Jennifer Hudson
Singer • Actress
Birth Name: Jennifer Kate Hudson
Birth Date: September 12, 1981
Age: 43 years old
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois
Partners: Common, David Otunga
With one of the most impressive voices to come along in a generation, Jennifer Hudson seemed destined for fame from the first time she appeared in front of a national audience on "American Idol" (Fox, 2001-2016/ABC 2018- ). Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1981, Hudson first began singing in her church choir. By high school, she was earning extra money singing at weddings and funerals.
She had signed her first recording contract with Chicago-based independent label Righteous Records when, in 2004, she landed a spot competing on "American Idol." Righteous Records released from her obligation so that she could appear on the show, and Hudson captured viewers' hearts with her genuineness and talent. She finished as a finalist in seventh place, and proceeded directly from the reality show to an A-list project, playing Effie alongside Beyonce Knowles in the big screen adaptation of the musical "Dreamgirls" (2006).
Hudson's acting blew audiences away just as much as her earth-shaking vocal performance of the signature song "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." The celebrated performance paved the way for Hudson's self-titled debut album in 2008, which she quickly followed with an appearance in "The Secret Life of Bees" (2008). Hudson also gave birth to a son with partner David Otunga in 2008, shortly before suffering a devastating loss when her mother, brother, and nephew were shot and killed by the estranged husband of her sister.
Hudson took a step back from the spotlight, returning in 2011 with her sophomore album I Remember Me. Hudson continued to act, appearing in the coming of age film "The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete" (2013) and released another album, JHUD in 2014.
In 2015 she made her Broadway debut, playing Shug Avery in an acclaimed revival of "The Color Purple." Hudson played Motormouth Maybelle in NBC's "Hairspray Live!" (NBC, 2016), memorably performing the song "I Know Where I've Been." The following year, she became a judge on "The Voice UK" (BBC, 2012-) and proved so popular, she joined the judges' panel on the American version of the show later that same year.
In 2019, Hudson joined the cast of the film adaptation of the musical "Cats" (2019) playing Grizabella.
Credits
Christmas With Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special
Music Performer
Show
2024
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays
Music Performer
Show
2024
92nd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center
Music Performer
Show
2024
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Music Performer
Special
2024
American Music Awards
Music Performer
Awards
2024
BreatheStream
Actor
Maya
Movie
2024
Diane Warren: Relentless
Self
Movie
2024
Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards
Music Performer
Show
2023
Elmo's Holiday Spectacular: The Nutcracker and Other Tales
Self
Show
2023
Sherri
Guest
Talk
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Host
Talk
2022
Tell It Like a Woman
Actor
Kim Carter / Pepcy
Movie
2022
The 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Music Performer
Show
2021
The 55th Annual CMA Awards
Music Performer
Show
2021
CBS Mornings
Guest
News
2021
Oprah and Jennifer Hudson
Guest
Show
2021
Jennifer Hudson: Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)
Music Performer
Show
2021
Hits!: Holiday Pop
Music Performer
Show
2021
Holiday Hits
Music Performer
Show
2021
RespectStream
Actor
Aretha Franklin
Movie
2021
RespectStream
Executive Producer
Movie
2021
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas SpecialStream
Guest
Series
2020
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
Guest
Show
2020
John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero
Music Performer
Show
2020
The BET Awards 2020
Music Performer
Show
2020
Global Goal: Unite for Our Future -- The Concert
Music Performer
Show
2020
The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II
Music Performer
Show
2020
Mariah Carey Feat. Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson: Oh Santa!
Music Performer
Show
2019
Global Citizen Prize Show
Music Performer
Show
2019
Global Citizen Prize
Music Performer
Special
2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2019
Today With Hoda & Jenna
Guest
Show
2019
Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
Music Performer
Special
2019
Today's Holidays Hits
Music Performer
Show
2019
CatsStream
Actor
Grizabella
Movie
2019
Q 85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
Guest
Show
2018
Today 3rd Hour
Guest
Show
2018
Iggy's Return
Music Performer
Show
2018
All Rise
Actor
Mrs. Harmon
Movie
2018
Access
Guest
Show
2017
A Very Pentatonix Christmas
Music Performer
Special
2017
The Sunday Project
Guest
Show
2017
The Breakfast Couch
Guest
Show
2017
British Politics and What We've Learned After the 2017 General Election
Actor
Show
2017
Live with Kelly and Ryan
Guest
Talk
2017
Jennifer Hudson: Remember Me
Music Performer
Show
2017
Pentatonix Feat. Jennifer Hudson: How Great Thou Art (From A Very Pentatonix Christmas)
Music Performer
Show
2017
Pentatonix Feat. Jennifer Hudson: How Great Thou Art
Music Performer
Show
2017
Jennifer Hudson: Burden Down
Music Performer
Show
2017
Sounds of the Season Live
Music Performer
Show
2017
Sandy WexlerStream
Actor
Courtney Clarke
Movie
2017
Hairspray Live!
Actor
Motormouth Maybelle
Show
2016
Beat BugsStream
Music Performer
Series
2016
ConfirmationStream
Actor
Angela Wright
Movie
2016
SingStream
Voice
Young Nana
Movie
2016
Hairspray Live!Stream
Actor
Motormouth Maybelle
Movie
2016
The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream
Guest
Talk
2015
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Guest
Talk
2015
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Music Performer
Talk
2015
Red Nose Day
Guest
Show
2015
Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson Goes #ShortHairDontCare on Style Files
Music Performer
Show
2015
The Late Late Show With James Corden
Guest
Talk
2015
The Oscars
Music Performer
Show
2015
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life -- An All-Star Grammy Salute
Music Performer
Show
2015
BET Honors 2015: Extras
Actor
Show
2015
EmpireStream
Guest Star
Series
2015
Tyrese feat. Jennifer Hudson: Shame
Music Performer
Show
2015
Chi-Raq
Actor
Irene
Movie
2015
The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Music Performer
Show
2014
A Home for the Holidays
Music Performer
Show
2014
Happy Holidays America
Guest
Show
2014
The Concert for Valor
Actor
Show
2014
Gorgon City Feat. Jennifer Hudson: Go All Night
Music Performer
Show
2014
Fashion Rocks
Music Performer
Show
2014
Stand Up to Cancer
Music Performer
Show
2014
The 68th Annual Tony Awards
Music Performer
Show
2014
BET Honors 2014: Extras
Actor
Show
2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
Guest
Talk
2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
Music Performer
Talk
2014
BET Honors 2014
Actor
Show
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
Music Performer
Talk
2014
Iggy Azalea Feat. Jennifer Hudson: Trouble
Music Performer
Show
2014
Jennifer Hudson: I Still Love You
Music Performer
Show
2014
Jennifer Hudson Feat. Timbaland: Walk It Out
Music Performer
Show
2014
Jennifer Hudson Feat. T.I.: I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel) (Lyric Video)
Music Performer
Show
2014
Jennifer Hudson Feat. T.I.: I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)
Music Performer
Show
2014
Lullaby
Actor
Movie
2014
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2014
Music Performer
Show
2013
Happy Holidays America 2013
Guest
Show
2013
The Queen Latifah Show
Guest
Talk
2013
2013 MTV Video Music Awards: Extras
Actor
Show
2013
The Real
Guest
Talk
2013
The Oscars
Music Performer
Show
2013
The Grammys Will Go On: A Death in the Family
Guest
Show
2013
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and PeteStream
Actor
Gloria
Movie
2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Actor
Maggie
Movie
2013
Black NativityStream
Actor
Naima
Movie
2013
Nobels fredspriskonsert 2012
Music Performer
Show
2012
Nobel 2012
Music Performer
Show
2012
We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston
Music Performer
Show
2012
From Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts
Music Performer
Show
2012
Steve Harvey
Guest
Talk
2012
Live! With Kelly and Michael
Guest
Talk
2012
Entertainment Studios.TV
Guest
Show
2012
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Music Performer
Show
2012
The Voice
Guest
Show
2012
The Voice UK
Judge
Show
2012
The 43rd NAACP Image Awards
Music Performer
Show
2012
SmashStream
Guest Star
Series
2012
NFL Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
Music Performer
Show
2012
CBS This Morning
Guest
Show
2012
Ne-Yo & Jennifer Hudson: Think Like a Man
Music Performer
Show
2012
Jennifer Hudson & Ne-Yo Feat. Rick Ross: Think Like a Man
Music Performer
Show
2012
The Three Stooges
Actor
Sister Rosemary
Movie
2012
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
Music Performer
Show
2011
LIVE with Kelly
Guest
Talk
2011
The Jonathan Ross ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2011
Dish NationStream
Guest
Talk
2011
Brooks & Dunn: The Last Rodeo
Music Performer
Show
2011
The VoiceStream
Judge
Reality
2011
The VoiceStream
Music Performer
Reality
2011
The VoiceStream
Self
Reality
2011
The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Music Performer
Show
2011
The Gayle King Show
Guest
Show
2011
Jennifer Hudson: No One Gonna Love You
Music Performer
Show
2011
Jennifer Hudson: Where You At
Music Performer
Show
2011
Winnie
Actor
Winnie Mandela
Movie
2011
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2011
Music Performer
Show
2010
Tina Fey: The Mark Twain Prize
Music Performer
Show
2010
The Talk
Guest
Talk
2010
Access Hollywood Live
Guest
Show
2010
Lorraine
Guest
Show
2010
ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn -- The Last Rodeo
Music Performer
Show
2010
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards
Music Performer
Show
2010
Jennifer Hudson: I Will Always Love You (As performed at the 2010 BET Honors)
Music Performer
Show
2010
Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Host
Show
2009
ES.TV
Guest
Show
2009
ES.TV
Music Performer
Show
2009
The Dr. Oz Show
Guest
Talk
2009
The Project
Guest
Show
2009
Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream
Guest
Talk
2009
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Guest Star
Show
2009
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Music Performer
Talk
2009
The 40th NAACP Image Awards
Music Performer
Show
2009
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards
Music Performer
Show
2009
An Evening of Stars Tribute to Patti LaBelle
Music Performer
Show
2009
Jennifer Hudson: If This Isn't Love
Music Performer
Show
2009
The Wendy Williams Show
Guest
Talk
2008
Jennifer Hudson: Spotlight
Music Performer
Show
2008
Sex and the CityStream
Actor
Louise
Movie
2008
The Secret Life of BeesStream
Actor
Rosaleen
Movie
2008
Winged Creatures
Actor
Kathy Hammet
Movie
2008
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
Actor
Show
2007
Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda
Guest
Show
2007
Chelsea Lately
Actor
Talk
2007
Chelsea Lately
Guest
Talk
2007
The Graham Norton ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2007
The Graham Norton ShowStream
Music Performer
Talk
2007
Jennifer Hudson: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
Music Performer
Show
2007
Our World With Black Enterprise
Guest
Show
2006
Rachael Ray Show
Guest
Talk
2006
The One Show
Guest
Show
2006
America's Got TalentStream
Music Performer
Reality
2006
etalk
Guest
Show
2006
DreamgirlsStream
Actor
Effie White
Movie
2006
Entertainment Tonight Canada
Guest
Show
2005
Dancing With the StarsStream
Music Performer
Reality
2005
Out There with Melissa DiMarco
Guest
Show
2005
Project RunwayStream
Guest
Reality
2004
Extreme Makeover: Home EditionStream
Guest
Reality
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Guest
Talk
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Music Performer
Talk
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Guest
Talk
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Music Performer
Talk
2003
American Idol
Music Performer
Reality
2003
Loose Women
Self
Show
2002
Live With Regis and Kelly
Guest
Show
2001
Live With Regis and Kelly
Music Performer
Show
2001
Entertainment Studios.com
Guest
Show
2000
Entertainment Studios.com
Music Performer
Show
2000
The Early Show
Guest
Show
1999
In Performance at The White House
Music Performer
Special
1998
Kickin' It: With Byron Allen
Guest
Show
1998
The View
Guest
Talk
1997
The View
Music Performer
Talk
1997
Theater Talk
Guest
Show
1996
Access Hollywood
Guest
News
1996
Access Hollywood
Music Performer
News
1996
Entertainers: With Byron Allen
Guest
Show
1994
Extra
Guest
News
1994
Late Show With David Letterman
Music Performer
Talk
1993
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Guest
Talk
1992
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Music Performer
Talk
1992
Dateline NBCStream
Guest
Series
1992
E! News
Actor
News
1991
The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream
Guest
Talk
1986
The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream
Music Performer
Talk
1986
Entertainment Tonight
Guest
News
1981
CBS News Sunday Morning
Guest
News
1979
20/20Stream
Guest
News
1978
Good Morning America
Guest
News
1975
Good Morning America
Music Performer
News
1975
Today
Guest
News
1952
Today
Music Performer
News
1952
Photos
News aboutJennifer Hudson
The Best ‘Voice’ Coaches Ever, Ranked
Big Red LOVE! Get to Know ‘The Voice’ Coaches & Their Real-Life Romances
Michelle Obama Shares Holiday Traditions & How Barack Is ‘Really Hard To Shop For’
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to Watch, New Floats, Who’s Performing & More!
‘Property Brothers’ Star Drew Scott Reveals Sweet Secret About Baby Daughter Piper
‘The Voice’: Sting & Jennifer Hudson Join as Season 26 Mega Mentors
See Halloween Costumes From Hoda Kotb & Jenna Bush Hager, Reba McEntire & Rex Linn & More (PHOTOS)
Jennifer Hudson Teams Up With Hallmark Channel For Christmas Song ‘Let There Be Joy’
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Announces Guests for Season 3: Angela Bassett, Rob Lowe & More
Sherri Shepherd Opens Up About Flirting With Her Talk Show Guests: ‘Come Play With Me On My Couch’
‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Star Lisa Rinna Addresses Whether She’ll Return to Show
Debra Byrd, ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Voice’ Vocal Coach, Dies at 72
Will ‘Jeopardy!,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ & ‘The View’ Be Forced Off Air by Writers’ Strike?
‘Jennifer Hudson Show’ & ‘The Talk’ to Return Amid Writers & Actors Strikes
Mayim Bialik Learned of Leslie Jordan’s Death While on Set for ‘Call Me Kat’
9 Biggest Success Stories From ‘American Idol’
Best Super Bowl National Anthems of All Time, Ranked (VIDEO)
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ & Sherri Shepherd’s ‘Sherri’ Renewed
Jennifer Hudson’s First Talk Show Guest Will Be Simon Cowell, 18 Years After ‘Idol’
Fall Preview
Jennifer Hudson on Her Hosting Style & How Much Singing to Expect in Talk Show
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Sets Fall Premiere Date
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Coming to Daytime in Fall 2022 From ‘Ellen’ Team
Remembering the Record-Breaking 2012 Grammy Awards
Jennifer Hudson Working on Daytime Talk Show With ‘Ellen’ Team
10 of the Most Unforgettable Grammy Moments, From Pink Taking Flight to Kesha’s Comeback (VIDEO)
Review
Roush Review: ‘The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song’ Is a Joyful Noise
Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson & More Join ‘The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II’
15 Amazing ‘American Idol’ Auditions Over the Years (VIDEO)
Mariah Carey Joins ‘The Voice’ & 4 More Great Moments From Knockouts
Exclusive
First Look: Jennifer Hudson and Other Guests Stop by to Celebrate ‘A Very Pentatonix Christmas’
Exclusive
Is It Lucky Season 13 for ‘The Voice’? (VIDEO)
‘Hairspray Live!’: What Can We Expect? (PHOTOS)
‘Hairspray Live!’: On the Set of the TV Version of John Waters’s Hit Musical
‘Hairspray Live!’ First-Look Promo Unveiled During Olympics
TV’s Biggest Stars Strike a Pose at TCA (PHOTOS)
Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein to Headline NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live!’
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services