Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, making her first major public appearance since three members of her family were slain last October, received a stirring ovation on Sunday at Super Bowl 43.

Hudson was selected to sing the US national anthem before the National Football League championship game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers and performed a rousing rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered last October in a shattering tragedy for the celebrity singer and actress, whose star turn in "Dreamgirls" earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007,

Pre-game ceremonies also honored the US Airways flight crew who saved their plane's passengers in a river landing at New York last month.