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Singer and Keyboardist Chadney Christle Shares How Acts of Kindness Got Her a Gig with J.Hud and How She Is Leveling up at Berklee Online
In 2006, Chadney Christle went to the movie theater with a friend near her hometown of Dallas, Texas to see Dreamgirls, starring Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose, and Jennifer Hudson in her film debut following American Idol.
“We were the only ones that literally stood up in the theater in the middle of the movie when she did, ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,’ screaming and hollering at the top of our lungs,” says Christle.
Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar-winning performance in the 2006 film Dreamgirls.
Nearly two decades later, Christle has gone from applauding Jennifer Hudson in the audience to helping her earn those standing ovations as Hudson’s keyboardist, most recently on a 16-city North American tour with Josh Groban.
“Fast-forward, and I get to play that same song for this woman that I stood up for in the theater,” says Christle. “It brings tears and chills to me. And she kills it every single time! I just sit there and look like I’m still that girl in my 20s in the theater, watching her.”
Since 2019, Christle has performed with Hudson on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Madison Square Garden. At the same time she is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games at Berklee Online, she has continued touring with Hudson, one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Like Hudson, Christle is building a multifaceted career. Alongside touring, she’s preparing for a future in film composition.
“I’m a movie connoisseur, so I’ve always paid attention to what creates those special moments of sad music, happy music, playful music,” says Christle. “I wanted to find out how that works, and what that process looks like.”
A Natural Performer
While composing is new to Christle, performing has always come naturally to her. In fact, she was singing in her church at age five and directing the choir by age 12. As a teen, she auditioned twice for the performing arts high school in Dallas, but was rejected both times. In hindsight, she says she gained something far more valuable from attending public high school: a lifelong mentorship and friendship with her music teacher, Dr. Michelle Magee-Norfleet. Christle is even the godmother to Dr. Magee-Norfleet’s daughter.
Christle’s performance and interview for the Dallas Music Network.
“Being denied to go there was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me,” says Christle about the performing arts high school. “From age 15 to nearly 40, this same person has been in my life and has taught me the true meaning of musicianship.”
Dr. Magee-Norfleet encouraged Christle to pursue singing and piano, compete in music competitions, and become the president of the school’s choir. And now Christle says that she is a music teacher because of her mentor. When she isn’t touring, she teaches at a private school in Dallas for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. She says the school and her students are very encouraging and flexible about her going on tour with Hudson.
“The last week of school, I still had to finish work,” she says. “But they allowed me to go on the tour. Like, ‘How dare we keep our music teacher from going on a tour?’ They’re very proud.”
When Kindness Comes Full Circle
Another unexpected connection would lead Christle to Hudson: Hudson’s longtime friend and fellow American Idol contestant, George Huff. After relocating from New Orleans to Dallas following Hurricane Katrina, Huff asked Christle to record on his EP. She gladly agreed.
“He basically didn’t have the money to fund everything, and I did it for free,” says Christle. “I mean, I didn’t think twice about it. He was a great guy, very sweet, and he told me he would never forget that.”
Hudson is close friends with fellow American Idol contestant George Huff, after they both made it to the top 10 on season 3 of the show. Christle and Huff knew each other from the Dallas music scene.
A decade later, Huff definitely did not forget. When Hudson needed a backup singer to perform with her at an Aretha Franklin tribute—a precursor to her starring role in the 2021 biopic Respect—Huff recommended Christle.
“He was like, ‘I told you, I’m never going to forget the people that were there for me with no strings attached,’” says Christle about Huff. “And here I am. I’ve been singing and playing for her ever since.”
Christle emphasizes that this is an important lesson for all musicians.
“Everything doesn’t have to be monetary, because sometimes it comes in other forms of connections and opportunities that are priceless,” she says. “That’s what happened for me, because I wasn’t looking for anything; I just was excited to help. And for him [Huff] to follow me and trust me . . . he’s amazing.”
Performing Pavarotti: Ear Training for the Win!
Christle says that she has been able to use the skills that she’s learning in her Berklee Online program while performing with Hudson. She first encountered the piece “Nessun Dorma” from the opera Turandot, in high school, when Dr. Magee-Norfleet taught the choir about the famous moment when Aretha Franklin stepped in for Luciano Pavarotti during the 1998 Grammy Awards, and gave a flawless performance of the piece that became one of many career highlights.
At the 1998 Grammy Awards, Aretha Franklin stepped in for Luciano Pavarotti at a moment’s notice to perform “Nessun Dorma” from the opera Turandot.
Years later, Hudson was asked to perform the same piece for a private event, and Christle was able to put her music theory and ear training from Berklee Online to the test.
“They put the chart in my face, and I go, ‘Okay, that’s music theory. Of course, I can play that by ear,’” says Christle. “That moment, I will never forget, and I said, ‘This is why I’m in school. This is what Berklee is teaching me right now.’ That was probably my second gig with her [Hudson]. I didn’t know how to read music until I got to my music theory class, and then ear training helped me to remember the song from high school.”
Jennifer Hudson performing “Nessun Dorma” with the New York Philharmonic.
Scoring for Films and the Spirit Tunnel to Success
Now that Christle is back from tour, she is focusing on her studies and has already begun building her résumé as a composer. Among her first professional credits are two films streaming on Tubi.
“I’m not sure where it’s going to land me, but I’m just grateful to have it in my back pocket,” she says. “Just got paid a couple of bucks, but my name is on there. I came up with that.”
This interview would simply not be complete without asking Chadney about the viral “Spirit Tunnel” segment from TheJennifer Hudson Show, where guests walk through a hallway of cheering staff members singing personalized chants for them. Her favorite Spirit Tunnel walk?
“Aaron Pierre, that’s Mufasa!” she sings.
She says that the Spirit Tunnel has become a tour tradition as well.
“Every time someone has a birthday, we do our own Spirit Tunnel for them,” she says. “It’s really a thing.”
