Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson

Saturday, June 27,  2026

@ Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL

(Review Written By: Tami Pierce)

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois became a showcase for vocal greatness as Josh Groban brought his Gems World Tour to the Chicago area with special guest Jennifer Hudson. The pairing promised “two legendary voices” and delivered exactly that: an evening built on power, emotional reach, and the kind of arena-sized balladry that depends less on spectacle than on the human voice at full command.

Jennifer Hudson’s set was a reminder that few contemporary singers can move so naturally between pop, R&B, gospel, theater, and soul standards. She began with “Spotlight,” a confident opener that immediately established her command of the room, then moved into “Trouble,” “Where You At,” and the Dreamgirls favorite “Love You I Do.” The early stretch balanced radio-ready polish with Broadway brightness, giving the audience both groove and personality before the set expanded into something more devotional and dramatic.

The emotional center of Hudson’s performance arrived through her covers and spiritual selections. “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” gave her room to unleash gritty, blues-drenched force, while “How Great Thou Art” brought the arena into churchlike stillness. Her take on “Hallelujah” leaned into restraint before rising toward full-throated release, and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” paid tribute to classic soul without feeling like imitation. Hudson’s gift is not only volume or range; it is the way she shapes climaxes so that each big note feels earned.

Later songs such as “Bleed for Love,” “Invisible,” and the Beatles medley “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight” gave the set additional texture, but the inevitable showstopper was “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” Hudson treated it not merely as a signature number but as a dramatic event, building from defiance to catharsis. By the end of her set, she had not simply warmed up the audience; she had delivered a full headliner-level performance.

Josh Groban and his Brilliance

Twenty-five years ago, I heard a voice on the radio that absolutely mesmerized me. The song was “To Where You Are”, and the artist was Josh Groban. That moment set off a lifetime of incandescent adoration to this beautiful man and his spectacular talent. So, I was one of the lucky ones to see Josh Groban when he came to Rosemont. He opened not on the main stage, but actually the back stage (or stage B) with “As Time Goes By,” a fitting invitation into a set that leaned into timelessness. From there, “You Are Loved” and “The World We Knew (Over and Over)” showcased the warmth and clarity that have long defined his appeal. Josh Groban’s majestic voice remains an arena instrument in the truest sense: expansive, controlled, and yet capable of making large spaces feel intimate.

Now on the main stage, Mr. Groban spoke about the influence on writing his next song, which he dedicated to his music teacher who saw the talent within and pushed him to sing and pull the introvert out. This is for all those like him with “Granted” offering contemporary uplift. If you’ve ever seen Josh Groban perform before, you know there’s always going to be some nostalgic storytelling and tons of laughter for he has very clever wit and spontaneity on stage. Before going into his next duo songs “The Wandering Kind / February Song”, Josh told of a tune that had rattled around in his brain for years and years that he would just fiddle around with on the piano for fun. And finally, one day someone called it out and said it was really good and needed to be heard by all, “Wandering Kind” was finally recorded.

We were given a special treat as Mr. Groban invited Jennifer Hudson back on stage to sing a duet with “Unchained Melody”, their voices blending together with beautiful harmonies. That was followed up by the popular oldie “Mai”. And then Mr. Groban once again was on the B stage for the next couple of songs “Stand by Me,” and “Moon River” which allowed him to inhabit standards and beloved melodies with his signature blend of classical polish and pop accessibility. There was a bonus with “Moon River” as Josh Groban spoke of how he got his father, Jack Groban, to play the trumpet in the background as we all even got to see his father on the big screen playing as Josh sang the song. It was glorious and inspiring. And perhaps one of the most nostalgic, precious and touching songs of the night was his next song “Awake”. For all us Grobanites, this song defines the emotional journey we all feel joined in the moment with Josh himself.

Another fan favorite that never gets missed by Mr. Groban is the amazing, “Alla Luce Del Sole”. The second the first note strikes; the crowd roars with excitement. As that song ended Josh gave a shout out to all his Broadway fans. As a huge one myself, I really had to hold back from yelling “Phantom”, because I’ve always wanted to hear Josh sing the song “Phantom of the Opera” dating back to the first time I heard his exquisite voice on the radio all those years ago. Mr. Groban’s theatrical instincts came forward in “Children Will Listen / Not While I’m Around,” a pairing that emphasized his affinity for musical theater’s emotional precision after discussing his time playing the lead in “Sweeney Todd” and Pierre in “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” and how much he enjoyed playing those characters.

Then it was time to enjoy some love in the air as we all took a moment to celebrate the recent engagement of Josh Groban to his love, Natalie McQueen. Josh went on to explain how he proposed at Disneyland and stressed how we really need to spread more love during these very difficult times. This led into “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” which gave the arena a familiar sing-along glow, while “Skyfall” added cinematic drama and dark grandeur.

By the time he reached “You Raise Me Up,” the crowd was primed for the kind of communal release that has made the song one of his defining concert moments. Josh first thanked the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and The Chicago Community Chorus and of course his band, then turned to the crowd and said, “Okay Chicago you have the stamina of a newborn baby” and invited everyone to sing along. It was a moment of reverence and unity as we all collectively sang the beautiful lyrics.

The encore paired “Be Alright” with “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” ending the night on a note of reassurance and uplift. The first was plea to keep fighting for the protection of the arts and music in our schools and programs that are at risk of being taken away for budget cuts. The latter was a description of the difficult times we are facing today. It was a smart closing choice for a concert built around emotional generosity: both Ms. Hudson and Mr. Groban know how to deliver vocal fireworks, but the strongest moments of the evening came when virtuosity served connection rather than overshadowing it. Josh Groban was again, as always, absolute perfection.

As a double bill, the Gems World Tour stop in Rosemont succeeded because it respected the distinct strengths of both artists. Jennifer Hudson brought fervor, soul, and dramatic intensity. Josh Groban brought elegance, warmth, laughter and sweeping theatrical scale. Together, they offered an evening that felt less like a conventional arena package and more like a vocal celebration—one where the songs were familiar, the performances were generous and spell-bounding, and the voices were the main spectacular event.