Cinderella lives! An inspiration to millions, pop diva-turned-actress Jennifer Hudson proved that the most gifted and determined young talents can bounce back and land squarely at the pinnacle of success. Circa 2004, Hudson auditioned for the third season of American Idol, made the cut and quickly moved to the semifinalist round, where she was then unceremoniously eliminated from the running. Randy Jackson brought Hudson back in the “wildcard” round, but Hudson was soon again booted off of the series despite the fact that her ability clearly outflanked those of her competitors. That decision infuriated millions. Regardless, Hudson quickly overcame her disappointment. In 2005, Hudson auditioned for the lead role of Effi “Melody” White, in the film musical Dreamgirls, an adaptation of the award-winning Broadway hit. A media blitz surrounded Hudson’s triumph in the role. The buzz began to become reality, starting with a win for Best Supporting Actress at that year’s Golden Globes awards. The Cinderella story materialized in full on Oscar night when she captured the Best Supporting Actress trophy. The press helped Hudson land a record deal with J Records, which released her premiere album in January 2007. Her acting career continued with The Secret Life of Bees, and that same year, she joined the cast of Sex In the City for their big-screen debut. In 2011, she starred in a biopic of Winnie Mandela and tried her hand at comedy with the 2012 farce The Three Stooges. She released JHUD in 2014. Jennifer Hudson continues to pack ’em in all over the world.
