Jennifer Hudson

It was great! But seriously, nothing compares to the moment Jennifer comes on the screen and melts everyone's faces off. I searched it on Facebook just to see what everyone else was saying and that's all anyone is talking about. Jennifer for the win.

Agreed. I love Queen Latifah, but Jennifer definitely came in and crushed it as well. I think she just shocked the country.

You have a valid point, jen_78. Ruth Brown (1988) and Queen Latifah (2007) were both bigger women for the same part. Of the three, Jennifer did have the best vocals.

Keep in mind guys, for YEARS Jennifer was fat-shamed because she was heavy. She is an example of someone who came to love herself and her body and has always promoted healthy body-image. Currently, she may be considered too thin in the role but her journey still rings true to the material.

I couldn't agree more! Jennifer Hudson is an incredibly talented performer, but completely wrong for the part of Motormouth Maybelle! Maybelle is meant to be the perfect confluence of Hairspray's two themes: the struggle for civil rights and fat acceptance. She's a woman who's been told by both law and society that she ought to feel less than because she's black and because she's fat. And Maybelle, despite all of that, loves herself. She loves the parts of herself that she's been told all her life she shouldn't, her blackness and her size. Big, Blonde, and Beautiful is meant to be an anthem that speaks to those two themes. Because of that it's one of my favorite numbers in the show, but I couldn't bare to watch it last night. I had to leave the room because I knew it would make me too angry. NBC's decision to cast a skinny woman as Maybelle was a travesty. It also made no sense. How can you have a skinny actress sing about loving her fat self? Just take a look at these lyrics:

I offer big love with no apology
How can I deny the world the most of me?
I am not afraid to throw my weight around
Pound by pound by pound

Because I'm big, blond and beautiful
There is nothin' 'bout me that's unsuitable
No one wants a meal that only offers the least
When girl we're servin' up the whole damn feast

So yes, while Jennifer Hudson is talented, she was completely wrong for the part.

Good point. "THAT'S a big woman?" NO! She's not even plump/chubby! Didn't work for me either. Maybelle's body type is written into her character; you don't get to change it. It's not a role in which you can cast dramatically different-looking actors and be fine. She doesn't sing about how once upon a time she USED to be large. It was like having a white Seaweed or a full-figured Velma or a black Link--just so, "Why?"

This. Great voice, but totally miscast in this role.

"Hairspray Live!" was wonderful, and the single best thing about it was Jennifer Hudson. Please, God, give this woman more great roles.