Usher has been making waves in the entertainment industry for decades, but one role that nearly became a part of his storied career was in the 2006 hit musical Dreamgirls.
While appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the R&B superstar revealed that he was almost cast in the film that won Hudson her first Academy Award.
During the conversation, Usher shocked Hudson—and the audience—by admitting he was originally set to be part of the star-studded cast.
“I think I seen an audition tape or something that you’d done. And also too had heard about this movie that you were getting ready to do. And you didn’t know that I was supposed to be a part of that movie,” Usher teased. A surprised Hudson responded, “Wait, you were going to be in Dreamgirls?”
Usher didn’t reveal which character he was set to play, but Playbill reported that he was “on board to play choreographer C.C. White,” the songwriter and brother of Effie White—a role that ultimately went to Keith Robinson.
While he was excited to join the project, scheduling conflicts forced him to bow out. “I was in the middle of a tour. And it was a scheduling conflict that caused me to not be able to play the character. But I was so excited for what was getting ready to happen,” he explained. “I tried my hardest to kind of work around it. But unfortunately, the schedule just didn’t permit.”
The 2006 adaptation of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $155 million worldwide. Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
“I would have been a part of that history with you. But I am a part of the history with you because we all celebrate you for such an encouraging talent for our young women out here,” Usher shared.
Hudson floated the idea of the two finally collaborating on music together, saying, “Maybe one day we could do a duet or something. I’m just saying.” To which Usher responded, “Yeah, I would love that. That would be a dream.”
While Usher never made it to Dreamgirls, a musical collaboration between these two powerhouse vocalists could still be a historic moment!
Photo Credit: Chris Haston/Warner Bros
