Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is a singer and actress who first caught the public's attention as a finalist on the third season of American Idol. Although she finished in seventh place, Hudson did go on to star as Effie White in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls, for which she won an Academy Award.

Hudson sang "Will You Be There" at the memorial service for the late pop music icon Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009.

Hudson co-headlined with singer Robin Thicke for a six-week tour which started on March 31, 2009, and hit 19 cities including Philadelphia, New York City, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallashttp://www.livedaily.com/news/15699.html

In an interview with People in March 2009, Hudson revealed that she and David Otunga had set a wedding date, but were not yet prepared to release it to the public.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20225699,00.html/ref

On April 22, 2009, rumors hit the internet that Hudson was expecting her first child with fiancee David Otunga. Reps for Hudson denied this rumor but sources close to the singer confirmed to Essence Magazine that she is indeed pregnant.http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/04/22/2009-04-22_report_jennifer_hudson_pregnant.html

Hudson and fiance David Otunga are expecting their first child together in the summer of 2009.[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20282332,00.html

On August 10, 2009 Jennifer Hudson gave birth to David Daniel Otunga Jr.

On April 16, 2009, Hudson returned to the American Idol stage. This was the first time she had returned to the show since being eliminated from season three. Hudson sang "If This Isn't Love" during season eight's Wednesday night elimination night.

Hudson won a 2009 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for her self-titled album. She also performed at the awards ceremony, which aired on February 8, 2009, on CBS. Hudson was scheduled to begin her first solo tour on April 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. Her tour was to continue through May 8th. Hudson stated about her tour, "I am so grateful, my first Grammy and my first tour. It doesn't get better than that."PerezHilton: J-Hud's Hitting the Road! (February 9, 2009)

• 2006: Dreamgirls
• 2008: Sex and the City
• 2008: Winged Creatures
• 2008: The Secret Life of Bees

Hudson performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009. The performance was her first public appearance since her mother, brother and nephew were killed.Huffington Post: Jennifer Hudson's Super Bowl Performance... (February 1, 2009) She also performed at the NAACP Image Awards on February 12.MSN: Jennifer Hudson Among New Choices (January 19, 2008) People: Hudson Will Perform at NAACP Image Awards (February 2, 2009)

Hudson performed at the "MusiCares Person of the Year" event in Los Angeles in February 2009. Tim McGraw, Josh Groban, Coldplay and Foo Fighters also performed at the event.People: Jennifer Hudson Set to Perform... (December 23, 2008)

On October 24, 2008, Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their home on the South Side of Chicago. Her nephew, Julian King, was found dead three days later in a parked SUV.MTV News: Jennifer Hudson's Relatives Murdered in Chicago (October 24, 2008) Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and home invasion. He pleaded "not guilty" to the charges in January of 2009.China Daily: William Balfour's not guilty plea (January 22, 2009)