  This is still a competition."

Check local listings for times.

INSIDE EDITION is produced daily at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution, a unit of CBS Corp.

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