Jennifer Hudson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson in 2018
Born	Jennifer Kate Hudson (1981-09-12) September 12, 1981 (age 43) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	J.Hud
Education	Langston University Kennedy-King College
Occupation	Singer actress television presenter
Years active	2004–present
Works	Discography filmography
Children	1
Parent(s)	Darnell Donerson (mother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Arista J RCA Epic Interscope

Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known as J.Hud, is an American singer and actress. She has won many awards for her work in music, movies, TV, and theater. In 2022, she became the youngest woman and third African-American person to win all four major American entertainment awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. This special achievement is called an EGOT.

Jennifer Hudson became famous in 2004 as a finalist on the TV show American Idol. She finished in seventh place. After the show, she signed with Arista Records and released her first album, Jennifer Hudson, in 2008. This album reached number two on the music charts and won a Grammy for Best R&B Album. Her next albums, I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), also did very well. In 2024, she released her first Christmas album, The Gift of Love.

She started her acting career in the movie Dreamgirls (2006), playing the role of Effie White. For this role, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This made her the youngest African-American person to win this award. She has also played Aretha Franklin in the movie Respect (2021) and appeared in other films like Sex and the City (2008) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008). On TV, she has been in shows such as Smash (2012) and Empire (2015).

Jennifer Hudson has also performed on stage. She was in the Broadway musical The Color Purple (2015). In 2022, she won a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop. From 2017 to 2019, she was a coach on The Voice in both the UK and US. She was the first female coach to have a winning team on The Voice UK. Since 2022, she has hosted her own talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Early Life and Beginnings

Jennifer Hudson was born on September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. She is the youngest of three children. She and her older siblings, Julia and Jason, were raised mainly by their mother, Darnell Donerson.

She grew up in Englewood and went to Dunbar Vocational High School. She graduated in 1999. Jennifer Hudson has said that Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle were her biggest inspirations. She also looks up to Mariah Carey. When she was 7 years old, she started singing in her church choir and doing community theater.

In 2002, Jennifer Hudson signed her first music contract with a small record label. However, she was released from this contract so she could try out for American Idol in 2004.

Career Highlights

Starting on American Idol (2004–2005)

Jennifer Hudson auditioned for the third season of American Idol in Atlanta. She impressed the judges with her singing. She received many votes during the competition. However, she was eliminated after performing "Weekend in New England." Even though she didn't win, many people were surprised by her early exit. MTV later called her one of the greatest contestants in American Idol history.

Performances on American Idol

Breakthrough with Dreamgirls (2006–2007)

In 2005, Jennifer Hudson was chosen to play Effie White in the movie Dreamgirls. This was her very first movie role. She won the part over many other singers and actresses. The movie also starred famous actors like Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, and Eddie Murphy.

Jennifer Hudson in 2007

When the movie came out, Jennifer Hudson received huge praise for her amazing performance of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Critics said her voice was incredible. She won 29 awards from film critics for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

On February 25, 2007, she won the most important award of all: an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls. After this, the mayor of her hometown, Chicago, declared March 6 as "Jennifer Hudson Day."

First Album and More Movies (2008–2009)

In May 2008, Jennifer Hudson appeared in the movie Sex and the City as Louise. In October 2008, she was in The Secret Life of Bees, playing Rosaleen. This movie also starred Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys.

In January 2008, Jennifer Hudson started recording her first studio album. Her first song, "Spotlight", was released in June 2008. It became a top 40 hit in the US and a top 20 hit in the UK. Her album, Jennifer Hudson, came out on September 30, 2008. It quickly reached number two on the music charts and received good reviews. The album sold over 739,000 copies in the US.

Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

Her debut album earned her three nominations at the 2009 Grammy Awards. She won the Grammy for Best R&B Album. In February 2009, Jennifer Hudson made her first public appearance after a very difficult time for her family. She sang the "National Anthem" at Super Bowl XLIII. She later toured the United States with Robin Thicke.

Weight Watchers and I Remember Me (2010–2012)

In 2010, Jennifer Hudson became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. She shared her journey of losing weight, which she also wrote about in her 2012 book, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down.

Jennifer Hudson at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011.

Her second album, I Remember Me, was released on March 22, 2011. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The main song from the album was "Where You At".

Jennifer Hudson in 2012.

In 2012, Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Whitney Houston by singing Houston's famous song "I Will Always Love You" at the 2012 Grammy Awards. She also appeared on the TV show Smash. In 2013, she sang "America the Beautiful" with the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus at Super Bowl XLVII.

JHUD and Hollywood Walk of Fame (2013–2014)

Jennifer Hudson at a special event in Washington D.C. in 2013.

In 2013, Jennifer Hudson released a new song called "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)". She also starred in the movies The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete and the musical drama Black Nativity. On November 13, 2013, Jennifer Hudson received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a special honor for entertainers.

Her third album, JHUD, was released on September 23, 2014. Jennifer Hudson said this album was more "upbeat" than her previous music. One song from the album, "It's Your World," was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Broadway, TV, and Movies (2015–2016)

In 2015, Jennifer Hudson made her Broadway debut in the musical The Color Purple. She played the role of Shug Avery. Critics praised her performance and her powerful voice. She later won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for her work on The Color Purple.

She also had a guest role in the TV series Empire. In December 2016, she played Motormouth Maybelle in NBC's live TV musical Hairspray Live!. Her singing of "I Know Where I've Been" was highly praised. Jennifer Hudson also lent her voice to the animated movie Sing, where she sang "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight."

The Voice Coach and Cats (2017–2020)

In 2017, Jennifer Hudson became a coach on The Voice UK. She won the season with her team member, Mo Adeniran, becoming the first female coach to win the show. She then joined the American version of The Voice as a coach for two seasons.

She released new songs like "Remember Me" and "Burden Down" in 2017. In 2018, it was announced that Jennifer Hudson was chosen by Aretha Franklin herself to play her in a movie about her life. In 2019, Jennifer Hudson starred as Grizabella in the movie adaptation of the musical Cats.

Respect, EGOT, and Talk Show (2021–Present)

In August 2021, the movie Respect was released, where Jennifer Hudson played the legendary singer Aretha Franklin. Her performance was highly praised and earned her several awards and nominations. She sang all the songs on the movie's soundtrack, including an original song called "Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)."

In September 2021, Jennifer Hudson won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work as an executive producer for an interactive story called Baba Yaga. In February 2022, she won Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards for Respect.

On June 12, 2022, Jennifer Hudson achieved the rare EGOT status. This means she has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. She is one of only seventeen people to have achieved this.

Her own talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, started on September 12, 2022. In October 2024, she released her first Christmas album, The Gift of Love.

Personal Life

Jennifer Hudson has a son named David Daniel Otunga, Jr., who was born in August 2009.

In October 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason, were found deceased. Her young nephew, Julian King, was also found deceased a few days later. This was a very difficult time for Jennifer Hudson and her family. To honor their memory, Jennifer and her sister created the Julian D. King Gift Foundation. This foundation helps families in need in the Chicago area by providing Christmas presents and school supplies.

Jennifer Hudson is a friend of former President Barack Obama. She has performed at events for him, including at the White House. She lives in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Film and TV Roles

Film

Television

Theatre

Discography

• Jennifer Hudson (2008)
• I Remember Me (2011)
• JHUD (2014)
• The Gift of Love (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Jennifer Hudson in 2018

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  Jennifer Hudson in 2007

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  Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

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  Jennifer Hudson at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011.

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  Jennifer Hudson in 2012.

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  Jennifer Hudson at a special event in Washington D.C. in 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Jennifer Hudson para niños