Jennifer Kate Hudson, or J.Hud as she is more commonly known, is an American singer, actor, and talk show host. She was born on September 12, 1981. She has been honored for her work across multiple mediums, including but not limited to music recordings, movies, TV, and the stage.
By winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) awards, Hudson made history as the youngest woman and the second African-American woman to do so. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was also awarded to her same year (2013). In 2020, Time magazine ranked her as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
Jennifer Hudson Net Worth
Jennifer Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. Jennifer Hudson’s wealth is estimated at $30 million. She became well-known after appearing on “American Idol,” and she has continued to thrive in the entertainment industry ever since. She is the recipient of multiple Grammys, an Oscar, and a SAG award.
On June 12, 2022, Jennifer earned a Tony Award as a co-producer for her work on the play “A Strange Loop.” Jennifer joined the ranks of the elite “EGOT” club of those who have won the Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, and Tony awards. Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, Audrey Hepburn, and Rita Moreno are all fellow EGOT members.
A contender to win “American Idol” during its 3rd season, she was thrown out of the show during its sixth week abruptly. A power outage in her hometown of Chicago is being held responsible by many insiders for the low number of votes she garnered. The film adaptation of “Dreamgirls” featured her as a co-star in 2006.
Her depiction of Effie White, a part long associated with Jennifer Holliday, earned her several acting honors, including the Academy Award, the British Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
In 2007, she published her first studio album, which went on to earn a Grammy Award and go Gold. She released her second album in the spring of 2011. On the Billboard Hot 200, it peaked at position two.
Jennifer Hudson: The Beginnings of My Life and Profession
Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. She is the youngest of three and is a Chicago native, having spent her formative years in the Englewood community. After finishing high school in 1999 at Dunbar Vocational, Hudson decided to further her education at Langston University. However, she left the university owing to homesickness and registered at Kennedy-King College.
At age seven, Hudson began singing in her church choir, and her grandmother Julia encouraged her to participate in community theater. In 2002, she began working with the small record label Righteous Records out of Chicago. She had been under contract with Righteous Records for five years, but after being offered a spot on “American Idol” in 2004, she was freed.
The third season of “American Idol” was Hudson’s first attempt at an audition. She had been playing aboard the Disney Wonder, one of the Disney Cruise Lines ships, as one of the Muses from “Hercules” prior to that time. She did exceptionally well throughout the competition, and even received the most votes in the “Top 9” round, but she was still eliminated two weeks later in the “Top 7” round.
Although he didn’t end up taking home the prize, Hudson is still highly considered as a top contender. MTV ranked her as the sixth best “American Idol” of all time in 2009, and her elimination was deemed the most surprising of all time.
The Los Angeles Times ranked Hudson as the third best “American Idol” of all time in 2010, behind Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, the winners of Seasons 1 and 4, respectively.
Jennifer Hudson Career in Music
After leaving “American Idol” in 2004, Hudson collaborated with Meat Loaf on a few projects, including a cover of “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be.” She signed a record deal with Arista Records in November 2006. She worked with producers Ryan Tedder and Timbaland on a number of tracks for her debut album, and released her breakthrough single “Spotlight” in June 2008.
Jennifer Hudson, her self-titled first album on Arista, was released that September; it was written by Ne-Yo and produced by Stargate. It was positively welcomed by critics and opened at #2 on the Billboard 200.
Additionally, the album took home the prize for Best R&B Album at the 2009 Grammys, in addition to nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Her second studio album “I Remember Me” was released in March 2011, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. In 2014, she released a follow-up album titled “JHUD.” Hudson made his record label debut with Epic in June of 2016.
Jennifer Hudson Personal Life
From 1999 until late 2007, Hudson dated NBA player James Payton. After that, she started dating David Otunga, a WWE professional wrestler and Harvard Law School alum. In September 2008, Hudson proposed to Otunga, and in August 2009, she gave birth to their son David. The couple parted in November 2017.
In the Chicago house Hudson shared with his sister Julia on October 24, 2008, he discovered the bodies of his mother, Darnell, and his brother, Jason. Hudson’s aunt Julia’s son, Julian, went missing, and three days later his death was discovered. William Balfour, Julia’s former husband, has been charged with three charges of first-degree murder and one act of home invasion.
In July 2012, he was given a total of 120 years in prison for his several offenses, including three life terms without parole. In the wake of this tragedy, Hudson’s family established the Julian D. King Gift Foundation and the Hudson-King Foundation for Relatives of Murdered Victims.
Jennifer Hudson Actual Property
Jennifer dropped $3 million in 2011 on a Burr Ridge, Illinois, mansion with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and 12,000 square feet of living space. The stunning home was constructed in 2007, and it features a private cinema, multiple laundry rooms, a floating staircase, and hardwood flooring.
She was able to purchase the home for significantly less than the original asking price of $3 million. She’ll have plenty of room in her 12,000-square-foot home to display any more honors she receives in the future.
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