Jennifer Hudson's Super Bowl Performance With Sandy Hook Children's Chorus "Emotional" and "Overwhelming"

Grammy winner sang "America the Beautiful" with the group of youngsters during the Super Bowl pregame show

By Peter Gicas Feb 04, 2013 4:31 PMTags

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To call Jennifer Hudson's performance of "America the Beautiful" with the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir during the Super Bowl pregame show "moving" is definitely an understatement.

And the Oscar/Grammy winner clearly agrees.

"It was emotional," Hudson said during an appearance on Monday's Today. "Before we went out, I hugged each and every one of them, and then we prayed a little bit, and then we got out there."

During the performance, Hudson and the children wore green ribbons to honor the victims of the Dec. 14 shooting at the Newtown, Conn., school.

"They are conquerors, they are surivivors. And they're babies. So that was overwhelming," Hudson added.

As for Beyoncé's halftime show, Hudson noted, "Beyoncé makes you move, honey. I love Beyoncé and I love Destiny's Child. That, to me, was another highlight for myself, being able to be there with Beyoncé, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys. These ladies are people I looked up to."

(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)