Jennifer Hudson was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 12, 1981. Intent on following the careers of her idols like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, she entered the Atlanta auditions for the third season of American Idol. She impressed the judges and was sent to Hollywood, where she eventually became a member of the final 36. Her initial stint on the competition weren’t popular, but a change of songs made her one of the frontrunners of that season, and she eventually was included in the top 12.
Hudson’s performances as part of the top 12 were applauded by audiences, with American Idol judge Simon Cowell describing it at one point as “sensational.” Despite her popularity, she was the sixth among the 12 to be eliminated, in a somewhat controversial outcome. Nevertheless she toured with the rest of the competition’s top 10, including the season’s eventual winner, Fantasia Barrino.
In 2005, Hudson was cast as Effie White in the musical film Dreamgirls, which also starred Beyonc? Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx. She beat out hundreds of professional singers and actress, including Barrino. Her character is the lead singer of female soul group the Dreamettes, who deals with changes with her life as the popularity of her group ensues. Her performance of the signature song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” was applauded by critics, and when the film was finally premieres, Hudson received heaps of praise for her acting. She eventually won 29 awards for her role, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress—the eighth youngest to do so.
Hudson has also appeared in two other films: Sex and the City and Winged Creatures. She is also slated to release her debut album in September 2008.
"I have the height of a model, the breast that people pay for, and the lips that everybody wants so why change?"
"if its not worth workiing for, its not worth it at all"