2008 Woodie Awards
Jennifer Hudson: From Idol Contestant to Oscar Nominee
Jenny Erasmus
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Twenty-five-year-old Jennifer Hudson was just an average girl from Chicago. Her dream to make it big led her to audition for American Idol and she made it to Hollywood even though Simon Cowell disapproved.
After making it to the final twelve contestants, her dream ended when she was shockingly voted off. A year and a half later, Hudson was dealt a second chance when offered the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls. Since then, Jennifer Hudson's dream has become reality. From American Idol losing contestant to a Golden Globe winning Oscar nominee, Jennifer Hudson's success is the ultimate story of an underdog rising above and beyond all the rest.
In 2004, Hudson became one of the twelve finalists on the third season of American Idol. A few weeks later she was the sixth contestant to be voted off. Her loss on the show came as a shock to everyone in the audience to Simon Cowell to the legendary, Elton John.
Hudson was voted off a week after her remarkable performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life," which showcased Hudson's talent more so than any previous performance on the show. For the first time, Simon Cowell, who had not liked Hudson from the moment she auditioned, said she finally proved why she was there. Elton John, the guest host of the night, gave Hudson a rave review and deemed her an outstanding performer destined to make it big.
The week Hudson was voted off American Idol she was joined in the bottom three with two other African American women on the show. This created controversy and convinced some, including Elton John, that the vote was racist. Others believed Hudson had lost because of a power outage in her hometown the night of the voting. Today the reason does not seem to matter too much to Hudson, who has far surpassed her Idol experience.
In November 2005, Hudson was invited to audition for the role of Effie White in the film adaptation of the `80s Broadway production of Dreamgirls. The story, which is lightly based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, tells about the rise and falls of a group of female soul singers in the 1960s. Hudson competed against more than 700 professional actresses and singers. Season three American Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino was among the crowd. Miraculously, Hudson won the role and it was only a matter of time before she was America's newest superstar.
After making it to the final twelve contestants, her dream ended when she was shockingly voted off. A year and a half later, Hudson was dealt a second chance when offered the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls. Since then, Jennifer Hudson's dream has become reality. From American Idol losing contestant to a Golden Globe winning Oscar nominee, Jennifer Hudson's success is the ultimate story of an underdog rising above and beyond all the rest.
In 2004, Hudson became one of the twelve finalists on the third season of American Idol. A few weeks later she was the sixth contestant to be voted off. Her loss on the show came as a shock to everyone in the audience to Simon Cowell to the legendary, Elton John.
Hudson was voted off a week after her remarkable performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life," which showcased Hudson's talent more so than any previous performance on the show. For the first time, Simon Cowell, who had not liked Hudson from the moment she auditioned, said she finally proved why she was there. Elton John, the guest host of the night, gave Hudson a rave review and deemed her an outstanding performer destined to make it big.
The week Hudson was voted off American Idol she was joined in the bottom three with two other African American women on the show. This created controversy and convinced some, including Elton John, that the vote was racist. Others believed Hudson had lost because of a power outage in her hometown the night of the voting. Today the reason does not seem to matter too much to Hudson, who has far surpassed her Idol experience.
In November 2005, Hudson was invited to audition for the role of Effie White in the film adaptation of the `80s Broadway production of Dreamgirls. The story, which is lightly based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, tells about the rise and falls of a group of female soul singers in the 1960s. Hudson competed against more than 700 professional actresses and singers. Season three American Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino was among the crowd. Miraculously, Hudson won the role and it was only a matter of time before she was America's newest superstar.