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Jennifer Hudson will star as Motormouth Maybelle in “Hairspray Live!” Wednesday on NBC. (NBC Photo)

On Wednesday, the network will host “Hairspray Live!” with former Idol standout Jennifer Hudson among the show’s stars.

Jennifer is playing the role of Motormouth Maybelle, owner of a Baltimore record store in the 1960s and the host of “Negro Day” on The Corny Collins Show.

For anyone not familiar with the story, “Hairspray” follows the adventures of plump teenager Tracy Turnblad as she first tries to win a spot of The Corny Collins Show. Once she accomplishes that, she tries to integrate the show.

Maddie Baillio is playing the lead role of Tracy and the “Hairspray Live” cast also includes Ariana Grande as one of her friends, Derek Hough as Corny Collins, Martin Short and Kristin Chenoweth.

Jennifer will sing “Big Blonde and Beautiful” and “I Know Where I’ve Been.” She’ll also team up with Ariana for the show-closing “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go).”

The soundtrack for the show is already available on iTunes. “Hairpray Live!” begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday.