Born:
Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois.
Quote From Jennifer Hudson:
"Singing for thousands of people, and to be paid to do this, it’s amazing!."
Trivia Fact About Jennifer Hudson:
Before American Idol, Jennifer worked as a singer on a Disney cruise ship.
Growing Up:
Jennifer Hudson grew up in south Chicago. At the age of seven, her vocal skills were cultivated in the church choir. Jennifer credits her vocal talents to her late grandmother, Julia Hudson, who was involved in the church and Jennifer's early informal training. Throughout grammar and high school, Jennifer entered talent shows and competitions showcasing her incredible vocal skills as well as performing at clubs, weddings, and benefits in her hometown and the surrounding areas.
American Idol Auditions:
In the fall of 2002, Jennifer won the role of “Calliope”, the head muse on the “Disney Wonder” line of cruise ships. Instead of renewing her contract with Disney, Jennifer chose to fly to Atlanta and audition for American Idol: Season 3. There, Hudson became a semifinalist in the first group. Despite impressive performances, Jennifer was not voted through to the final round. Instead, she was brought back as a ‘wildcard’ by Idol judge Randy Jackson.
American Idol Finalist:
Despite being amongst the favorites to win, in the sixth week of Idol: Season 3, Jennifer Hudson was the contestant to be voted off. The reaction by the public was unprecedented. Many, including Sir Elton John, publicly lambasted the outcome and questioned Idol’s voting system. The strong performances of all contestants in the bottom three that week, who all happened to be African-American females, also sparked debate about racism and sexism within the competition and the American public.
Life After Idol:
During the competition, Barry Manilow stated, "My catalog of songs requires that you have range, you cannot do what Jennifer is doing, she takes it to a whole other level."
Not only does Jennifer take her singing to another level, she is also taking her career to higher highs. In November 2005, Jennifer was cast in the role of "Effie White" in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls which also stars Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. In a twist of irony, Jennifer beat out a throng of hopefuls for the role including Season 3’s Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. Filming began on January 10, 2006.
Dreamgirls was released to strong critical acclaim in late December 2006. Jennifer Hudson was nominated for and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her film career has continued with acclaimed roles in Sex and the City and the Secret Life of Bees.
Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album was finally released in September 2008. It debuted at #2 on the album chart, sold over 500,000 copies, and was given four Grammy Award nominations. The album's first single, "Spotlight," hit #1 on the R&B chart.
