'American Idol' bits: Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Trent Harmon

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: Actress Jennifer Hudson poses backstage at the Michael Kors Fall 2016 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Spring Studios on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Michael Kors)

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: Actress Jennifer Hudson poses backstage at the Michael Kors Fall 2016 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Spring Studios on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Michael Kors)

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Thursday, April 27, 2016

Jennifer Hudson has been cast in NBC's live "Hairspray Live!" later this year.

She will play Motormouth Maybelle, a character Queen Latifah played in the 2007 big-screen adaptation of the retro Broadway musical. Her character hosts "The Corny Collins Show" on "Negro Day," when blacks are allowed to appear on it. Harvey Fierstein will reprise his role of Edna Turnblad. Derek Hough has signed on as well.

The program will air December 7.

Carrie Underwood starred in NBC's first live musical in 2013 "The Sound of Music."

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 03: Fantasia Barrino attends Sinatra Voice for A Century Event at David Geffen Hall on December 3, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia return to the Fox Theatre June 17. Buy tickets here.

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Kelly Clarkson revealed pictures of her new son Remington on Twitter:

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Haley Reinhart's video for her song "Better":

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Recording artist Katharine McPhee attends FOX's "American Idol" Finale For The Farewell Season at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Trent Harmon and Kat McPhee will be performing at the PBS Memorial Day concert, which has been friendly to "Idol" performers in the past.

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Core Media, the parent company which runs "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" has filed for bankruptcy protection. It is in the hole several hundred million dollars, thanks to the sinking fortunes of "Idol" and SYTYD, which is coming back this summer focused on juniors.