| Jennifer Hudson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jennifer Kate Hudson |
| Born | September 12 1981 Chicago, Illinois |
| Years active | 2006-present |
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an Academy Award-winning American actress and Grammy-nominated singer. She first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol. She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 motion picture musical Dreamgirls for which she won numerous awards including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award.
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Background
Jennifer Hudson was born in Chicago, Illinois, where she attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and graduated in 1999. Hudson cites Whitney Houston as her musical and movie influence, and she has also said recently that her biggest wish is to collaborate with Houston.[1] After seeing Hudson's performance in Dreamgirls, American Idol judge Simon Cowell taped a congratulatory message to her, which aired on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[2] With the March 2007 issue, Jennifer Hudson became the third African American celebrity, and the first African American singer, to grace the cover of Vogue magazine.[3]
American Idol
Hudson auditioned for the third season of American Idol in Atlanta, Georgia. In her audition she commented that she had been singing on a cruise ship for the past few months and Randy said "We're expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you". Jennifer delivered and all the judges agreed it was the best voice they had heard so far in the competition. She was a member of the first group of semifinalists in the Semi Finals. She was not voted through to the final round, although she was brought back on the wildcard round and put through as a Top 12 finalist by contest judge Randy Jackson. Jennifer Hudson struggled to gain popularity in the early stages of the live shows, receiving the second-lowest number of votes in two of the first three shows. However, after a change in song choices, she soon became a favorite to win, receiving the highest number of votes in the Top 9 after her performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life" on April 6, 2004. Among Hudson's performances on the show was her rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing". American Idol judge Simon Cowell commented that she "finally proved why she was among the Top 12" and referred to the performance a week later as "sensational".[4] On April 21, 2004, Hudson became the sixth of the 12 finalists to be voted off the show, finishing the competition in seventh place.
American Idol performances
- "Imagine" (John Lennon, 1971) (Semifinals; February 10, 2004)
- "I Believe in You and Me" (The Four Tops, 1982; Whitney Houston, 1996) (Wild card; March 9, 2004)
- "Baby, I Love You" (Aretha Franklin, 1967) (Soul week; March 16, 2004) (Bottom 3)
- "No One Else on Earth" (Wynonna Judd)" (Country; March 23, 2004)
- "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" (Motown, Martha and the Vandellas; March 30, 2004) (Bottom 2)
- "Circle of Life" Elton John, 1994) (Elton John songs; April 6, 2004) (Top 3 Votes.)
- "I Have Nothing" (The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston, 1992) (Movie songs week; April 14, 2004). (Highest Number Of Votes)
- "Weekend in New England" (Barry Manilow, 1976) (Manilow songs; April 20, 2004) (Bottom 3: voted off)
Acting career
Dreamgirls
In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the prized role of Effie White, the role originally created in a legendary Broadway performance by Jennifer Holliday, for the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, which also starred Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and Eddie Murphy. Hudson won the role over hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. She said in The View that Fantasia called her and said:"Girl, you stole my part".[5] Filming of Dreamgirls began on January 9, 2006, and the film went into limited release on December 25, 2006 and national release on January 12, 2007. Hudson has won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", the signature song of the role, which had earlier been recorded, and had already reached the status of musical standard, because of the definitive performance of Jennifer Holliday. The New York Observer described Hudson's performance of the song as "five mellifluous, molto vibrato minutes that have suddenly catapulted Ms. Hudson... into the position of front-runner for the best supporting actress Oscar." Newsweek said that when moviegoers hear Hudson sing the song, she "is going to raise goose bumps across the land." Variety wrote that Hudson's performance "calls to mind debuts like Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl or Bette Midler in The Rose, with a voice like the young Aretha." As Effie White, Hudson has garnered twenty-nine awards from film critics as Best Supporting Actress and Breakthrough Performer of 2006. She won the Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role, dedicating the award to Florence Ballard (upon whom her Dreamgirls character was based), as well as friends Jasmine Trias, Fantasia Barrino, and the rest of the American Idol Season 3 finalists.[2] In addition, she has been named Best Supporting Actress by the Broadcast Film Critics Association and also by the Screen Actors Guild. On February 25, 2007, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film. At 25 years old, Hudson became the eighth youngest winner of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Currently, she is also the only person to have gone from participating in a reality television series to becoming an Academy Award winner. During her acceptance speech Hudson said through tears of joy, "Oh my God, I have to just take this moment in. I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. I didn't think I was going to win." "If my grandmother was here to see me now. She was my biggest inspiration." She also concluded her speech by thanking Jennifer Holliday.[6] Hudson's version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" debuted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the January 13, 2007 issue. The Dreamgirls track has since become Hudson's first Top 10 hit, but not on the Hot 100, as the track registered a new peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart on February 24, 2007. The track has also reached #14 on the Hot R&B/HipHop Songs chart, and remixes of the song have seen Jennifer reach the #1 position on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. In addition, Hudson was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on June 18 along with 115 other individuals for 2007.[7][8]
Future projects
In 2008, Hudson will appear as Kathy Hammett in Winged Creatures, a film based on the novel by Roy Freirich, with Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Josh Hutcherson, and Jackie Earl Haley. In September 2007, Hudson began work on the Sex and the City film, as Carrie Bradshaw's assistant.[9] Hudson is being considered to play Aretha Franklin in a film version of the autobiography, . Hudson has also expressed interest in starring in a remake of The Jackie Robinson Story. Missy Elliott has tapped Hudson to play her in a movie of her life. She said, "Being as she's a heavier-sized artist, she is in the same lane as I was when I first came out. She'd be closest to me."[10] Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson has signed to star in a movie adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's acclaimed 2003 novel "The Secret Life of Bees," entertainment industry press reported Thursday. Filming is to begin in January in North Carolina, and will be released later in 2008, Variety reported
Recording career
Hudson recorded "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)", originally by Gladys Knight & the Pips, for American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics—the official American Idol album for the 3rd season. She is featured in a duet, "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be" on Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose album. She also performed the song "Easy To Be Hard" on the Actors' Fund benefit recording of the musical Hair and she is featured on Ne-Yo's second album Because of You on the track "Leaving Tonight". Hudson has also recorded a new song with rapper Papoose, titled "Special." In September 2006, Hudson performed the song "Over It" live on Fox Chicago Morning News. In the interview she stated the song would be included on her debut album, to be released in early 2007 however this was before she signed with Arista.[11] On the Oprah Show, Hudson announced plans to enter the studio in March 2007. Hudson said on the Tyra Banks Show on February 23 that she just finished the first song for the album. Hudson also recorded a song called "Stand Up" which is available for on her fan website to purchase. On December 6th, Jennifer scored a Grammy nomination for her work on the Dreamgirls Soundtrack. In November 2006, Hudson signed a record deal with Arista Records and is currently working on her debut album and has recently finished recording one song entitled "Depreciate."[12] The album, which had previously been given a November 2007 date, is now scheduled for the first quarter of 2008.[9]
Personal life
Hudson has been dating maintenance engineer James Peyton since 1999 when she was 18. They both hail from Chicago. When asked if they had any plans to marry, Hudson declared that "we are happy with the place we are right now, but perhaps we will tie the knot someday. One thing's for sure, I definitely won't be popping the question!".[13]
Discography
Albums
- Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture(with Beyoncé & Anika Noni Rose) (2006) Platinum
- Forthcoming debut album (February 1, 2008)
Singles
- (2006) "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (2007) (# 14 (U.S. R&B)# 60 (U.S.) # 1 (Hot Dance Club Play) )
"Special", featuring Papoose, and "Pocketbook" (featuring Ludacris)[1], were both rumoured to be singles, but never materialised.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Effie White | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2008 | Winged Creatures | Kathy Hammett | post-production |
| Sex and the City: The Movie | Louise | post-production | |
| 2009 | The Secret Life of Bees | Rosaleen | pre-production |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Presenter | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ShoWest | Female Star of Tomorrow | Won |
| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Won | |
| National Board of Review | Best Female Breakthrough Performance | Won (tied with Rinko Kikuchi) | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Runner-Up | |
| New York Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Online | Best Supporting Actress | Won (tied with Catherine O'Hara) | |
| Breakthrough Performer | Won | ||
| Hollywood Life Awards | Breakthrough of the Year | Won | |
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Washington, DC Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||
| African-American Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | Breakthrough Performance | Won | |
| Las Vegas Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Pauline Kael Breakout | Won | |
| Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Award | Breakout Performance | Won | |
| 2007 | The National Society of Film Critics | Best Supporting Actress | Runner Up |
| St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | Breakout Artist | Won | |
| Broadcast Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Golden Globes | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Won | |
| Screen Actors Guild | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie | Won | |
| BAFTA | Actress in a Supporting Role | Won | |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||
| Academy Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Won | |
| Soul Train Awards | Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year | Won | |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Performance | Nominated | |
| BET Awards | Best Female R&B Artist | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Won | ||
| Best New Artist | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actress: Drama | Won | |
| Choice Movie Actress (Breakout) | Nominated | ||
| Vibe Music Awards | VHollywood Award | Nominated |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener | Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2006 for Dreamgirls | Succeeded by NA |
| Preceded by Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture for Dreamgirls 2006 | Succeeded by NA |
| Preceded by Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener | Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture 2006 for Dreamgirls | Succeeded by NA |
| Preceded by Thandie Newton for Crash | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Dreamgirls 2006 | Succeeded by NA |
See also
- List of Academy Award records
- List of African-American firsts
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
- List of Black Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
References
- ^ "Dreamgirls Star Hudson Dreams Of Houston Duet", TeenMusic.com, 2007-02-07. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ a b Nepales, Ruben V.. "Golden Globe winners have ties, memories of RP", Inquirer.net, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Hudson Makes History with 'Vogue' Cover", Hollywood.com, 2007-02-13. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ YouTube.com Retrieved on 05-08-07
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan. "'Idol' finalist Hudson lands lead in 'Dreamgirls' film", USA Today, 2005-11-16. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "'Dreamgirl' Jennifer Hudson Wins Oscar", NewsMax.com, 2007-02-26. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Film Academy Invites 115 New Members", Associated Press, 2007-07-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Academy Invites 115 to Become Members", Oscars.org, 2007-06-18. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ a b Simmons, Leslie. "Hudson moves to 'Sex and the City' movie", The Hollywood Reporter, 2007-09-11. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Missy Elliott Wants Jennifer Hudson To Get Her Freak On", Star Pulse, 2007-07-11. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Jennifer Hudson sings 'Over It'", September 7, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
- ^ WINDSWEPT SONGS RECORDED
- ^ Barbara Walters' Oscar Special, 2007
External links
- Official Dreamgirls site
- Jennifer Hudson at Myspace
- Jennifer Hudson at the Internet Movie Database
- KnightattheMovies.com interview with Jennifer Hudson
American Idol season 3 |
|---|
| Fantasia Barrino · Diana DeGarmo · Jasmine Trias · LaToya London · George Huff · John Stevens · Jennifer Hudson · Jon Peter Lewis · Camile Velasco · Amy Adams · Matthew Rogers · Leah LaBelle |
American Idol | |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Hosts | Ryan Seacrest · Brian Dunkleman |
| Judges | Randy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell |
| Winners | Kelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks · Jordin Sparks |
| Winner's Singles | "A Moment like This" · "Flying Without Wings" · "I Believe" · "Inside Your Heaven" · "Do I Make You Proud" · "This Is My Now" |
| Runners-up | Justin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee · Blake Lewis |
| Other alumni | Tamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Jennifer Hudson · Kellie Pickler · Chris Daughtry · Elliott Yamin |
| Spin-offs | From Justin to Kelly · Juniors · Christmas · Extra · Rewind |
| Other | Underground · Compilation Series · Controversy · Discography · Episodes · Font · Idol series · Magazine · Video game |
