Jennifer Hudson

Though her early days as a singer included a stint working on Disney Cruise Lines, Jennifer Hudson (September 12, 1981) first shot into the limelight back in 2004 when she became a finalist on hit US TV talent show American Idol. Though she failed to win the competition (despite being favorite), her star continued to rise and she was soon performing alongside the likes of Cuba Gooding Jr, Eddie Murphy, and disco diva Beyoncé in the film version of popular Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Taking the film industry by storm thanks to both her acting and vocal talent, Hudson picked up both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as creating a dedicated audience and building a successful platform from which to launch her solo singing career. Keen to get back to her roots and into the studio, her eagerly awaited eponymous debut album followed in 2008, spawning the worldwide hit “Spotlight.” Sadly, the artist was forced to take a break from her career in the wake of her mother, brother, and aunt being killed in a tragic shooting. Despite the tragic circumstances, Jennifer Hudson soldiered on and reappeared in 2011 with her second album I Remember Me, which climbed to Number 2 on the Billboard 200. She followed this success with JHUD (2014), a more upbeat dance record that featured contributions by Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, RedOne, and R. Kelly. In the subsequent years, Jennifer Hudson starred in the musicals The Color Purple and Hairspray Live, and played the role of Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect in 2021, also lending her voice to the original soundtrack.