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."
[11] Newsweek said that when moviegoers hear Hudson sing the song, she, "is going to raise goose bumps across the land."
[12] 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."
[13]As Effie White, Hudson has garnered 29 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. In addition, she has been named Best Supporting Actress by the
Broadcast Film Critics Association and also by the
Screen Actors Guild.
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.
[14] 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.
[15]
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. Upon winning this award, Hudson also became one of the very few performers ever to win an Oscar for a
debut screen performance. As of 2009, 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:
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.
[16]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/Hip-Hop 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.
[17][18]In September 2007, Hudson began work on
Sex and the City, as Louise,
Carrie Bradshaw's assistant. Filming finished in December 2007 and the movie premiered on May 30, 2008.
[19]In 2009, Hudson is scheduled to appear as Kathy Archenault 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 Earle Haley. Although a 2008 release date was planned the film is still awaiting release.
In January 2008, she began filming her fourth film
The Secret Life of Bees as "Rosaleen," the mother figure of "Lily Owens" (
Dakota Fanning). Also starring in the film are fellow Oscar nominees
Queen Latifah and
Sophie Okonedo, as well as
Alicia Keys. The film opened on October 17, 2008 and grossed over 37 million at the box office. The film won two
People's Choice Awards in January of 2009 in the categories, Favorite Drama Movie and Favorite Independent Movie. The film also received nine
Black Reel Awards nominations including three wins. Hudson was nominated for her performance in the film, but lost to
Queen Latifah. The film also received eight nominations at the
NAACP Image Awards including a nomination for Hudson for her performance. The awards will be presented on February 12, 2009.
On February 1, 2009, Hudson performed the Star Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XLIII.
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 third 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. 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.
[20] On
The Oprah Winfrey Show, Hudson announced plans to enter the studio in March 2007. Hudson said on
The 
Tyra Banks Show, on February 23, 2007, that she just finished the first song for the album. Hudson also recorded a song called, "Stand Up," which was available for preview on her fan website which was produced by Chicago natives
Earl Powell and Herman Little III, who arranged the song. The power-ballad is available on Jennifer's self-titled album (Deluxe Edition), as a Bonus track.
In November 2006, Hudson signed a record deal with
Arista Records and has currently released her debut album and has recently finished recording one song entitled, "Depreciate."
[21]In January 2008, it was announced that Hudson would be returning to the studio to record new material for her debut album. Her label was reportedly unhappy with the direction they were sending Hudson musically and decided it would be best to scrap the older songs and instead focus on new ones. Hudson worked with
Ryan Tedder and
Timbaland on a number of songs.
During an interview in May 2008, Hudson confirmed that her debut album, which will be self-titled, would be released on September 30, 2008, under the
Arista Records label. She also announced that later this month her debut single, "
Spotlight," would be released in order to promote her debut album. "Spotlight" will impact U.S. radio outlets on June 9 and be available for sale via digital outlets the following day.
"
Spotlight" was written by
Ne-Yo, who co-produced along with
Stargate. Additional contributors on the album include Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke, the Underdogs, Diane Warren, Earl Powell, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, among others.
[22] She has performed the song, "All Dressed in Love," for the
Sex and the City soundtrack, which was released on May 27, 2008.
[23] Hudson performed the
national anthem at the
2008 Democratic National Convention.
Hudson sang the National Anthem at
Super Bowl XLIII.
[25].
Hudson began dating
James Payton in 1999, when she was eighteen. They were both 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!"
[26] Sometime in December 2007 Hudson and Payton ended their relationship. Hudson is now engaged to D
avid Otunga, who is best known as "Punk" from
I Love New York 2.
[27] He proposed on Hudson's twenty-seventh birthday. The couple have been dating for less than a year.
Wikinews has related news:
Mother, brother of singer Jennifer Hudson found murdered, others reported missingFBI asked to assist in murder, kidnap investigation of Jennifer Hudson's relativesFBI says Jennifer Hudson's nephew found deadArrest made in Jennifer Hudson family killingsOn October 24, 2008, Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, and the singer's 29-year-old brother, Jason, were shot to death inside Donerson's home, in Chicago, Illinois. Likely shot before 3 p.m., they were discovered by Jason's cousin.
[28] An
AMBER Alert was issued for Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, after Hudson's elder sister, Julia, reported him missing.
[29][30]Later that day,
Chicago police arrested a
suspect,
William Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, but he was not charged with any crime.
[31] Balfour is on
parole and spent nearly seven years
in prison for attempted
murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. The
Illinois Department of Corrections' records reveal one of Balfour's addresses to be the home where Donerson and Jason Hudson were murdered.
[32]The body of a young boy was found in a 1994
Chevrolet Suburban parked on a street in Chicago's West Side area on October 27, 2008. The license plate and the vehicle's description matched that of the AMBER Alert.
[33][34] The
FBI later confirmed the body was that of Julian King.
[35] Autopsy reports released on October 29, 2008 from the Cook County Medical Examiner's office indicated that Julian King's death was due to "multiple gunshot wounds".
[36]Hudson's family announced a foundation for families of murder victims. The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims was named in honor of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
[37]A weapon found in a West Side vacant lot in the neighborhood was confirmed as the murder weapon by Chicago police Superintendent Jody Weis on October 31, 2008. Funeral services for the victims were on November 3, while a private service was held at Chicago's South Side Apostolic Church of God on November 10.
[38]Because he had not yet been charged, Balfour appeared at a thirty-five minute parole hearing, on November 10, 2008, without an attorney; the hearing decision was that he was believed to have violated parole and should be held until a December 3 hearing before the full Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
[39][40][41]Jeanetta Cardine, a prisoner review board executive, was informed at the hearing that a woman described as Balfour's current or former girlfriend has told investigators she saw him with a gun matching the description of the.45-caliber weapon used in the 3 killings. Chairman Jorge Montes ruled: "He seemed to be disturbed. He contested those allegations. He was protesting the introduction of that evidence and he denied it. The gun allegation alone was enough to keep the man in custody. That's a very serious allegation. If somebody's alleging they saw him with a gun that was used in the murder of three individuals, we would definitely hold. The information about the woman's statements came from the Cook County State's Attorney's office."
[40][42] Balfour's girlfriend stated that she "had seen him with a gun identical to the gun recovered by the Chicago police near the body of the murdered child" several days before the murders occurred. She also claims Balfour admitted to being involved in the killings.
[43] However, Balfour insisted he had nothing to do with the death of Julian King.
[44]Balfour became the prime suspect of the murders on December 1, 2008, and was transferred into police custody. A police department spokesperson said, "He is awaiting formal charges for three counts of murder. There likely will be a press conference once there are formal charges against him."
[45][46][47] Balfour was officially charged with three counts of first degree murder, one count of home invasion and was denied bail.
[48]more
Roehampton, London, England. She is one of four children born to a barrister father and teacher mother. Her uncle is Crispin Blunt, Conservative Member of Parliament for Reigate. At the age of 16 Blunt moved to a sixth-form college known for its performing arts programme, Hurtwood House, which is where she attracted an agent.
Blunt made her professional debut in Bliss a new musical, written by Paul Sellar, at the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe while she was still an A-level student. She went on to perform at the National Theatre and at Chichester Festival Theatre. In 2003, she made her screen debut in the British television drama Boudica, about the life of the ancient British warrior-queen who fought the Romans. She also won considerable praise for her performance as the 16th-century queen Catherine Howard in the two-part British television drama Henry VIII.
Roehampton, London, England. She is one of four children born to a barrister father and teacher mother. Her uncle is Crispin Blunt, Conservative Member of Parliament for Reigate. At the age of 16 Blunt moved to a sixth-form college known for its performing arts programme, Hurtwood House, which is where she attracted an agent.
Blunt made her professional debut in Bliss a new musical, written by Paul Sellar, at the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe while she was still an A-level student. She went on to perform at the National Theatre and at Chichester Festival Theatre. In 2003, she made her screen debut in the British television drama Boudica, about the life of the ancient British warrior-queen who fought the Romans. She also won considerable praise for her performance as the 16th-century queen Catherine Howard in the two-part British television drama Henry VIII.
Meryl Streep and A
nne Hathaway in the box-office success, 
The Devil Wears Prada. Streep and Hathaway received most of the critical attention initially, but Blunt proved to be equally memorable with Entertainment Weekly naming her the Best Female Scene-Stealer in their end-of-summer special issue. She appeared at the 79th Academy Awards where she co-presented the award for best costume design with her The Devil Wears Prada co-star Hathaway. Blunt and Hathaway also lost weight for their roles in the film. In an interview with Us Weekly, Hathaway said “I basically stuck with fruit, vegetables and fish (to slim down for the movie). I wouldn't recommend that. Emily Blunt and I would clutch at each other and cry because we were so hungry." Blunt also spoke about the weight loss, claiming she had to go "painfully thin".[5] 
Susan Sarandon in the independent drama Irresistible. When Sarandon became attached to starring in another movie, The Girl In The Park, she strongly suggested that director 
David Auburn should cast her. Blunt did audition for the part—she almost received the role—but lost out to 
Kate Bosworth. She has also worked on a number of upcoming movies: The Young Victoria (in which she plays the title character), Wild Target and The Wolf Man. In 2007, she appeared in the film Charlie Wilson's War.
