Super Bowl XLVII: Jennifer Hudson sings ‘America the Beautiful’ with Sandy Hook kids

At this point, there is literally no challenge greater for an entertainer to take on than performing the National Anthem. If you make a mistake (or simply decide to use a backing track over the regular vocals), you will be criticized forever.

Luckily, “Smash” actress (and former “American Idol” star) Jennifer Hudson did not have to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of over a hundred million viewers at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans Sunday night. However, she did still have to take on another patriotic song among the same exact audience in “America the Beautiful,” and it is one stuffed full of powerful vocals, precise lyrics, and something that you really don’t want to get wrong.

On this occasion, though, it was not just about the song.

There was almost no way that Hudson’s performance could go badly here, since she was performing with some of the brave children from Sandy Hook Elementary School. There are many moments during the big game that you want to laugh and mess around with your friends and family, but this was a true tear-jerker. Of course Jennifer killed the vocals, but seeing the smiles on these children’s faces after all they have been through is what may be just as memorable at the end of the day. To be honest, we don’t even know how the players can go out and take on a football game without still being a little bit emotional about this.

Overall, what did you think about Hudson’s performance? Be sure to share some more of your thoughts with a comment below, and you can check out some other notable Super Bowl commercials from this year over at the link here.

We’ll have a video of Hudson’s performance below, along with Alicia Keys performing the National Anthem (which she also did a wonderful job with).

Photo: NBC