Patti LeBelle has always been a down-to-earth diva and never afraid to have some fun. So when Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson presented LaBelle with a GLAAD Media Award last night in New York, "I didn't know you were this nice," LaBelle told Hudson. "I thought you were a bitch," she joked, noting that she had never met Hudson before their appearance.
There's a nice, detailed account of the first meeting between these two divas from different generations who both have pipes like few others on Keithboykin.com.
The "Dreamgirls" star appeared on stage at the very end of the show to present Patti LaBelle with a special achievement award. But the introduction turned into a 15-minute lovefest between Hudson, LaBelle and the audience. And for those who had any doubt about where Jennifer Hudson or Patti LaBelle stood on gay issues, they both made it very clear. They fully support the rights of gays and lesbians, including the right to marry.
What started out as a simple introduction of LaBelle turned into a major production as Oscar-winner Hudson was treated to a standing ovation by the crowd, which included Patti LaBelle herself. Before Hudson could finish her introduction, LaBelle was on her feet again, standing at a front row table as Hudson struggled to read her script from the teleprompter at the back of the room.
Patti walked to the stage and knelt at the foot of the stage for a moment, then climbed the stage and knelt again in front of Hudson, who seemed visibly shocked by the gesture of humility from the R&B diva. LaBelle spent most of her acceptance speech praising Hudson and comparing Hudson to herself. After repeated calls from the audience for the two women to sing, Patti broke out in an a cappella version of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," and Hudson joined in.