Jennifer Hudson has been confirmed to perform at the 69th NBA all-star game in a special tribute to honour Kobe Bryant.
The LA Lakers legend died last month in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Kobe, Gianna and the other seven victims of the crash will be honoured ahead of player introductions at the all-star game held in Chicago at the United Centre on Sunday (16 February).
The official NBA all star Twitter account confirmed Jennifer’s performance at the event in a tweet that read: ‘GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist and Academy Award-winning actress and Chicago native @IAMJHUD will perform a special tribute to the late Kobe Bryant ahead of player introductions for the 69th #NBAAllStar Game on Sunday, Feb. 16, airing live at 8:00pm/et.’
Also performing on the night will be Chaka Khan, who will sing the US national anthem and Tenille Arts, who will perform the Canadian national anthem.
Quavo, Chance the Rapper, DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne will perform for the game’s half-time show.
Since the deaths of Kobe, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, were confirmed, tributes have flooded in from fans and celebrities, including the likes of Rihanna, Beyonce and David Beckham.
Kobe was honoured at the Grammy Awards that took place just hours after his death on 26 January and his wife Vanessa Bryant has confirmed a memorial will take place for the sporting icon and daughter Gigi on 24 February.
It will be held at the Staples Center- the home of Kobe’s basketball team, the LA Lakers. The date is especially significant as Kobe’s LA Lakers shirt number was 24, and he spent two decades on the team.
Kobe and Gianna are survived by Vanessa and her and Kobe’s three other daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
She has shared heartbreaking tributes to her husband and little girl on Instagram in recent weeks, with her latest post seeing Vanessa trying to explain her grief to her followers.
Alongside a sweet montage of Gianna playing basketball – she had been following in dad Kobe’s footsteps and played for Mamba academy – Vanessa admitted she is ‘so mad’ her daughter has been taken away from her so soon.
Her heartbreaking message read: ‘I’ve been reluctant to put my feelings into words. My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone. I can’t process both at the same time.
‘It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad. She had so much life to live.’
She continued: ‘Then I realize I need to be strong and be here for my 3 daughters. Mad I’m not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful I’m here with Natalia, Bianka and Capri. I know what I’m feeling is normal. It’s part of the grieving process.
‘I just wanted to share in case there’s anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this. God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over.
‘Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all.’
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