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But it was Hudson’s soulful take on the song Be My Husband, made popular by Nina Simone and most recently Ed Sheeran, that initially won over the judges.

He dedicated the song to his late grandfather Saturday night.

“It’s from his generation,” Hudson says. “I just wanted to revive something classic.”

Talent Search Committee chair Andrew Bunka said he was touched by Hudson’s gesture.

“It’s a true testament to the type of individuals we have participating in our competition,” he said. “What Christian did tonight shows his generosity and where his values are. I have absolutely no doubt he’s going to take his craft to the next level and make it some day and this will all be something he can look back on and be very proud of.”

It was a suitably uplifting finale to the general feel-good vibe of the Calgary Stampede Talent Search, which found 12 competitors vying for cash and other prizes at the Boyce Theatre.

More than 300 performers, aged 13 to 21, auditioned to compete in the search. It was whittled down to 58 performers, and 12 junior performers aged six to 12 who performed but did not compete. The 58 performers competed at the Boyce Theatre all last week.

The finalists — polished and professional — ran the gamut. They offered everything from interpretive dance, to original songs, to funny show tunes, Jason Mraz covers and even some card tricks.

Singers Celine Simard, 17, and Vincent Bundick, 20, of Calgary and Airdrie, respectively, were awarded $500 and a 3rd runner up prize for their spirited run through Mraz’s The Dynamo of Volition. Magician Braden Pole, 18, of Balzac, who performed a rope-trick, vanishing-coke-bottle routine he called The Good, The Bad and the Mildly Amusing took home $750 as 2nd Runner-Up. Eighteen-year-old Calgarian Emma Rose, who offered a gorgeous take on Smokey Robinson’s Motown hit, Who’s Loving You, won the $2,000 1st Runner-Up prize. Singer-songwriter Brad Fleischer, also of Airdrie, took home the $1,000 Don Weldon Most Promising Performer Award.