‘Grease: Live’: Vanessa Hudgens stole the show + How much dad Greg sacrificed for her [VIDEO]

Vanessa Hudgens wasn’t Sandy in “Grease: Live,” but she was the star of the show. According to critics and viewers alike, the “High School Musical” alum stole the show, and that was just hours after the death of her father Greg, who had been instrumental in her success.

Before the live musical production went on air on Sunday in the US, the 27-year-old actress announced that her dad passed away from stage four cancer and that she would be honouring him with her performance.

And it was a spectacular performance! The reviews from viewers, critics and fellow actors were unanimous: Hudgens was phenomenal. Her version of the tough and rough Betty Rizzo, played by Stockard Channing in the 1978 film of the same name, was highly acclaimed, and her rendition of the poignant “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” was delivered so passionately that viewers could feel the emotions pouring through her.

The producers must have known Hudgens would be a crowd-puller, that’s why she was with Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit (as Sandy Young and Danny Zuko) in the show’s promotional ads even though she only played a supporting character.

The praises for Hudgens weren’t given out of sympathy, though; she truly earned them. At 27, she’s already a seasoned performer. She has been perfecting her craft since she was little, and that’s thanks to her parents, who supported and encouraged her all through everything.

In a 2013 interview with Marie Claire magazine, she detailed the sacrifices Greg and Gina endured just for Hudgens to reach her dreams.

“My parents gave up so much,” she said, adding that their family kept moving from one hours to another so they could move closer to Los Angeles, where the brunette beauty would go on auditions.

Greg didn’t leave his job as a firefighter in San Diego, though. Instead, he drove to and from his workplace to their new home. “He would keep driving back to the same place that he worked every time we moved. By the end, the commute was not fun,” Hudgens praised her father.

“Money was a big thing. My parents drove me up to L.A., which cost a lot because of gas, and took out loans so that we could move from location to location to be close to L.A. The family definitely struggled,” she continued.

“They were very supportive of me. They gave up a lot so that I could get to where I am.”

The cast and crew of “Grease: Live,” knowing of the actress’ internal struggle, were behind Hudgens during the live telecast of the show and told her, “We’re going to live in this moment.” Producer Marc Platt was “fiercely proud” of Hudgens for her professionalism and incredible performance despite the fact that he beloved father died the night before the show.

“I was proud of her anyway for the performance she gave, but to come in on Sunday morning and share with me the news… she’s a very determined young woman,” Platt told EW, adding that Hudgens felt her father would have wanted her to perform.

“So she decided she would take her feelings of loss and sadness and put them in a box for that afternoon, that she would use them to fuel her performance and she would do it in honour of her father.”

The producers also dedicated the show to Greg. A text at the end of the show read: “In loving memory of Greg Hudgens, June 22, 1950 – January 30, 2016.” Platt said Hudgens was touched by the kind gesture.

The Hudgens family were also brought to a private trailer in the Warner Brothers set so they could watch the live feed of the show.

“I could tell you that I think it was very cathartic. Her mum said to me, this is a celebration of Vanessa’s dad’s life, and I think everyone felt that way,” Platt revealed.