Welcome to the deep dive, your place for, well,
unlocking the stories and maybe some unexpected
insights behind really remarkable achievements.
Today, we're digging into the journey of someone
whose name is just synonymous with. breathtaking
talent, a real vocal powerhouse. Absolutely,
a presence that's just graced like every major
stage in American entertainment. We're talking
about someone who has conquered that really rare
and illustrious world of the Ego -T. That's right.
And for anyone listening who maybe isn't totally
familiar, Ego -T, that's Emmy, Grammy, Oscar,
and Tony Award. The big four. Exactly. It's really
the... absolute pinnacle of recognition, you
know, across TV, music, film and theater. It's
a very exclusive club. It really is. And it's
testament not just to raw talent, which she clearly
has, but also incredible versatility and, you
know, sustained excellence across these wildly
different fields. Yes, totally different skill
sets involved. Right. There are only, what, 17
competitive EGO -T winners in history. And our
subject today is one of the most recent and actually
one of the youngest to pull off this incredible
feat. Absolutely. So today We are dedicating
our deep dive to the extraordinary life, the
unparalleled career of Jennifer Kate Hudson,
or J. Hud, as many know her. J. Hud, yeah. She
is quite simply a force of nature. So our mission
today is to really meticulously unpack her remarkable
path. We're drawing directly from the source
material you've provided. We're going to trace
her journey right from being an ambitious American
Idol hopeful. Right. Seems like a lifetime ago
now. Doesn't it? all the way to becoming this
revered global icon. We'll explore the pivotal
moments, some truly surprising facts, I found
a few, and the incredible resilience that I think...
really defines her whole career. Yeah, resilience
is definitely the word. You're really in for
a story that's just brimming with those aha moments,
you know, and some powerful insights into how
foundational experiences, unexpected challenges
and just your determination can shape such an
extraordinary rise. So think of this as your
shortcut, maybe to get a really thorough but
still accessible understanding of her multifaceted
career. Right. We want to give you those nuggets
of deep knowledge without, you know, drowning
you in information. Exactly. No information overload
here. So settle in. Let's really explore this
remarkable journey. Let's do it. OK, so Jennifer
Hudson's story kicks off in a city that's just
legendary for its deep musical roots, its vibrant
culture, Chicago, Illinois. Chicago. She was
born Jennifer Kate Husson, September 12, 1980,
run the youngest of three kids. OK. Her mother,
Darnell Donnerson, was a homemaker and her father,
Samuel Simpson, he worked as a Greyhound Lines
bus driver, sort of the foundation for their
family life. Right, a working class background.
Yeah. And she was primarily raised by her mother
in the Inglewood neighborhood, which is a pretty
tight knit community. She grew up alongside her
older sister, Julia, who later became a school
bus driver, interestingly, and her brother, Jason.
So that early environment, you know, rooted in
family community. It sounds like it played a
pretty significant role. Yeah, shaping that sort
of grounded person we see today, absolutely.
Now, here's something really unique, kind of
a remarkable detail from her early life. It gives
you a glimpse into her personal quest for understanding,
even back then. Oh, what's that? Well, at just
14 years old, and apparently with her mother's
full blessing, which is key, Jennifer started
looking for her biological father. Okay, at 14.
That's young to take that on. It really is. And
during this search, she discovers something pretty
stunning. Her father, Samuel Simpson, actually
had 26 other children. 26? Wow. Yeah. 26 other
kids. She's even said since then that she still
hasn't met all of her half -siblings. Which,
I mean, can you imagine? Suddenly discovering
you have this enormous extended family. Yeah,
that's a lot to process at 14, or any age, really.
Right. It speaks volumes, though, about her,
like, innate curiosity, her desire to understand
her own background, even as a young teenager.
That is certainly an unexpected expansion of
the family tree. It must have been really profound
for her. But her early roots were also... deeply
musical, right, and spiritual. That provided
a different kind of foundation. Definitely. Raised
as a Baptist, which is, you know, a tradition
steeped in powerful music. For sure. And she
found her voice, her passion for performing,
really, really early on, like age seven. Seven.
Already performing. Yeah, singing with the church
choir, where, let's be honest, so many powerhouse
vocalists get their start right. Absolutely.
That's a classic training ground. And she was
active in community theater, too, apparently
guided quite a bit by her late maternal grandmother,
Julia. Ah. The grandmother's influence. Yeah.
It really highlights how those early experiences,
often in these local, really supportive places,
can just spark a lifelong passion. It really
does. It's often in those settings, isn't it?
Like the church choir, local theater, where that
raw talent isn't just found, but it's actually
nurtured, given its first stage. Exactly. And
when you look at who inspired her back then,
I mean, they're legends. Whitney Houston, Aretha
Franklin, Patti LaBelle. The Holy Trinity of
soul voices, basically. Pretty much. These weren't
just singers she liked. They were her biggest
influences, her inspirations. And she specifically
called out Mariah Carey as one of her musical
heroes, too. OK, Mariah, too. Interesting. Yeah.
It tells you so much about the kind of, you know,
powerful, soulful, technically brilliant singing
she was aiming for. You can really hear echoes
of them in her own voice, can't you? Or absolutely.
You can hear those influences woven right into
her delivery, her stage presence. It's undeniable.
So educationally, she went to Dunbar Vocational
High School, graduated in 99. OK. After high
school, she did a brief stint at Langston University
in Oklahoma. Langston, OK. But you know, like,
often happens when young folks go far from home
first time. She got homesick. And apparently,
she really wasn't thrilled with the Oklahoma
weather either. Can't blame her there sometimes.
Right. So she left after just one semester. headed
back to Chicago, and enrolled at Kennedy King
College instead. You know, that's a really relatable
moment. Trying college far away, realizing maybe
it's not the right fit, and having the sense
to make a change. Yeah. Shows a kind of practical
side, doesn't it? Yeah. Recognizing what wasn't
working and pivoting. Definitely. And these early
steps back home, they led her straight into her
first real taste of the music industry. January
2002, she signs her first recording contract.
Ah, the first deal. Yeah, with Righteous Records.
an independent label based right there in Chicago.
Got an indie deal first. Right. A crucial first
professional step, you know, gave her a taste
of the recording world. But here's what's really
significant and actually shows some amazing foresight
from that little label. What was that? They specifically
released her from that contract just so she could
go on American Idol in 2004. Really? They let
her go for Idol? Yeah. This independent label,
they... basically understood the huge potential
of that show, which was just starting to blow
up. They realized the exposure she could get
on Idol was way more valuable in the long run
than keeping her locked into their small deal.
They set the stage for her, essentially. Wow.
That is foresight. Good for them and obviously
good for her. And what an emergence that was.
Right. Let's really get into this next chapter
because American Idol, it was definitely defining,
maybe an unconventional beginning, but defining.
Absolutely. Season three. She auditions in Atlanta.
OK. And there's that famous story, right? About
the cruise ship. Yes. The anecdote. So she mentions
to the judges she'd been singing professionally
on Disney cruise lines. Playing one of the muses
from Hercules, I think. That's the one. And Judge
Randy Jackson famously quipped something like,
we're expecting more than a cruise ship performance
from you. Ouch. OK. Setting the bar high from
the get -go. Yeah, it was almost like a challenge
thrown down right there. testing her, you know.
And it kind of set up the narrative, didn't it?
The whole exceeding expectations thing. It really
did. Maybe it was meant as a jab, but it perfectly
framed her journey on the show. The pressure
on Idol was just immense. And season three especially
was stacked. Really talented group. I remember
that season. But her early performances, they
just grabbed everyone. judges, audience. She
did this incredibly powerful version of Elton
John's Circle of Life. Oh, I remember that one.
Huge song. Huge song. Demands power, emotion,
and she nailed it. earned her the highest number
of votes in the top nine week, April 6th, 2004.
Wow. Highest votes. Yeah. And she had other big
ones, too, like Aretha Franklin's Baby I Love
You during Soul Week and Whitney Houston's I
Have Nothing for Movie Week. Speaking to her
heroes there. Exactly. Showcasing her range,
her depth, but also explicitly linking herself
to those powerhouse influences we talked about.
It was like she was declaring her musical lineage
right there on stage. And this is where the story
takes that really interesting kind of bath. turn
right because despite all that talent those amazing
performances yeah it still doesn't quite make
sense does it no she gets eliminated during the
top seven show after singing Barry Manilow's
weekend in New England the Manilow song I remember
the shock it wasn't just any elimination it was
widely seen as one of the most surprising maybe
even controversial in the whole history of the
show Absolutely. I mean, MTV, like five years
later in 2009, listed her exit as the most shocking
of all time. Five years on, that tells you how
much it stuck with people. Yeah, that sense of
disbelief really lingered. It did. And that feeling
resonated long after season three wrapped up.
The Los Angeles Times, I think it was May 2010,
they claimed Hudson was the third greatest idol
contestant ever. Third greatest. Even without
winning. Yeah. behind only Kelly Clarkson and
Carrie Underwood both winners. Wow. So this recognition,
years later, even after what everyone saw as
this, like, unjust, shocking early exit, it just
underscores the massive impression she made on
everyone. Audiences, critics, the industry. It's
such a powerful statement, isn't it? That when
raw talent is that undeniable, it finds its way.
Regardless of, you know, reality show results.
Exactly. Competition outcomes don't always dictate
the future. So what do we take away from this
whole idol chapter for her? This early spotlight,
even with that crazy elimination, it actually
built this crucial foundation for her success,
didn't it? In a really unique way. Totally. It
wasn't about winning the title for her. It was
about introducing that incredible voice to the
nation. And maybe, just maybe, creating this
narrative of an underdog. Yeah, the underdog
story is powerful. Right. Someone who, despite
the setback, was clearly destined for something
bigger. It's kind of a testament to the idea
that sometimes the most compelling stories, maybe
the strongest foundations, aren't built on easy
wins. They're built on overcoming these unexpected
hurdles. And the public outcry. over her getting
voted off. That created this really powerful,
like, sympathetic connection, didn't it? That
probably served her really well later on. I think
so, too. People were rooting for her even more
after that. Okay, so Idle ends unexpectedly.
Mm -hmm. But what came next wasn't just bigger.
It was... well, truly transformative. Ender Statement
of the Year, maybe. Right. November 2005. Just
another year after Idle. Jennifer Hudson gets
cast as Effie White in the movie version of Dreamgirls.
The role. Effie White. I mean... Iconic. Absolutely
iconic. A star -making part, vocal and emotional
Mount Everest, really. And she gets this role
over literally hundreds of professional singers
and actresses, including fellow idol Fantasia
Brino, right? Who a lot of people thought was
the front runner. Yeah, Fantasia was considered
a lock by many. So for Jennifer to get it, huge.
And remember, this was her very first movie.
her screen debut in probably the highest -stakes
environment imaginable. Talk about pressure again.
Filming started January 2006, limited release
Christmas 06, then wide in January 07, setting
the stage for, well, an earthquake. Yeah, because
her performance of, and I'm telling you, I'm
not going. Oh, that performance. Right, Effie's
signature power ballad. It just brought universal
critical acclaim. And completely deservedly.
You have to remember that song was already legendary
on Broadway, right? Because of Jennifer Holliday.
Exactly. Holliday's performance was definitive,
electrifying. So Hudson wasn't just taking on
a role, she was stepping into these enormous,
critically adored shoes. And somehow she just
made it her own. Yeah. While still honoring that
legacy, critics were just... floored, utterly
blown away by the power, the emotion. The praise
was instant. And just over the top, the New York
Observer called her performance, five, mellifluous,
multivibrato minutes that have suddenly catapulted
Ms. Hudson into the position of front runner
for the best supporting actress, Oscar. Front
runner, immediately. Immediately. Newsweek predicted
she is going to raise goosebumps across the land,
which she absolutely did. Can confirm, goosebumps
were raised. Yeah. In Variety, you know the industry
Bible, they said, her performance calls to mind
debuts like Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl or
Bette Midler in The Rose with a voice like the
young Aretha. Streisand Midler. I mean, those
comparisons are just insane for a debut. Insane.
That kind of praise is incredibly rare for any
debut performance, let alone someone basically
known from a singing competition. Right. And
Entertainment Weekly, they have this great line
on their end -of -the -decade best -of list.
They said, when she sang, You're Gonna Love Me,
it wasn't just a lyric, it was a fact. Ah, that's
perfect. It's true though, she didn't just sing
the song, she embodied it. Commanded the screen
with this emotional intensity that just grabbed
everyone. It was like, bam, a major star has
arrived. And what's truly amazing is how fast
that critical buzz turned into an actual awards
avalanche. Yeah. Like 2006, 2007, she just swept
everything. It was incredible to watch. February
25, 2007, a date etched in film history now.
She wins the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress. The Oscar. for her first movie. First
movie. And she became the youngest African -American
recipient of that specific award. A huge moment,
personally and historically. Just incredible.
And the Oscar, while obviously the biggest one,
it was really just the start, wasn't it? Oh,
yeah. Tip of the iceberg. Yeah. She also won
the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting
Role, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting
Role. Although there's that funny story about
the BAFTA statue, right? Ah, yes. Apparently
she didn't physically get the statue until 2011.
Bram Norton presented it to her on his show.
A bit delayed, but she got it. Right. But beyond
those big three, she got something like 29 awards
from film critics groups, best supporting actress,
breakthrough performer of 2006, broadcast film
critics, Screen Actors Guild. It was practically
unanimous across the board. A total consensus.
Even Simon Cowell got in on it? Even Simon, the
famously tough judge from Idol, he actually taped
a congratulatory message for her that aired on
Oprah. Wow. Full circle moment right there, vindication.
Totally. And the dream girl's impact went beyond
just her performance. That song, Love You, I
Do, from the movie. Great song. It was nominated
for best original song at the Oscars in 07, and
then it won the Grammy in 08 for best song written
for a motion picture or TV. So the whole project
just kept racking up accolades. And her wider
cultural impact. That was instant too, right?
The Vogue cover? Oh, yeah. March. 2007, she becomes
only the third African -American celebrity and
the first African -American singer to grace the
cover of Vogue. That's huge. A major fashion
and cultural statement. Massive. And her hometown,
Chicago, they were bursting with pride. Mayor
Richard M. Daley declared March 6th Jennifer
Hudson Day. Jennifer Hudson Day. Love it. Right.
And then in June 2007, the Academy invited her
to join the actual Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences, along with like 115 other
people, cementing her place in the Hollywood
establishment like immediately. So looking back
at this whole dream girl's whirlwind, what does
it really tell us? I think it vividly shows how
one truly iconic performance. That performance
of And I Am Telling You. Exactly. That one show
stopping moment can completely solidify an artist's
place in history. It just transformed her from
an idol contestant who didn't even win. Right.
Seventh place. Seventh place to an Oscar winner
and a global sensation almost overnight. It's
such a powerful lesson in seizing that one perfect
opportunity and just delivering something so
undeniable that it completely rewrites your narrative.
Yeah. It blew all previous expectations out of
the water. Yeah. OK. So after that massive dream
girl success. Her career just keeps moving, right?
Straight into her own music, finally, but also
still acting. Definitely. She had signed with
Arista Records back in November 2006, right in
the middle of the Oscar buzz. Smart timing. Very
smart. And her self -titled debut album, Jennifer
Hudson, finally came out September 30, 2008.
And the lineup of collaborators on that album
was pretty impressive, wasn't it? Oh yeah, it
was stacked. A real who's who of R &B and pop
at the time. You had Ne -Yo, who co -produced
with Stargate. They were huge hitmakers. Big
names. Then Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke,
Harvey Mason Jr., the legendary Diane Warren,
Tricky Stewart. Wow, okay. They pulled out all
the stops? They really did. It felt like a deliberate
move to establish her as a recording artist in
her own right. Showcasing that voice within,
you know, a contemporary R &B soul sound. Something
carefully crafted to appeal to that huge audience
waiting after Dreamgirls. And did it work commercially?
How did the album do? Big time. It debuted at
number two on the Billboard 200. Sold something
like 217 ,000 copies in the first week in the
U .S. Number two debut is strong. Very strong.
By August 2009, it had sold over seven 139 ,000
copies, got certified gold. Pretty significant
for a debut. Nice. And the singles. Yeah. I remember
Spotlight. Yeah. Spotlight was the lead single
June 2008. That became our first top 40 hit,
peaked at number 24 on the Hot 100. Really infectious
song, powerful vocal. It was catchy. It was.
Then, If This Isn't Love came out February 09.
That one peaked at 63. giving myself was the
third single showed off different sides of her
voice okay and the album got Grammy attention
too right it did big -time it got three nominations
at the 2009 Grammys best female R &B vocal performance
for Spotlight, best R &B performance by a duo
or group for I'm His Only Woman. Oh, the duet
with Fantasia. The duet with Fantasia, her old
idol rival, which was great to see. Yeah. And
most importantly, the album Jennifer Hudson won
the Grammy for best R &B album. Her first solo
Grammy. Her first solo Grammy, which was huge,
right? It really legitimized her as a recording
artist separate from the acting, showed her musical
talent was a force on its own. Definitely. So
while music career taking off, she's still acting
too. Yep, kept expanding her film work, carefully
picking roles it seems that showed different
sides. In 2008 she popped up in the Sex and the
City movie. Oh yeah, Louise Carey's assistant.
That's the one. A lighter role, more mainstream.
Showed her sort of effervescent side. And she
sang all dressed in love for the soundtrack,
too. Right. Same year, though, 2008, she did
something much more dramatic. Played Rosaline
in The Secret Life of Bees. Ah, that was a good
film. Powerful performances. Really powerful.
And her role got her nominations for Black Reel
and NAACP Image Awards. So connecting with roles
focused on the Black experience. Then in 2009,
she starred in a drama called called Fragments.
OK. And then she took on a really significant,
maybe challenging role, right? Playing Winnie
Mandela. Yes. That was filmed in 2010. The biopic
Winnie Mandela. A really complex figure, obviously.
Hero to some, controversial to others. Definitely
a demanding part. Absolutely. And the casting
itself caused a bit of stir, didn't it? Some
discussion about who should play such an iconic
South African figure. I remember that. And didn't
Winnie Mandela herself have issues with the film?
She did. She threatened legal action at one point,
claiming she had an been consulted properly,
which just added another layer of difficulty
to the whole thing. Wow. The film eventually
came out in 2013, but it showed Hudson was willing
to take on these diverse, challenging, complex
characters. Really push yourself. OK, so career
is firing on all cylinders, music, movies. But
this is where the story takes that just incredibly
difficult, devastating turn, personally. Yeah.
This is hard to even talk about. Unimaginable
loss. October 24, 2008. Just horrific tragedy
strikes her family in Chicago. Her mother, Darnell
Donerson, who was 57, and her brother, Jason
Hudson, just 29, they were found shot to death
inside the family home. And then the horror compounded.
Her little nephew, Julian King, only seven years
old? Yeah. He was reported missing. Yeah. And
then found deceased three days later, also from
multiple gunshot wounds. It's just unthinkable.
The shock, the grief for her and her sister Julia,
just incomprehensible. Absolutely gut -wrenching.
The whole world seemed to gas when that news
broke. It sent shockwaves everywhere. Huge outpouring
of sympathy. And eventually justice was served,
to some extent, William Balfour, who was Julia's
estranged husband. Right. Her sister is a strange
son. Yeah. He was charged, ultimately convicted
on seven counts, including three counts of first
degree murder, got three consecutive life sentences
without parole, plus another 120 years. Provides
some measure of closure, legally speaking, but
the emotional scars. They must remain. Absolutely.
And in the face of that kind of soul crushing
grief. her return to the public eye. It was just
extraordinary. It spoke volumes about her inner
strength. It really did. Her first public appearance
after the murders, singing the national anthem
at the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XL3, February 2009.
Less than the four months later, standing on
that massive global stage. Can you even imagine
the strength that took, the composure, the raw
courage, to stand there after losing your mother,
brother, nephew so violently and deliver a flawless
emotionally charged performance? It was breathtaking.
Just a collective moment of admiration for her
resilience. Her voice in that moment felt like
more than just singing. It really did, like a
symbol of healing maybe? Hope? And her family,
they channeled that grief into purpose too. They
created the Hudson King Foundation for families
of slain victims. Helping others going through
similar nightmares. Exactly. And Jennifer and
her sister Julia also started the Julian D. King
Gift Foundation in honor of her nephew. They
give Christmas presents, school supplies to families
in need in Chicago. Turning that personal sorrow
into something positive for the community. Yeah.
That's incredible. It really is a testament to
their character amidst everything. And somehow,
despite everything she must have been going through
privately, she kept working, kept her commitment
to her music, her audience. Yeah. She toured
the U .S. with Robin Thicke in 2009, reconnecting
with fans. Then in July 2009, she performed Will
You Be There? at Michael Jackson's memorial service.
Another huge, emotional, global stage. Right.
Then she did a Christmas special. Jennifer Hudson,
I'll be home for Christmas, December 09. She
kept sharing childhood memories. January 2010,
she was part of the Hope for Haiti Now telethon
after the earthquake. Saying let it be. Right.
Yeah, a really moving version. That telethon
raised like... $61 million. Wow. And she even
recorded one shining moment for the NCAA basketball
tournament in 2010. The iconic anthem. Yeah.
So it's striking, isn't it, how her experiences,
the triumphs, and the absolute devastation seem
to be channeled into her art, her public work.
Every performance after that loss just carried
this extra weight, this resonance. Absolutely.
It reinforced those deep connections she has
to music, community, and just her own extraordinary
strength. What does this whole period, 2008 to
maybe 2010, really show us about her? I think
it just highlights this almost unimaginable strength,
perseverance during immense personal hardship.
She didn't just endure the darkest loss imaginable.
She found a way to channel that grief into purpose,
continuing to share her gift, building these
legacies of support for others. Her ability to
just stand on a stage and sing, to perform, to
inspire after that kind of personal catastrophe
is just a testament to the human spirit's power
to endure, create, and find. and hope, even in
the deepest sorrow. Truly remarkable resilience.
OK, let's move into the 2010s. Her evolution
continues. Big milestones here. Personal health,
new music, Broadway, coaching. She really branched
out. Yeah, showcasing incredible versatility.
One of the first big things people noticed in
this period was her health journey, right? Wait,
Watchers campaign. Right. That was 2010. became
their spokesperson. And had this amazing transformation.
Lost 56 pounds initially, then ultimately a total
of 80 pounds by early town 2011. It was a huge
story at the time. It really was. And it clearly
resonated. So much so that she wrote an autobiography
in 2012 called I Got This. How I changed my ways
and lost what weighed me down. Detailing the
whole journey. Yeah, the diet, the lifestyle
changes. It connected with a lot of people, you
know? Talking about self -improvement, discipline,
achieving health goals made her very relatable.
And then musically, she released her second album,
I Remember Me, March 2011. Right. And Neo, who
worked with her again, had said she was ready
to get really personal on this one, which made
sense, right? Reflecting everything she'd been
through in the past few years. Absolutely. How
did that album do? It did well. Debut Strong
Again, number two on the Billboard 200. Sold
about $165 ,000 first week. Showed her fans were
still right there with her. Solid performance.
And the lead single. That was Where You At. Written
by R. Kelly, produced by Harvey Mason Jr. It
was powerful, but maybe more introspective. Reached
number 10 on the R &B hip hop chart. And the
music video got an NAACP Image Award nomination.
So culturally significant too, this album felt
like she was evolving her sound again, really
integrating that personal growth, that emotional
depth into her singing. Not just repeating the
debut formula. And this period was also packed
with really high profile performances, wasn't
it? Kept her very visible. Oh yeah. Big moments.
February 2012, just one day after Whitney Houston
dies, she's saying, I will always love you at
the Grammys. Oh, I remember that vividly. So
raw, so emotional. The timing was just... Yeah,
a profound tribute to her idol that just moved
everyone. Then she did a multi -episode arc on
the TV show Smash. The musical drama, right?
Played Veronica Moore. Yeah, showed off her acting
and singing chops there. Then in 2013, Super
Bowl XL7, she sang America the Beautiful with
the Sandy Hook Elementary School Chorus. Another
incredibly poignant, healing moment on a huge
stage. So much emotional weight in that performance.
Just bringing people together through music after
tragedy. Yeah. She also performed at the Oscars
again that year, right? In a tribute to movie
musicals. Highlighting her connection there.
And later in 2013, she performed Same Love with
Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert at the
MTV VMAs. Embracing more socially conscious music,
collaborating across genres. Yeah, showed she
was willing to use her platform for different
kinds of messages. Really solidified her as an
artist with something to say. Then came album
number three, J -HUD. September 2014. And this
one felt like a real shift, didn't it? Definitely.
She described herself as more upbeat, more soulful
dance. Said it had a 70s kind of style. A deliberate
move towards something different. Absolutely.
Exploring new sounds, showing different sides
of her artistry, moving beyond just the big R
&B ballads. She worked with a whole new group
of people, too. Timbaland again, but also Feral
Williams, Redone, Iggy Azalea, R. Kelly again.
Interesting mix. Feral Iggy Azalea. Definitely
aiming for a different vibe. Yeah, and it seemed
to connect. The track, It's Your World, with
R. Kelly, got a Grammy nomination for best R
&B vocal performance. So The New Direction got
critical recognition, too. It did. She said the
album was about showing different expressions
of her as an artist, a girl, and a music lover.
More vibrant, more celebratory, maybe. Reflecting
her journey of healing showed she wouldn't be
put in one musical box. Right. And around this
time, she got a huge Hollywood honor, didn't
she? The Walk of Fame star. Yes. November 13th,
2013, honored with the 2 ,512th star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame. That's got to feel pretty amazing.
Yeah. A permanent spot in Hollywood history.
Absolutely iconic milestone for any entertainer.
Really cements your legacy. And she kept up the
acting work, too, with really diverse roles during
this time. Yeah, really stretching. She was in
The Inevitable Defeat of Mr. And Pete, which
was a tough coming -of -age drama, and Black
Nativity, the musical holiday film, both in 2013.
Then Lullaby, another drama, in 2013. 2014, and
Spike Lee's Chirac in 2015. Chirac tackling gang
violence through musical drama. Bold choice.
Very bold. She was also in the HBO movie Confirmation
in 2016, and she did voice work Young Nana Noodle
Men in the animated movie Sing. Oh yeah, Sing.
She sang the Beatles Goldie Slumber Scary, that
weight in that. Right, beautifully. Beautifully.
And a great duet of Hallelujah with Tori Kelly.
So yeah, musicals, dramas, animation. Really
versatile. Okay, but then comes a really exciting
turn. A whole new stage. Literally. Broadway.
Yes. Fall of 2015. Her highly anticipated Broadway
debut. As Shug Avery. in the revival of the color
purple. Shug Avery, another iconic role. That's
a huge leap, isn't it? Live theater, eight shows
a week. Massively. Totally different discipline
than film or recording. That direct connection
with a live audience every night. The stamina
required. It's intense. And how did she do? How
was she received? She excelled. Ben Brantley,
the chief critic at the New York Times, you know,
a really respected voice. Yeah, his reviews carry
away. He lauded her, said, Mrs. Hudson radiates
a lush, supple stage presence that is echoed
by her velvet voice. High praise. Wow. Lush and
supple. Nice. Yeah. And that critical acclaim
quickly led to another major award. She got her
second Grammy. Second Grammy? For Broadway. Yep.
For West's musical theater album in 2017. For
her work on the Color Purple cast recording.
Okay, so that solidifies her as legitimate force
on Broadway, too. And adds another piece to that
ego P -pezzle we mentioned earlier. Yeah, exactly.
The G was already there. The O was there. Now
a Grammy for theater. Things are lining up. Interesting.
And beyond Broadway, she kept doing other high
profile things too, right? Oh yeah, constantly
working. She guest starred on Empire, the big
musical drama show, played Michelle White, sang
three songs, reached a huge TV audience there.
Empire was massive. Massive. She also had the
immense honor of welcoming Poop Francis on his
first visit to the US, sang Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah
for him. Singing for the Pope. Doesn't get much
bigger than that. Pretty global, spiritually
significant moment, right? And then December
2016, she took on another iconic role, Motormouth
Maybel in NBC's Hairspray Live. Oh right, the
live TV musical. Her I Know Where I've Been was...
Incredible. Incredible. I got major Emmy buzz
for that performance. Just so powerful and emotional.
And she did a great duet with Ariana Grande on
Come So Far 2. Yeah, she really nails those big
emotional numbers. It's fascinating, isn't it?
Her ability to just deliver these show -stopping
moments across completely different mediums,
Broadway stage, live TV musical, a papal visit.
And professionally, there was another big move
around then, too. June 2016, she signed with
Epic Records. OK, another major label deal. Yeah.
And the industry reaction was huge. L .A. Reid
called her the defining voice of this generation.
Wow. High praise from L .A. Reid. And Clive Davis,
legendary exec, obviously, he said, she has become
that. as Ellie and I excitingly reunite to capture
Jennifer at her all -time best. Clive Davis reuniting
with Ellie Reid for her, that's a massive vote
of confidence. Huge. Show the industry still
had immense faith in her musical power and her
future. So looking at this whole period, maybe
2010 to 2016 or so, what's the main takeaway?
I think it just screams versatility and this
relentless artistic growth. It wasn't enough
to be an Oscar winner, a Grammy winner. She conquered
Broadway. She jumped into to TV coaching, she
transformed her health, constantly evolved her
sound. Yeah, never resting on her laurels. Never.
It firmly established her as this formidable
presence everywhere, music, film, Broadway, even
as a voice for social causes. It's just a profound
example of an artist constantly pushing boundaries,
always seeking new ways to express herself and
make an impact. OK. And that brings us to the
most recent chapter, the one that culminates
in that rare ego status and sees her take on
even newer roles. talk show host, solidifying
her legendary status. Yeah, this is where it
all comes together, in a way. Her move into TV
coaching really took off internationally first,
right? Early 2017, she debuted as a coach on
The Voice UK, season six. OK, starting to cross
-spawn. Yep. And made a huge impact right away.
She actually won her first season there with
her contestant, Moa Dinaran. Won on her first
try. Nice. Yeah. Became the first female coach
to win the UK show. Pretty impressive debut.
Definitely. And that led to her joining the US
version. Exactly. Success there paved the way.
Joined the American Voice for season in 2017,
came back for season 15 in 2018, and went back
to the UK for their eighth series in 2019. So
she became a real fixture in that whole voice
world. Totally. The Lovett coach known for being
passionate and those incredible vocal demos she'd
do just showing everyone how it's done. Yeah,
I bet. And she kept putting out music alongside
the coaching. She did. kept her voice out there,
released the single Remember Me in March 2017,
then Burdened Down in December 2017, still showcasing
that power. And then during the pandemic, she
did that collaborative song, right? Yeah, that
was fascinating. March 2020, she worked remotely
with Bono, Will .i .am, and Yoshiki, quite a
lineup. Wow. Bono and Will .i .am. to create,
hashtag, egenvia life, a song they literally
compiled remotely to try and lift spirits during
lockdown, showed her using her voice for connection,
community, even in isolation. That's great. And
her film work continued, too. Kept going. Diverse
roles. She starred with Adam Sandler and Sandy
Wexler in 2017, played a singer, Courtney Clark.
OK. Then she took on Grizzabella in the movie
version of Cats in 2019, saying memory, obviously.
Ah, Cats. That movie was. Something else, but
her memory was powerful. It was. Divisive movie,
but she delivered the signature song. And then
she did something really interesting. She won
a Daytime Emmy. A Daytime Emmy? For what? As
an executive producer. For this interactive VR
fairy tale called Baba Yaga, made for Oculus
Quest, September 2021. VR? Okay, branching into
new tech. Yeah. She voiced a character in it
too, The Forest. So an Emmy for producing innovative
media adds another dimension. Definitely. And
she's kept acting since then too. Yep. appeared
in Tell It Like a Woman in 2022, starred in the
sci -fi thriller Breathe in 2024, and she's got
voice roles coming up in Goat and Paw Patrol,
the Dino movie in 2025. So still very active
across the board. Wow, she does not stop. But
during this period, there was one role that felt
really destined, right? Playing Aretha Franklin.
Oh, absolutely. Respect. The 2021 biopic. That
felt like a culmination, a dream role. and made
even more special because Aretha herself picked
her. Exactly. Clive Davis revealed back in 2018
that Aretha, before she passed, had personally
handpicked Jennifer Hudson to play her in a movie.
That's the ultimate endorsement, passing the
torch from the Queen of Soul herself. It doesn't
get bigger than that. So the film comes out August
2021 and Hudson's performance just universally
acclaimed. It was a huge undertaking, right?
Not just the singing, but embodying Aretha's
whole life, the struggles. Immense challenge,
but she dove in completely. Earned the Chairman's
Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival, got
nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for
Outstanding Lead Actress. She didn't just mimic
Aretha, she channeled her essence. Yeah, you
could feel it. And that role brought her more
major awards too, right? NAACP Image Awards.
Big time. February 2022, she was the major winner
there. Took home Entertainer of the Year and
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Respect.
Huge for that portrayal. Deservedly so. And the
soundtrack. She sang everything on that. Everything.
All the iconic Aretha covers, plus the original
song, Here I Am, Singing My Way Home, which she
co -wrote. And that got nominated, too. Yep.
The original song got Golden Globe and Grammy
nominations. And the soundtrack itself got a
Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack.
Just more validation for the whole project. And
she kept reminding people of her life power,
too. Didn't show at the Apollo. Yeah. August,
2021. Jennifer Hudson. Live at the Apollo, a
night of soul, must have been incredible. Wow.
And then she sang opera in Central Park. Can
you believe it? Just days later, sang Ness Dorma,
a notoriously difficult aria with the New York
Philharmonic at that We Love NYC, the homecoming
concert. From soul at the Apollo to Puccini in
the park, the range. Just unreal versatility,
command over completely different styles. OK.
So all this leads up to the absolute pinnacle.
The historical moment. The EGO -T. The EGO DeChiefment.
June 12, 2022. The 75th Tony Awards. And she
wins the Tony. Not for performing, right, but
as a producer. Exactly. She won the Tony Award
for Best Musical as a co -producer of A Strange
Loop. Which was a huge groundbreaking show itself,
Pulitzer Prize winner. Right. So her contribution
was recognizing and helping bring this important
artistic work to Broadway. A different kind of
role, but vital to theater. And that Tony completed
the set. EGO -T. Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony. Wow.
Monumental. Puts her in that incredibly exclusive
club. With that Tony, she became the youngest
woman and only the third African American to
win all four major American entertainment awards
competitively. Only 17 competitive winners ever.
It's just rarefied air. Completely. It speaks
to unparalleled talent, yes, but also dedication,
smart career moves, longevity across all these
different mediums, vocal gift, acting chops,
stage presence, and now a sharp eye for producing
impactful theater. It's the whole package. But
what's amazing is she hits this ultimate peak,
the ego T, something most artists only dream
of. Yeah. And she doesn't stop. Not at all. Quite
the opposite. Her syndicated talk show, The Jennifer
Hudson Show, premiered on her birthday, September
12, 2022. Launched it on her birthday. Nice touch.
A whole new chapter. Yeah. A full circle moment,
in a way. A platform to connect with people differently,
more conversationally. Right. And she's back
to music, too. A new album. Yep. October 18th,
2024, released her fourth studio album, The Gift
of Love, her first solo project in a decade.
A decade. So a significant return to recording.
Definitely. Sharing new music, new themes. And
she supported it with a tour, The Gift of Love,
an intimate live experience, getting back out
there, connecting with fans directly in these
smaller settings. Nice. And her personal life
has seen a new chapter recently, too. Dating
Common. Yeah, that became public. They started
dating apparently in 2022 while working on their
movie Breathe, fellow Chicago native. Right,
both from Chicago. They kept it pretty private
for a while, but then confirmed it with a joint
appearance on her talk show in January 2024.
He had lovely things to say about her. One of
the most beautiful people I've met, smart, loves
God, down to earth. Talented. Sounds like a great
connection. Good for her. Yeah. And this follows
her previous long relationship with David Otinga.
Right. They were engaged from 2007 to 2017, and
they have a son together, David Daniel Otinga
Jr., born in 09. And before that, she dated James
Payton for many years. Right. And other little
details. She still lives near Chicago. Doesn't
drink. Friends with Obama. Yeah. Resides in Burridge,
Illinois. Keeps those strong home state ties.
Yeah. No non -drinker. And yeah, described as
a friend of President Obama, performed at fundraisers,
the White House, speaks to her standing beyond
just entertainment. Definitely. So what's the
big takeaway from this most recent culminating
part of her story? Well, obviously, it highlights
the incredible ego achievement, the peak. But
it also emphasizes her just continuous, relentless
drive for new ventures, artistic, personal. Yeah,
she never seems to settle. Never. It shows the
dedication, the multifaceted talent needed to
reach those heights. And then even at the summit,
this continued hunger for growth, for new beginnings.
It was like, for true artists, reaching the ultimate
goal isn't the end. It just means finding new
ways to create, connect, and make an impact.
A really powerful statement about artistry itself.
OK. So that brings us toward the end of this
deep dive into the incredible world of Jennifer
Hudson. What a journey. Right. We've traced it
all. From that determined kid singing on a cruise
ship to the idol stage through the absolute transformation
of dream girls and that Oscar win Navigating
profound personal tragedy with such grace Unbelievable
grace all the way to achieving that absolute
pinnacle of entertainment the ego data Her story
really is this potent mix, isn't it? breathtaking
voice, undeniable acting skill, and just sheer,
almost unbelievable resilience. Yeah, resilience
is the through line. It's not just about the
talent, which is immense, but about that unwavering
determination, making smart choices. Yeah. And
that remarkable ability to turn the deepest challenges
into sources of strength, purpose, and inspiration
for so many people. Absolutely. So Jennifer Hudson
has done what very few artists ever even dream
of. Concord film, music, TV, theater. Got the
Emmy, the Grammys, the Oscar, the Tony. Yet,
like we just discussed, she keeps going, launching
the talk show, releasing new music, constantly
redefining herself. So considering everything
she's achieved and the fact that she's still
evolving, what does her ongoing journey tell
us maybe about the nature of artistry? Ambition.
even after you've reached the very top. It's
a great question. What drives someone who's already
won everything? Exactly. What further impact
might she, an artist who has literally achieved
it all, choose to make? What new stages could
possibly remain for a voice, a spirit as boundless
as hers? Something to think about. Definitely
something to think about. And in the meantime,
we really encourage you, if you haven't already,
to explore her work. It's so diverse. Go back
and watch those early idol clips, the award -winning
films, check out the Broadway cast recording,
listen to the new album. There's just a rich
tapestry of artistry there waiting for you. Absolutely,
a phenomenal talent. Thank you for joining us
on this deep dive. Yeah, thanks for listening.
We'll see you next time.