Mark your calendars! Jennifer Hudson is the latest A-list star to join a live television production of a classic musical. The singer and actress will play Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray Live! for NBC. The production will air live on December 7.
Hudson joins Harvey Fierstien, who will reprise his leading role as the original Edna Turnblad. Derek Hough (Dancing With the Stars) and Martin Short (Father of the Bride) have also joined the cast.
Hairspray Live! is NBC's follow-up to the smash hit The Wiz Live!, which earned rave reviews from both critics and Twitter, so we should be in good hands with this production. 

Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Hairspray Live! takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV program. When, against all odds, Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white Corny Collins Show.
The addition of Hudson to the cast confirms that Hairspray Live! is a must-see event. The acclaimed actress is currently starring in The Color Purple on Broadway. See her talk about her big stage debut in our exclusive interview with the cast below:

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