Hudson, Jennifer

▪ 2008

 

born Sept. 12, 1981, Chicago, Ill.

In her wildest fantasies American actress and singer Jennifer Hudson could have never guessed that in just a few short years she would advance from flipping burgers to accepting in February 2007 the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance as Effie White in the film Dreamgirls (2006). This triumph earned Hudson a place in the elite group of actresses who had won Academy Awards for their musical film debuts and launched her rise to stardom.

      Jennifer Kate Hudson began singing at the age of seven in her Chicago church choir and about the age of nine performed a solo rendition of the gospel ballad “Ask in My Name” at her great-great-grandmother's 91st birthday party. Aside from singing in the gospel choir at her church during her teenage years, Hudson performed at wedding receptions and in local talent shows and musical theatre. After graduating (1999) from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, Hudson attended Langston (Okla.) University. In 2001 she transferred to Kennedy-King College in Chicago to study music and appeared in a local musical production of Big River. Hudson then landed her first professional singing job on a Disney cruise ship as Calliope, the head Greek muse, in the 2003 production of Hercules: The Musical. Rather than renew her contract with Disney, Hudson decided to audition for American Idol, where she reached the final rounds before being eliminated in seventh place. After fulfilling her obligation to perform with the American Idol: Season Three tour during the summer of 2004, Hudson performed at charity events on Broadway and completed a concert tour throughout the Midwest.

      During the summer of 2005, Hudson auditioned for Dreamgirls, beating out more than 780 competitors to secure the role, including third-season American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's powerful performance of the song “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” brought audiences to their feet with tempestuous applause in movie theatres across the nation. Aside from her Oscar, she accepted many accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, the Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for entertainer of the year, and a BAFTA. Hudson also appeared on the covers of many magazines, notably the March 2007 issue of Vogue, known as the annual “power issue.” She broke the fashion barrier as the most full-figured, curvaceous woman ever to have graced the magazine's cover.

      In 2007 Hudson recorded her debut solo album for Clive Davis's Arista Records and was working on her next film, Winged Creatures.

Barbara A. Schreiber

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▪ American actress and singer

in full  Jennifer Kate Hudson 

born Sept. 12, 1981, Chicago, Ill., U.S.

 

 American actress and singer who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in Dreamgirls (2006).

      Hudson began singing at age seven in her Chicago church choir. As a teenager, she performed at wedding receptions and in local talent shows and musical theatre. After graduating (1999) from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, Hudson attended Langston (Okla.) University. In 2001 she transferred to Kennedy-King College in Chicago to study music and appeared in a local musical production of Big River. Hudson then landed her first professional singing job on a Disney cruise ship as Calliope, the head Greek muse, in a 2003 production of Hercules: The Musical. Rather than renew her contract with Disney, Hudson decided to audition for American Idol, where she reached the final rounds before being eliminated in seventh place. After fulfilling her obligation to perform with the American Idol: Season Three tour during the summer of 2004, Hudson performed at charity events on Broadway and completed a concert tour throughout the Midwest.

      During the summer of 2005, Hudson auditioned for Dreamgirls, a musical set in the 1960s about the rise and fall of a Motown group. She beat out more than 780 competitors, including third-season American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, to secure the role. Hudson's powerful performance of the song “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” brought audiences to their feet in movie theatres across the country. Aside from her Academy Award, she received a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, the Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for entertainer of the year, and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award. Hudson also appeared on the covers of many magazines, notably the March 2007 issue of Vogue, known as the annual “power issue.” She broke the fashion barrier as the most full-figured, curvaceous woman ever to have graced the magazine's cover.

Barbara A. Schreiber

      In 2008 Hudson released her self-titled debut album and sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention at Barack Obama (Obama, Barack)'s request. That year she also appeared in the film sequel to the hit HBO show Sex and the City and in The Secret Life of Bees, alongside Queen Latifah. Despite widespread career success, Hudson's year took a tragic turn when her mother, brother, and nephew were found murdered in Chicago in October.

Ed.

 

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