Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson has secured a role in the upcoming NBC production of Hairspray Live!

Jennifer Hudson has been confirmed to play Motormouth Maybelle in the musical and Harvey Fierstein, who is also writing the teleplay, will play Edna Turnblad - a role he created and won a Tony Award for in the much-loved stage version of Hairspray.

Filmed in Los Angeles, Hairspray Live! is set to air on Wednesday, December 7 in the USA. Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, issued a statement on the exciting news. It reads: “We are beyond thrilled with this incredibly talented duo of stars for ‘Hairspray Live!'"

"Harvey Fierstein created the role of Edna Turnblad on Broadway in an indelible Tony-winning performance that demanded to be memorialized on film, and we’re happy he wanted to step into her shoes one last, unforgettable time. We’re also so grateful that the incomparable Jennifer Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle and we know her rendition of ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ will literally stop the show."

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Watch Hudson performing a moving tribute to the late music icon, Prince, below: