Jennifer Hudson

**Jennifer Hudson** is an American singer and actress. She got her big break on the television reality series *American Idol*, as rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of the series, placing seventh. she eventually landed the part of Effie in the 2006 film *Dreamgirls*, for which she received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in *Sex and the City* (2008), *The Secret Life of Bees* (2008), and *Black Nativity* (2013). In 2015, she made her Broadway theatre debut in the role of Shug Avery in *The Color Purple*.

## Career

Hudson auditioned for the third season of *American Idol* in Atlanta commenting that she had been singing on Wikipedia:Disney Cruise Lines (aboard the Disney Wonder) for the past few months (as one of the Muses from *Hercules*); and contestant judge Randy Jackson said, "We're expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you." Hudson received the highest number of votes in the "Top 9" after her performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life" on April 6, 2004, but two weeks later was eliminated during the "Top 7" show after performing Barry Manilow's, "Weekend in New England." The bottom three consisting of three African-American women led to controversy. In May 2009, *MTV* listed Hudson as the sixth greatest *American Idol* and noted her exit was the most shocking of all time. In May 2010, the *Los Angeles Times* claimed Hudson to be the third greatest *Idol* contestant in the history of the show, placing behind season one winner Kelly Clarkson and season four winner Carrie Underwood.

Following her elimination from *American Idol* and performance in *Dreamgirls*, Hudson was later signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis and released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which was certified gold in the United States, sold over a million copies worldwide, and received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Her subsequent studio albums, *I Remember Me* (2011) and *JHUD* (2014), saw continued commercial success with the former also being certified gold in the United States. Hudson received her second Wikipedia:Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017 as a cast member on *The Color Purple*.

## Family/Personal life

Hudson began dating James Payton in 1999, when she was 18. They separated in late 2007. Hudson met David Otunga, a pro wrestler in the WWE and a Harvard Law graduate, and the couple became engaged in September 2008. In August 2009, Hudson gave birth to her first child, her son David Daniel Otunga, Jr.

In November 2017, Hudson and Otunga had broken up.

On October 24, 2008, Hudson's 57-year-old mother Darnell Donerson and 29-year-old brother Jason were found shot to death inside the Chicago home Donerson shared with Hudson's older sister, Julia. An AMBER Alert was issued for her 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, when Julia reported him missing. Three days later the FBI confirmed a body found on Chicago's West Side was the nephew; an autopsy indicated he had died from "multiple gunshot wounds".
Police charged William Balfour, Julia's estranged 27-year-old husband, with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. Convicted on all seven counts against him, in July 2012, he was sentenced to three life sentences without the possibility of parole; served consecutively, followed by an additional 120 years for his other convictions.

Hudson's family created The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, in honor of the three victims. Hudson and her sister created the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in honor of her nephew. It provides Christmas presents and school supplies to families in need in the Chicagoland area.

As of 2011, Jennifer resides in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

## References

1. ↑ Hudson, Jennifer (2012). *I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down*. Penguin. ISBN 9781101565780.
2. ↑ "'Idol' Jennifer Hudson Says She Was Robbed", MTV, April 23, 2004. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
3. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M.. "Jennifer Hudson Moves to 'Better Place'", People.com, November 8, 2008. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
4. ↑ James Montgomery. "The 10 Greatest 'American Idol' Contestants Of All Time: Latest champ Kris Allen didn't make our list, but you might be surprised by who did", MTV,com, May 21, 2009. Retrieved on May 7, 2020.
5. ↑ Shirley Halperin. "The ultimate 'American Idol' power ranking: 120 contestants on, Kelly Clarkson still reigns supreme", Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2010. Retrieved on March 10, 2011.
6. ↑ Barbara Walters' Oscar Special, 2007
7. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson Engaged to Boyfriend Gary Otunga", September 14, 2008. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
8. ↑ Ritti, Missy (August 11, 2009). Jennifer Hudson Welcomes a Son. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
9. ↑ Mizoguchi, Karen. "Jennifer Hudson and Fiance David Otunga Split", November 17, 2017. Retrieved on November 17, 2017.
10. ↑ Swartz, Tracy. "Jennifer Hudson, ex appear in court in Chicago as custody battle continues". (in en-US)
11. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson's Mom, Brother Shot to Death", *KLTA News*, October 24, 2008. Retrieved on October 25, 2008.
12. ↑ "Mother, brother of Jennifer Hudson killed", *ABC Local*, October 24, 2008. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
13. ↑ Gorner, Jeremy. "Sources: Jennifer Hudson relative slain; child missing", October 24, 2008. Retrieved on October 24, 2008.
14. ↑ "Body found in SUV linked to Hudson shootings", October 27, 2008. Retrieved on September 24, 2017.
15. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer. "William Balfour, Suspect in Hudson Family Killings, Denied Bail", MTV, December 3, 2008. Retrieved on December 3, 2008.
16. ↑ Hussain, Rummana. "Jennifer Hudson 'emotional but relieved' with guilty verdicts", May 11, 2012. Retrieved on May 7, 2020.
17. ↑ CNN Staff. "Killer of Jennifer Hudson relatives gets three life sentences without parole", July 24, 2012. Retrieved on May 7, 2020.
18. ↑ Perry, Beth (October 30, 2008). Jennifer Hudson Announces Foundation for Murder Victim Families. Retrieved on May 7, 2020.
19. ↑ Bried, Erin. "4th Annual Self women Doing Good Awards", *Self*, Conde Nast.
20. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson's New House: Chicago Native Buys Mansion In Burr Ridge (PHOTOS)", *Huffington Post*, December 1, 2011. Retrieved on January 5, 2019.

## External links

* Jennifer Hudson Biography
* Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson at Encyclopædia Britannica
* Jennifer Hudson links at FreeOnes
* Jennifer Hudson at Babepedia
* Jennifer Hudson article at *Wikipedia*