Fridae

Hudson performed at the annual MusiCares Gala, a Recording Academy benefit that supports musician who struggle with illness, poverty and addiction. The Gala honored singer/songwriter Neil Diamond for his 50+ year career. Very impressive.

I dressed up in black-tie and went on my way, meeting and greeting my new friends at The Recording Academy. We roamed around the benefit auction before the Gala commenced. Several fun items were up for auction, including signed Rolling Stones covers by Bono, Paul Simon and The Jonas Brothers, signed guitars, paintings of artists and a classic Thunberbird that was donated by Neil Diamond and purchased by the President of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow.

Several artists were invited to perform songs from Diamond's canon of songs for an audience of 2000 people, including Coldplay, The Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Foo Fighters and others. I was seated in the back and felt incredibly honored to be part of this exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime event. I mean how often will I get to see Coldplay do an acoustic version of Diamond's "I'm A Believer" (which he wrote for The Monkeys).

But everybody in the audience was holding their breath for Hudson. She was the second performer after the Jonas Brothers. She looked magnificent! Confident and mature. She covered Diamond's 1969 "Holly Holy" and worked it out. She nailed that performance! It came from such a soulful place and she had the crowd in standing ovation. It's so good to have her back. I'm confident that Hudson will be around making records and performing for a very, very long-time. She might well be the ultimate American Idol.

Diamond closed the Gala with a performance of some of his most-well known tracks including "Love On The Rocks," "America," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with Faith Hill) and "Sweet Caroline" that brought all of the performers back on stage for an exuberant finale that had the crowd dancing.