JHUD live!

Since appearing on American Idol, Jennifer Hudson has built a formidable career for herself, proving herself an adept actress on both stage and screen and a true powerhouse singer. She has an Oscar to her name for Dreamgirls, a Broadway credit for her role in The Color Purple and will soon be on our screens again in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats movie!

Born in 1981 in Chicago, IL, Hudson sang from a young age, first performing in her church. Various talent shows and school musical productions followed until she eventually secured a role in a local Chicago production of the musical Big River. Prior to auditioning for American Idol, Hudson also sang professionally while working on the Disney Wonder cruise ship.