Who is Jennifer Hudson?

Jennifer Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. She rose to fame as a finalist on the third season of American Idol in 2004. Although she finished in seventh place, she was noticed by film director Bill Condon, who cast her as Effie White in the 2006 musical drama Dreamgirls. For her performance, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

After the success of Dreamgirls, Hudson released her self-titled debut album, which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned the hit singles "Spotlight" and "You Pulled Me Through." Hudson's second album, I Remember Me (2011), debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. The album spawned the hit single "Where You At."

In addition to her music career, Hudson has also starred in several films, including Sex and the City: The Movie (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), and Winnie (2018). She has also appeared on television shows such as Smash, Empire, and The Voice UK.

In 2020, Hudson began hosting her own talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show. The show has been a critical and commercial success, winning several awards, including two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Hudson is one of the most successful American Idol contestants, having achieved success in both music and film. She is also an advocate for several charitable organizations, including the Julian D. King Gift Foundation, which she founded in honor of her late nephew.