Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Jennifer Hudson to pay tribute to Kobe at ASG

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Thursday, 13 February 2020 04:25

CHICAGO -- Jennifer Hudson is coming to the All-Star Game to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant with her voice.

The NBA has released a list of entertainers headed to All-Star Weekend, the group headlined by Hudson -- the two-time Grammy winner and Oscar winner -- who, just before Sunday night's player introductions, will perform a special tribute to Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other victims of the helicopter crash that took their lives in Southern California on Jan. 26.

Other additions the NBA revealed Thursday: DJ Khaled, Quavo and Lil Wayne will join the previously announced Grammy winner and Chicago native Chance the Rapper during Sunday night's halftime show; Queen Latifah will be joined by Chicago youth to perform Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today" during Saturday's events; and the Chicago Children's Choir will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Rising Stars game on Friday night.

And Damian Lillard still may perform -- even though injury will keep him from taking the court.

The Portland guard was to play in Sunday's All-Star Game and participate in All-Star Saturday Night events as a competitor in the 3-point contest. But he injured his groin in the Trail Blazers' final game before the break on Wednesday night, and that will keep him off the court.

Lillard, however, is going to be in Chicago and hasn't ruled out being onstage on Saturday night. The five-time All-Star is a popular rapper -- he raps under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. -- and the NBA is hoping he performs.

His plan is to be joined by Jeremih and Lil Wayne.

"We just kind of started going over what we could do to make it count, tried to figure out Chicago artists who could be part of it," Lillard said. "Jeremih is going to be on stage with me and he's from Chicago, he's on one of my biggest songs on my current album. And then also, I'm going to be doing a song on my previous album and that's one of my biggest songs with Lil Wayne, too, so it's going to be a pretty good deal."

Lillard's rise in music did not come easily. Even though he had fame through being an All-Star player, he still had to pay his dues as a performer. He worked his way up through Instagram and SoundCloud, building a fan base and building respect within the rap community. And now he has three albums to his credit, plus enough credibility that big names want to work with him.

"I think the No. 1 thing that people see is the route that I've taken in my music," Lillard said. "I didn't just jump in and say 'Listen to my music because I'm an NBA player.' I took the route that any other aspiring artist would take, and I think that shows that I took it seriously, that I have real passion for the music and for hip-hop."

Several other All-Star Weekend performers were previously announced: three-time Grammy winner and Chicago native Common, Chance's brother Taylor Bennett, Chaka Khan (who will sing the U.S. national anthem Sunday before the All-Star Game) and country star Tenille Arts (who will sing the Canadian national anthem).

Common's role will be to welcome fans to Chicago with a narrative about what basketball means to the city, that part to come before the teams are introduced Sunday.

Read 368 times

Soccer

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Diego Simeone's 700th game in charge of Atlético Madrid ended in a late 2-1 win over Deportivo Alave...

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a m...

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has hit back at anyone questioning Bukayo Saka's commi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated