Jennifer Kate Hudson
(born September 12, 1981) is an American recording artist, actress and model. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of the Fox reality television series American Idol
. She made her film debut in the 2006 film Dreamgirls
and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance, as well as a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among many others.
She won a Grammy Award for her eponymous debut album, Jennifer Hudson
, which was released in 2008 on Arista Records and soon certified gold by the RIAA for more than 500,000 shipped copies, spawning the hit single "Spotlight".
In late 2008 Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew were killed in a shooting. Her estranged brother-in-law has been charged with their murders. Soon after the tragic events occurred, Hudson stepped out of the limelight for a three month timespan. Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009, and has since performed at the Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, American Idol, and The Oprah Winfrey Show
. [1] Hudson has been described as a friend of President Barack Obama, who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills in May 2009. [2]
|
JENNIFER HUDSON TICKETS
|
Early life
Jennifer Hudson was born on September 12, 1981, in
Chicago,
Illinois.
[3] She is the third and youngest child of Darnell Donerson and Samuel Simpson.
[4] She was raised as a
Baptist [5] and attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, which she graduated from in 1999.
[6] She cites
Whitney Houston,
Aretha Franklin, and
Patti LaBelle as her overall biggest influences and aspirations.
[7] She got her start in performing by singing with the church choir and doing community theater. As a teenager, Hudson worked at a
Burger King in Chicago — a job that she famously acknowledged after receiving her 2007 Academy Award for
Dreamgirls
.
[8]
American Idol
Hudson auditioned for the
third season of
American Idol
, in
Atlanta,
Georgia. In her audition she commented that she had been singing on
Disney Cruise Lines for the past few months (as one of the Muses from
Hercules
); and contestant judge
Randy Jackson said, "We're expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you." Jennifer delivered and all the judges agreed it was the best voice they had heard so far in the competition. She was a member of the first group of semifinalists in the Semifinals. She was not voted through to the final round, although she was brought back on the
wild card round and put through as a "Top 12" finalist by Jackson.
Hudson struggled to gain popularity in the early stages of Idol's live shows, receiving the second-lowest number of votes in two of the first three shows. However, after a change in song choices, she soon became a favorite to win, receiving the highest number of votes in the "Top 9" after her performance of
Elton John's "
Circle of Life," on April 6, 2004. Among Hudson's worthy performances on the show was her rendition of Whitney Houston's, "I Have Nothing". Judge
Simon Cowell commented that Hudson, "finally proved why she was among the 'Top 12,'" and referred to the performance a week later as, "sensational." During the "Top 7" show, Hudson performed
Barry Manilow's, "Weekend in New England," which garnered praise from all three judges. Jackson called the song Hudson's best performance to date; and Simon Cowell noted that Hudson's presence made the third season a, "Battle of the Divas," referencing other powerful vocalists
Fantasia Barrino and
LaToya London. Despite this praise, Hudson was eliminated during this week, which some blamed in part on a power outage in Hudson's hometown of Chicago due to
storms and tornadoes in the area. This also led to controversy since the "Battling Divas" were all in the Bottom 3.
[9] [10] On April 21, 2004, Hudson became the sixth of the 12 finalists to be voted off the show, finishing the competition in seventh place.
American Idol
performances
Theme week
| Song sung
| Artist
| Date sung
| Status
|
Audition
| Share Your Love With Me
| Aretha Franklin
| -
| Advanced
|
Hollywood
| [N/A]
| [N/A]
| -
| Advanced
|
Semifinals
| Imagine
| John Lennon
| February 10, 2004
| Eliminated
|
Wild Card
| I Believe in You and Me
| Four Tops Whitney Houston
| March 9, 2004
| Selected
|
Top 12 Soul Music Week
| Baby, I Love You
| Aretha Franklin
| March 16, 2004
| Bottom 2
|
Top 11 Country Week
| No One Else on Earth
| Wynonna Judd
| March 23, 2004
| Safe
|
Top 10 Motown Week
| (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
| Martha and the Vandellas
| March 30, 2004
| Bottom 2
|
Top 9 Songs of Elton John
| Circle of Life
| Elton John
| April 6, 2004
| Highest Number of Votes
|
Top 8 Songs of the Cinema
| I Have Nothing from The Bodyguard
| Whitney Houston
| April 14, 2004
| Safe
|
Top 7 Songs of Barry Manilow
| Weekend in New England
| Barry Manilow
| April 20, 2004
| Eliminated
|
Films
Dreamgirls
(2007)
In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the role of
Effie White for the
film adaptation of the musical
Dreamgirls
, which also starred
Jamie Foxx,
Beyoncé Knowles and
Eddie Murphy. The role, originally created in a
Broadway performance by
Jennifer Holliday, marked Hudson's
debut screen performance. She won the role over hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including
Raven-Symoné and American Idol winner
Fantasia Barrino.
[11] Filming of
Dreamgirls
began on January 9, 2006, and the film went into limited release on December 25, 2006, and national release on January 12, 2007.
Hudson has won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", the signature song of the role, which had earlier been recorded, and had already reached the status of musical standard, because of the definitive performance of Jennifer Holliday.
The New York Observer
described Hudson's performance of the song as, "five mellifluous, molto vibrato minutes that have suddenly catapulted Ms. Hudson... into the position of front-runner for the best supporting actress Oscar."
[12] Newsweek
said that when moviegoers hear Hudson sing the song, she, "is going to raise goose bumps across the land."
[13] Variety
magazine wrote that Hudson's performance, "calls to mind debuts like
Barbra Streisand in
Funny Girl
or
Bette Midler in
The Rose
, with a voice like the young
Aretha."
[14]
Hudson's version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," debuted at number 98 on the
Billboard
Hot 100 in the January 13, 2007, issue. The
Dreamgirls
track became Hudson's first top 10 hit on the
Billboard
Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart on February 24, 2007. The track has also reached number 14 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while remixes of the song have topped the
Billboard
's
Hot Dance Club Play chart.
As Effie White, Hudson has garnered 29 awards from film critics as Best Supporting Actress and Breakthrough Performer of 2006. She won the
Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In addition, she has been named Best Supporting Actress by the
Broadcast Film Critics Association and also by the
Screen Actors Guild. After seeing Hudson's performance in
Dreamgirls
,
American Idol
judge
Simon Cowell taped a congratulatory message to her, which aired on
The Oprah Winfrey Show
.
[15] With the March 2007 issue, Jennifer Hudson became the third
African American celebrity, and the first African-American singer, to grace the cover of
Vogue
magazine.
[16]
On February 25, 2007, she won the
Academy Award for
Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. Upon winning the award, Hudson also became one of the very few performers ever to win an Oscar for a debut screen performance. As of 2009, she is also the only person to have gone from participating in a reality television series to becoming an Academy Award winner. During her acceptance speech Hudson said: "Oh my God, I have to just take this moment in. I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. I didn't think I was going to win. [...] If my grandmother was here to see me now. She was my biggest inspiration." She also concluded her speech by thanking Jennifer Holliday.
[17]
Later in 2007, the Mayor of her home town
Chicago,
Richard M. Daley declared March 6 as "Jennifer Hudson Day".
[18] [19] She also was invited to join the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on June 18, along with 115 other individuals for 2007.
[20] [21]
Sex and the City
(2008)
In September 2007, Hudson began work on
Sex and the City
as Louise,
Carrie Bradshaw's assistant. Filming finished in December 2007 and the movie was released on May 30, 2008.
[22]
The Secret Life of Bees
(2008)
In January 2008, she began filming her third film
The Secret Life of Bees
as Rosaleen, the mother figure of Lily Owens (
Dakota Fanning). Also starring in the film are fellow Oscar nominees
Queen Latifah and
Sophie Okonedo, as well as
Alicia Keys. The film opened on October 17, 2008, and grossed over $37 million at the box office. The film won two
People's Choice Awards in January 2009 in the categories, Favorite Drama Movie and Favorite Independent Movie. The film also received nine
Black Reel Awards nominations including three wins. Hudson was nominated for her performance in the film, but lost to
Queen Latifah. The film also received eight nominations at the 2009
NAACP Image Awards, including a nomination for Hudson for her performance.
Fragments
(2009)
In 2009, Hudson is scheduled to appear as Kathy Archenault in
Winged Creatures
, a film based on the novel by Roy Freirich, with Dakota Fanning and
Forest Whitaker. According too Amazon.com "Winged Creatures" has changed name to "Fragments" it is to be released Direct to DVD on 8/4/09
Music
In September 2006, Hudson performed the song, "Over It," live on
Fox Chicago Morning News. In the interview she stated the song would be included on her debut album, to be released in early 2007 however this was before she signed with Arista.
[23] On
The Oprah Winfrey Show
, Hudson announced plans to enter the studio in March 2007. Hudson said on
The Tyra Banks Show
, on February 23, 2007, that she just finished the first song for the album. Hudson also recorded a song called, "Stand Up", which was available for preview on her fan website which was produced by Chicago natives
Earl Powell and Herman Little III, who arranged the song. The power-ballad is available on the deluxe edition Hudson's
self-titled album as a
bonus track.
In November 2006, Hudson signed a record deal with
Arista Records. She released her debut album and has recently finished recording one song entitled, "Depreciate".
[24]
In January 2008 Hudson returned to the studio to record new material for her debut album. Her label was reportedly unhappy with the direction they were sending Hudson musically and decided it would be best to scrap the older songs and instead focus on new ones. Hudson worked with
Ryan Tedder and
Timbaland on a number of songs.
Her debut single, "
Spotlight" was released on June 10, 2008 and became Hudson's first top 40 hit peaking at #24 on the
Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "
If This Isn't Love" followed it. The second single was to be released in October 2008 and was supposed to be "My Heart". After three of her family members were murdered brutally be her estranged brother-in-law, the single was rescheduled for a January, 2009 release. In January her label decided that the second single would not be "My Heart" and therefore decided the second single would be released in February of 2009. After much discussion, her label chose "If This Isn't Love" as the second single. The single eventually peaked at #63 on the
Billboard Hot 100. The third single was announced as "Pocketbook" featuring
Ludacris in April, 2009, for a June, 2009 release, despite speculation that the third single would be "My Heart" after it was canceled as the second single. In May, 2009, "Pocketbook" was canceled as the third single due to negative reception from fans and critics alike. The third single was then rescheduled as "
Giving Myself" and was released on June 2, 2009 to the US.
Her eponymous debut album,
Jennifer Hudson
was released on September 30, 2008 on
Arista Records and was written by
Ne-Yo, who co-produced along with
Stargate. Additional contributors on the album include
Timbaland,
Missy Elliott,
Robin Thicke,
Harvey Mason, Jr.,
Diane Warren, Earl Powell, and
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, among others.
[25] The album debuted at #2 on the
Billboard 200 with 217,000 copies in the US and opened to positive reviews. As of August 2009, the album has sold 739,000 copies in the US, receiving a Gold certificiation for surpassing sales of 500,000. She has performed the song, "All Dressed in Love" for the
Sex and the City soundtrack, which was released on May 27, 2008.
[26] Hudson performed the
national anthem at the
2008 Democratic National Convention.
Her debut album garnered Hudson three nominations at the
2008 Grammy Awards;
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "
Spotlight",
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "
I'm His Only Woman" with
Fantasia Barrino, and
Best R&B Album for
Jennifer Hudson
. She won the last of these and performed at the awards.
[27]
Hudson sang
The Star-Spangled Banner
at
Super Bowl XLIII.
[28] She toured the United States with
Robin Thicke in 2009.
[29] Recently, Hudson has suffered through a "throat fatigue" and has had to reschedule her May 16 – 19, 2009 tour dates.
[30] She also sang "
Will You Be There" at the
memorial of
Michael Jackson on July 7, 2009.
[31]
In early, 2009, Hudson showed in an interest in releasing a re-release of her debut album
Jennifer Hudson
in the summer of 2009, however in July, 2009, Hudson stated that she would begin work on a second album around Halloween of 2009, making a re-release of her debut unlikely. The second album is due for a release in early (January-March) 2010.
Hudson has also recorded "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," originally by
Gladys Knight & the Pips, for
American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics
—the official
American Idol
album for the third season. She is featured in a duet, "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be," on
Meat Loaf's
Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose
. She also performed the song "Easy to be Hard" on the
Actors' Fund benefit recording of the musical
Hair
; and she is featured on
Ne-Yo's second album,
Because of You
, on the track, "Leaving Tonight". Hudson has also recorded a new song with rapper
Papoose, titled, "Special". Hudson sang "Dancing a Catchy Rhythm" with
Brooke White.
Personal life
Hudson began dating James Payton in 1999, when she was eighteen. They were both from
Chicago. When asked if they had any plans to marry, Hudson declared that, "We are happy with the place we are right now, but perhaps we will tie the knot someday. One thing's for sure, I definitely won't be popping the question!"
[32] The couple separated in December 2007.
Hudson met David Otunga (who appeared as "Punk" from
I Love New York 2
), a
Harvard Law graduate.
[33] [34] Six months later on Hudson's 27th birthday, he proposed marriage.
[35] The couple had not even been dating for six months and the news was met with apprehension by her family. Otunga accompanied Hudson throughout Spring and Autumn 2008 on various promotional events for her debut album. In November 2008,
[36] he started training to become a professional wrestler and is currently wrestling for
Florida Championship Wrestling, which is a developmental territory for the
WWE, under the name Dawson Alexander.
[37] In August 2009, Hudson gave birth to her first child with Otunga; a boy named David Daniel Otunga Jr.
[38]
Hudson owns three
Pomeranian dogs named Dreamgirl, Oscar and Grammy.
[39]
Family murders
Wikinews has related news:
- Mother, brother of singer Jennifer Hudson found murdered, others reported missing
- FBI asked to assist in murder, kidnap investigation of Jennifer Hudson's relatives
- FBI says Jennifer Hudson's nephew found dead
- Arrest made in Jennifer Hudson family killings
On October 24, 2008, Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, and the singer's 29-year-old brother, Jason, were found shot to death inside Donerson's Chicago, Illinois home by Hudson's sister, Julia.
[40] An
AMBER Alert was issued for Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, after Hudson's elder sister, Julia, reported him missing.
[41] [42]
Later that day,
Chicago police arrested a
suspect, William Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, but he was not charged with the crime.
[43] Balfour was on
parole and had spent nearly seven years
in prison for attempted
murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. The
Illinois Department of Corrections' records revealed one of Balfour's addresses to be the home where Donerson and Jason Hudson were murdered.
[44]
Three days later, on October 27, 2008, the body of a young boy was found inside a 1994
Chevrolet Suburban parked on a street in Chicago's West Side area. The license plate and the vehicle's description matched that given in the AMBER Alert.
[45] [46] The
FBI confirmed the body was that of Julian King.
[47] Autopsy reports released on October 29, 2008 from the Cook County Medical Examiner's office indicated that Julian King's death was due to "multiple gunshot wounds".
[48]
A gun found in a West Side vacant lot was confirmed to be the murder weapon by Chicago police Superintendent
Jody Weis on October 31, 2008. The gun belonged to Jason Hudson and had been missing for months.
[49]
Funeral services for the victims were held on November 3 followed by a private service at Chicago's South Side Apostolic Church of God on November 10.
Hudson's family announced a foundation for families of murder victims. The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims was named in honor of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
[50]
Because he had not yet been officially charged with the murders, Balfour appeared without an attorney at a thirty-five minute parole violation hearing on November 10, 2008; the hearing decision was that he was believed to have violated parole and should be held in custody until a December 3 hearing before the full Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
[51] [52] [53]
[54] [55] [56]
right
at
Super Bowl XLIII
Balfour became the prime suspect on December 1, 2008, and was transferred into police custody. A police department spokesperson said, "He is awaiting formal charges for three counts of murder. There likely will be a press conference once there are formal charges against him."
[57] [58] [59] Balfour was officially charged with three counts of first degree murder, one count of home invasion and was denied bail.
[60]
Balfour was
indicted for the murders on December 30, 2008 and in a January 27, 2009 court appearance pleaded not guilty.
[61] [62]
On February 1, 2009, Hudson made her first public appearance since the murders, singing
[63] the
Star-Spangled Banner
at
Super Bowl XLIII.
[64] The performance is available via
iTunes, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Hudson-King Foundation.
[65]
Discography
Filmography
Year
| Film
| Role
|
2006
| Dreamgirls
| Effie White
|
2008
| Sex and the City
| Louise
|
The Secret Life of Bees
| Rosaleen Daise
|
2009
| ''Fragments
| Kathy Archenault
|
Awards and nominations
Year
| Award
| Category
| Result
|
2006
| ShoWest
| Female Star of Tomorrow
| Won
|
Satellite Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Won
|
National Board of Review
| Best Female Breakthrough Performance
| Won
|
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
| Best Supporting Actress
| Nominated
|
New York Film Critics Circle
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
New York Film Critics Online
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Breakthrough Performer
| Won
|
Hollywood Life Awards
| Breakthrough of the Year
| Won
|
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Washington, DC Film Critics Association
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Best Breakthrough Performance
| Won
|
African-American Film Critics Association
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Palm Springs International Film Festival
| Breakthrough Performance
| Won
|
Las Vegas Film Critics Association
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
| Pauline Kael Breakout
| Won
|
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Award
| Breakout Performance
| Won
|
2007
| The National Society of Film Critics
| Best Supporting Actress
| Nominated
|
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Austin Film Critics Association
| Breakout Artist
| Won
|
Broadcast Film Critics Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Golden Globes
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
| Won
|
Screen Actors Guild
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture
| Nominated
|
NAACP Image Awards
| Best Supporting Actress in a Movie
| Won
|
BAFTA
| Actress in a Supporting Role
| Won
|
Central Ohio Film Critics Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Black Reel Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Won
|
Best Breakthrough Performance
| Won
|
Academy Awards
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
| Won
|
Soul Train Awards
| Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year
| Won
|
MTV Movie Awards
| Best Performance
| Nominated
|
BET Awards
| Best Female R&B Artist
| Nominated
|
Best Actress
| Won
|
Best New Artist
| Won
|
Teen Choice Awards
| Choice Movie Actress: Drama
| Won
|
Choice Movie Actress (Breakout)
| Nominated
|
2008
| Vibe Music Awards
| VHollywood Award
| Nominated
|
Black Reel Awards
| Best Actress for The Secret Life of Bees
| Nominated
|
Best Ensemble for The Secret Life of Bees
| Nominated
|
2009
| Grammy Awards [66]
| Best R&B Album
| Won
|
Best R&B Female Vocal Performance for "Spotlight"
| Nominated
|
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "I'm His Only Woman" featuring Fantasia
| Nominated
|
Best R&B Song for "Spotlight"
| Nominated
|
NAACP Image Awards [67]
| Outstanding New Artist
| Won
|
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie for The Secret Life of Bees
| Nominated
|
Outstanding Female Artist
| Nominated
|
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration "I'm His Only Woman" (with Fantasia)
| Won
|
Outstanding Music Video for "Spotlight"
| Nominated
|
Outstanding Song for "Spotlight"
| Nominated
|
Outstanding Album for Jennifer Hudson
| Won
|
BET Awards [68] [69]
| Best Female R&B Artist
| Nominated
|
Best Actress
| Nominated
|
Teen Choice Awards [70]
| Choice Music: R&B Artist
| Nominated
|
Choice Music: R&B Track for "If This Isn't Love"
| Nominated
|
See also
- List of Academy Award records
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
- List of Black Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
References
- J-Hud to sing Friday on Oprah's show
- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/obama-visit-.html
- Person: Jennifer Hudson: Biography
- Living the dream
- For Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson, all roads lead back to church: 'I don't do clubs'
- (March 7, 2007). Chicago fetes hometowner Jennifer Hudson ''China Daily''. September 13, 2008.
- Dreamgirls Star Hudson Dreams Of Houston Duet
- Title Unavailable
- 'Idol' Jennifer Hudson Says She Was Robbed
- Jennifer Hudson Moves to 'Better Place'
- 'Idol' finalist Hudson lands lead in 'Dreamgirls' film
- Dreamgirls Wakes Up
- Hudson steals ‘Dreamgirls,’ flirts with Oscar
- The Best of 2006: Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "And I Am Telling You"
- Golden Globe winners have ties, memories of RP
- Hudson Makes History with 'Vogue' Cover
- 'Dreamgirl' Jennifer Hudson Wins Oscar
- In brief: Chicago celebrates Jennifer Hudson Day
- City honours actress with own day
- Film Academy Invites 115 New Members
- Academy Invites 115 to Become Members
- Hudson moves to 'Sex and the City' movie
- Jennifer Hudson sings 'Over It'
- WINDSWEPT studios records{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}
- Debut Jennifer Hudson Album Due In September
- Sex and the City: The Movie
- Title Unavailable
- Title Unavailable
- Hudson performs for first time since Oct slayings
- http://www.singersroom.com/news/3765/Jennifer-Hudson-Takes-Throat-Forced-Break-From-Tour-Postpones-F
- Michael Jackson memorial: Jennifer Hudson sings 'Will You Be There'
- Barbara Walters' Oscar Special, 2007
- http://abovethelaw.com/david_otunga/ Harvard Law Grad
- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/09/is-jennifer-hud.html
- Jennifer Hudson Engaged to Boyfriend Gary Otunga
- http://abovethelaw.com/2008/11/david_otunga_hls_wwe_wwf.php Musical Chairs: David Otunga to... WWE?
- http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/stories/Jennifer_Hudsons_Fianc_To__Lashleys_Next_F.shtml
- Jennifer Hudson Welcomes a Son
- Jennifer Hudson: Standing Strong ''Entertainment Weekly'' 2009-4-10
- Jennifer Hudson's Mom, Brother Shot to Death
- Mother, brother of Jennifer Hudson killed
- Sources: Jennifer Hudson relative slain; child missing
- Title Unavailable
- Title Unavailable
- Body found in SUV linked to Hudson shootings
- Body found in SUV, unknown if it's Hudson's nephew
- FBI says body found is that of Hudson's nephew, 7
- Autopsy: Hudson nephew shot multiple times
- Title Unavailable
- Jennifer Hudson Announces Foundation for Murder Victim Families
- Parole hearing set for suspect in Hudson deaths
- Man questioned in Hudson case to stay in prison
- Man questioned in Hudson case, parolee William Balfour, to stay in prison
- Illinois: Suspect in Hudson Killings Is Still Held
- Suspect in Hudson slayings to remain in jail
- Jennifer Hudson's family murder latest
- Jennifer Hudson's Brother-in-Law Arrested for Family Murders
- William Balfour Expected To Be Charged In Murders Of Jennifer Hudson's Relatives
- Ex-brother-in-law arrested in Hudson family deaths
- William Balfour, Suspect In Hudson Family Killings, Denied Bail
- Tareen, Sophia. William Balfour Indicted for Hudson Family Murders blackamericaweb.com. December 31, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-21
- Kaufman, Gil.William Balfour Appears In Court For Jennifer Hudson Family Murders .mtv.com. January 27 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-21
- Jennifer Hudson Wasn't Singing
- Hudson's Emotional Return
- http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/2009_grammys/index.html
- The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List
- 40th NAACP Image Awards
- Title Unavailable
- Title Unavailable
- Title Unavailable