Star Facts
- Jennifer used to sing on Disney cruise ships before she became a star
- She sang Happy Birthday to President Barack Obama in August 2011
- Jennifer has one son, David Daniel Otunga Jr. with her fiancé David Otunga
- She has a four-octave singing range
Jennifer Kate Hudson Quotes
To be able to sing at this level is a blessing
Biography:
Oscar winning American Idol star Jennifer was born in Chicago and began singing at age 7 in her local church choir. After a stint singing on Disney cruise ships she got her big break successfully auditioned for the third series of American Idol in 2004.
Becoming one of the show’s favourites, she made it to the finals finishing in 7th place. Jennifer then beat hundreds of actresses to play the role of Effie White in the smash hit movie musical Dreamgirls alongside Eddie Murphy and Beyonce in 2006. Her star-making movie debut performance won her the Best Supporting Actress award at the Oscars, the BAFTAs, and the Golden Globe Awards.
Since then Jennifer has starred in the first Sex and the City movie, The Secret Life of Bees alongside Queen Latifah, and is set to star in the forthcoming Farrelly brothers’ Three Stooges movie alongside Larry David.
Alongside acting, Jennifer launched her music career in 2008 with her self-titled debut album reaching number 2 in the US. Jennifer’s music career was put on hold in late 2008 when her mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting by her estranged brother-in-law. She made her first public appearance after the tragedy singing at the 2009 Super Bowl, with her second album, I Remember Me, reaching number 2 in the US in 2011.
Jennifer’s also become a spokesperson for Weight Watchers having dropped 80 pounds in 2011. She became engaged to Harvard Law School graduate-cum-WWE wrestler David Otunga in 2008.