Democratic National Convention: Jennifer Hudson closes third day with emotional performance of ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’

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Jennifer Hudson delivered an emotional rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” on the third night of the Democratic National Conference.

The singer and actor performed Sam Cooke’s 1964 civil rights anthem against the backdrop of the empty Harold Washington Cultural Centre in her hometown of Chicago.

Hudson, who will play Aretha Franklin in forthcoming musical biopic Respect, paid tribute to the soul legend as she performed the arrangement of the song made famous by Franklin.

She was accompanied on piano by Fred Nelson, Franklin’s conductor, and Richard Gibbs, her piano player for many years.

Hudson’s performance closed out the third day of the conference, and was preceded by a historic speech from Kamala Harris as she became the first black woman to be nominated for the vice presidency by a major party.

“A Change Is Gonna Come” has a long-standing history with the Democratic Party, with former president Barack Obama quoting the lyrics in his victory speech during the 2008 general election.

The song, which was inspired by Cooke’s experience of being turned away from white-only spaces in Louisiana, was also performed at Obama’s inauguration by Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi.

It contains the refrain: “It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.”