Singers Jennifer Hudson (left) and Queen Latifah honored the late NBA star Kobe Bryant before the 2020 All-Star game in Chicago over the weekend.
Latifah, 49, performed Stevie Wonder‘s hit song “Love’s in Need of Love Today” at the NBA’s Saturday Night Skills competitions. She added a rap verse in honor of Kobe, who died along with his daughter, Gianna, 13, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26.
Latifah added the verse “Give love a shot / When you do, say ‘Kobe’ / 24 hours, eight days a week, trophies.”
Latifah attended the 2020 All-Star game on Sunday with her life partner Eboni Nichols.
Jennifer Hudson performed a stirring tribute to Kobe during the NBA All-Star pre-game at the United Center in Chicago on Sunday.
Hudson, 38, was introduced by an emotional Magic Johnson, 60, who led the audience in 8 seconds of silence for Kobe and late NBA Commissioner David Stern, who died in January from complications of a stroke.
.@MagicJohnson leads an 8-second moment of silence for Kobe Bryant and David Stern before the #NBAAllStar game ? pic.twitter.com/WM7o6kiaTF
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2020
The Grammy and Oscar winner performed in front of a giant screen that flashed photos from Kobe’s stellar career with the Los Angeles Lakers and touching images of the NBA legend with his daughter.
Hudson wore a floor length crushed velvet gown as she performed “For All We Know.” Afterwards, she posed with celebrities such as rapper Ludacris, center, and actor Chadwick Boseman, right.
Rap producer Dr. Dre also performed a tribute to Kobe’s greatest moments in sports. The Staples Center was temporarily renamed KOBE Center in his video.
Dr. Dre delivers an epic tribute to Kobe Bryant.
? @GibsonHazard | @Jackson_Bannon pic.twitter.com/o0Id018aEs
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020
Rapper Common performed a song before introducing the All-Stars for Team LeBron James and Team Giannis Antetokounmpo. The team members wore the numbers 2 and 24 for Gianna and Kobe respectively.
.@common honors the city of Chicago and Kobe Bryant with his opening tribute at #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/NFBpKwicB3
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2020
A public memorial service will be held for Kobe and Gianna at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 24. But the service is marred with controversy because tickets are being sold for as much as $250 with the proceeds going to Kobe’s charity.
Watch Hudson’s and Latifah’s tributes below.
Jennifer Hudson – For All We Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMW8FVF0SmU
Queen Latifah – Love’s in Need of Love Today”
