March 17, 2022 • 33 mins
R&B superstar Jennifer Hudson displays natural, raw talent in both music and acting. After her auditions for American Idol in 2004, Jennifer became the local celebrity for Chicago. Her vocal prowess landed her a starring role in the film, “Dreamgirls”, where her performance earned her over 30 awards, including a Golden Globe. But the singer was just getting started — she got signed, found love, and starred in two films, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Sex and the City,” while recording her first album. However, Jennifer faced tremendous loss in 2008 when her mother, brother, and nephew were murdered. She processed her grief through music, releasing the hit song, “You Pulled Me Through”, which spoke to her emotions and how her family inspired her. Although Jennifer endured dark times, she emerged with strength and resolve through the support of her family and friends. Jennifer continues to see success, from singing for Obama to adding her name to the Hollywood Walk of Fame; there is no doubt that Jennifer has dynamic talent across the board. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
She's one of the world's most dynamic superstars, whose powerful
voice launched her improbable rise to fame. Jennifer Hudson first
made her mark as an American idol, then turned a
stunning defeat into Oscar winning glory. Her fairy tale reached
its peak when she found true love. But just when
(00:24):
she had it all, Jennifer lost everything. Rocked with grief,
she found strength through the healing power of music, but
her greatest comfort came from a precious gift of her own. Now,
for the first time, Jennifer opens up about surviving her
devastating nightmare. Behind the triumph, behind the tragedy. This is
(00:50):
the story of Jennifer Hudson, behind the music party. It's
a busy afternoon for Jennifer Hudson. Everything is all over
the place right now, because one day it's a photo shoot,
(01:12):
and then the evening we're in the studio, and then
the next dame and in my dialect coaching. So I'm
I'm all over the place. But today is funny because
I love did I say, I love taken picture, I
love taking year Heard the Low. The Grammy and Oscar
winning superstar enjoys showing off her sleek new look while
also showing off the biggest superstar in her life, son
(01:34):
David Jr. What is this one of these picture picture?
I got to kill this little baby in the har
got to cull this little faith for wow world. I'm
still getting adjusted to being a moment well, just balancing
out everything like the career, being at home part, the
(01:56):
mom part, which is of course the biggest job of
it all because it never stops. Its four seven you,
claud He makes me feel like the most special person are.
I want him to get the same love and the
same upbringing it's my mother gave us, and I'm sure
that way he'll be loved. Jennifer's love of family began
(02:17):
on the South Side of Chicago, where she was born
on September Twelfe, the youngest of three. Jennifer, her sister Julia,
and brother Jason were raised in a loving environment by
their single mother, Darnell. I remember when my mom used
to sit and bounce me on her knee, or I
used to. It's a lot to put me to sleep.
(02:39):
She has to scratch me. She has so much patience.
She's the singer songs. She's to sing the temptations, good
have been anything. Let's want to active the way you
do the things you do. But the real singer in
the family was Jennifer's grandmother, who blew away the congregation
every Sunday at church. I remember here my grandmother sm
(03:01):
to the house and her house shoes and her house gown,
any kitchen, singing hymns. When Jennifer sings, I can hear
a little bit of that voice in Jennifer's voice. As
a seven year old, Jennifer joined her grandmother in the
gospel choir, and by the time she was a teenager,
she was expected to take center stage. I wanted to
(03:24):
sing a solong, but when it came time to get
up on the stage to sing it, I was like,
I wanted to do the smith If I don't want
to sing, Oh my god, I'm so nervous. And then
that's the last thing I remember before I sang. Once
I finished singing, everybody was standing the pony feet clapping,
and I'm like, wow, music was it for me? That's
all Jennifer wants to do was sing and be famous.
(03:48):
By the time Jennifer enrolled at Dunbar High School, she
would sing everywhere and anywhere in her childhood friend Walter Williams,
helped her make a name for herself around town. I
fell in love with her voice, and so I was
so passionate about Jennifer, and I just wanted the whole
world to see what I saw on her. He started
(04:10):
quote unquote managing her. He would pay for her hair,
by her outfits and said he with a makeup artist
and just take her around to perform at different local
events here in Chicago. But I just kept pushing her
because I knew that I was investing on something that
was great. Thanks to Walter's tireless efforts, Jennifer sang in
(04:32):
talent shows, weddings, anywhere. To get exposure. We'll go to
the gay clubs like they would have dreg queens singing,
lip singing, and they would make toop money. Well, I'm
a real girl, and I really say so. I would
go in and make all the money because I'm singing
for real. It was very weird and scary because she
had never been to a gay club, but she got
(04:54):
in there and did her things. And then of course
she wanted because she had raw talent and didn't two
thousand three, That raw talent helped land twenty one year
old Jennifer her highest paying gig yet as a chorus
girl on a Disney Wonder cruise. After a year at sea,
she was ready for an even bigger challenge. In the
(05:15):
winter of two thousand four, Jennifer traveled to Atlanta, where
the mother of all talent shows, American Idol, was holding
an open casting call. I remember the day that she auditioned.
My thing about Jennifer the first time I saw her,
and this is what I look for all the time.
She just had natural, God given raw talent. It's out
(05:39):
like a blurt. It was surreal. It was like I
was outside of myself. In two thousand four, Jennifer Hudson
was a little known singer from the South Side of Chicago,
but now she faced the ultimate challenge as one of
the twelve finalists on American Idol, the most watch TV
show in the nation. I fell been in the bubble
(06:01):
because you're going to show and you really don't get
to go outside of the idle world. To me, that
was the toughest part. But where I come from, as
my grandma would say, staying flat foot and saying and
just saying to the top of your LUNs all of
us felt as though we could win. But I think
every contestant knew in our hearts that with Jennifer, we're
(06:25):
looking at a star. Each week, the idle contestants gave
it everything they had, knowing the nationwide vote would send
one of them home. As Jennifer survived each round, her
family cheered from the front row. You know, I remember
she had the most loving family. Everybody was there. Everybody
(06:48):
was so supportive and they were really sweet. We all
took weeks and we went down to l A and
we just wanted her to know and to understand that
she has the support, and we always wanted her to
have a little bit of home. Meanwhile, back in Chicago,
Jennifer was becoming a hometown hero. Jennifer was a local celebrity.
The moment that she got on American Idol, there were
(07:10):
news articles about the school that she graduated from. There
were churches that had huge gatherings on Tuesday night and
they would watch American Idol and then they will rush
home in order to vote for her. Chicago seriously supported
Jennifer during those times. Oh my god, my mother had
me going to the Renaiscena to get a rent a
(07:31):
big screen TV. I mean it was so crazy. We
had the T shirts and we had so much fun.
Jennifer also became a fan favorite across America. Audiences loved
her singing and the judges loved her sass, if not
(07:51):
her style. Hearn Simon had this thing going on about
these fits. She could always laugh at it with us
laughing at her, laughing at herself. But she was just
starting to get into the zone and figure out who
she was. With the competition down to seven finalists, Jennifer
saying the Barry Manilow Classic Weekend in New England her
(08:13):
most impressive performance yet. On a weekend in New England.
I was able to show who I was as a vocalist,
as an artistan. That's all I could ask for and
for it to be received so well and it's like, Okay,
this is what I'm used to. That was the one
week that we went into the elimination and not worrying
as to whether or not Jennifer was eight. Unbelievably, Jennifer
(08:37):
was voted off the show. Her dream of becoming the
next American Idol was over. We were all shocked vocally
talent wise, I mean, she was one of the best
in the whole season. Sometimes the public doesn't get it
right away, you know what I mean. But Jennifer's elimination
wasn't without controversy. Residents and parts of Illinois are cleaning
(08:57):
up today from devastating spring storms and tornadoes. There were
I think three tornadoes that whipped through the Chicagolan area
and knocked down power lines and telephone lines. Clearly the
main base of her support simply couldn't get through that day.
Nobody was able to vote. None of my family, nobody.
My mom's like, I didn't want you to worry about it,
but we couldn't vote. And to me, I was like, well,
(09:18):
God's voke. You know, hey, what can you do about that?
We called her, and Jennifer, are you okay? She's like,
I'm fine, Are you all okay? And we're like. Jennifer
reacted calmly to the disappointment. At twenty two, she'd made
(09:40):
a name for herself on America's biggest TV show, and
that would have to be enough for now. I just
knew I was going somewhere and I had the same
my way to it, and I couldn't give up coming
up a dream girl takes Hollywood by storm when Behind
the Music continues. In the spring of two thousand four,
(10:14):
twenty two year old Jennifer Hudson was on the fast
track to winning American Idol, only to see her dream derailed.
Being on the Idol it was like a roller coaster,
so it's like you don't even know what was about
to hit it. When once she got eliminated, everyone is
telling her, you're gonna get a record deal, don't worry
about it. Jennifer stayed visible on the American Idol summer tour,
(10:38):
but her brush with fame appeared short lived. Soon enough,
she was back in Chicago on the local circuit, playing
corporate events, just another singer hoping to make it. After
the tour and she came home, the cock tex did
not start coming. Nothing happened, and we couldn't figure out
why is it no one calling. It's like you're stuck
(11:00):
in between the worlds after coming off a reality show,
because the world where you came from season was this
huge start now and they expect you to be doing
to take big things, and then the world that you
should be and I want to be in is like
you haven't gotten there yet. I'm sorry. She was like,
(11:21):
you know, well, if nothing happens, I'm just gonna take
my money and go into real estate. And I looked
at her, I'm like now. After a year of paying
her dues, in the fall of two thousand five, Jennifer's
exposure on idol finally paid off. A film adaptation of
(11:42):
the musical dream Girls was starting production, and she was
called to audition for the part of Ettie White along
with seven other women. Imagine that it would be some
stiff competition, you know, like, no, I got this card.
I don't even care if they go off and cast
somebody else. They still don't have to come back into
(12:02):
the card to me. After multiple callbacks over a grueling
eight months stretch, Jennifer finally received word from dream Girls
director Bill Condon terms I'm just called and tell you
you are f you White, And I was like, I didn't,
I didn't, I didn't didn't even tell me I made it.
And I remember being all my knees just like praising
got like every milestone in Jennifer's life. This was a
(12:27):
victory not just for her, but for the entire Hudson family.
The first thing you do is like, Okay, who do
I call? Who do I share this? Who? You know?
Mom is first? So I called her. Of course she
went from through the house set of my sister, of
my brother, and just everybody was so exciting. It was overwhelming,
you know, almost, Oh my god, we just don't believe it.
(12:50):
Jennifer finally had her big break, joining a high powered
cast that included Eddie Murphy, Beyonce, and Jamie Fox. If
one went, didn't I already hit my mind set that
from my experience on Idol, I would never let anyone
else intimidate me. But oh Lord help me for some woman. Jamie.
He walks on the set and they just like action, Okay, kiss,
(13:13):
And I'm like, huh, I really didn't know much about
this girl. Like I knew she had been on an
American Idol, but I mean this is her first go
at it in a big movie. This is new to me.
I'm not confidable with that. Hi, Jamie, can we meet?
I mean it was just instant walk on the set. Kiss.
It was a nice kiss. And you know I've had
(13:35):
you know, some I've kissed a few people in my life.
Jennifer was a natural on camera. In her crowning moment,
came when she performed the film's most pivotal song, and
I'm telling you, I'm not going Oh goodness. I remember
shooting that scene and then I'm telling you and it
(13:55):
was extremely emotional. Anything I felt, I just put it
into that moment. I'm singing right here, right now. If
there was any questions about Kenne's girl handle this song
gone within the first line and tears in my eyes
watching people would just come to just hear this girl,
(14:17):
uh sing the song over and over. Released in December
of two thousand six, Dream Girls was a huge hit.
Critics and audiences alike were blown away by Jennifer's performance.
Once this film came out, everybody was talking about Jennifer Hudson.
All this for my sister. You know this was It
(14:37):
was like unreal. Jennifer took home over thirty awards for
her role, including the prestigious Golden Globe. Jennifer Hodson I
have always dreamed, but never ever this big, and only
the Oscars remained nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Jennifer's wild
(15:04):
ride reached a dizzy and climax in February. You Have
two thousand seven. I remember sitting there Bill Kendon asked,
and we'll go with me and if I do it,
they said, my NEI so us. And then I was like,
get up because did nobody hear that? But you okay?
And then all of a sudden, everybody's looking at me,
and I'm like, well maybe they think the same by that,
(15:26):
but be like, get up, hurt you about to get up?
I'm still in shock, like and I really just win.
I didn't like. I said, you never know and you
can never be too sure. And it was a surprise
that it still is. It's gonna take a while to
get used to this. Just two years after being voted
off American Idol, Jennifer Hudson was now an Academy Award
(15:47):
winning actress. To be nominated for Everything on the Planet
and win it and pretty much your first movie blew
a lot of people away that hesitate sweep to be
heard like this. I know that on the inside, she said,
My god, him, oh this is little look at look
at what's happening. And I think that's what great stories
are about, when the underdog really gets a chance to
(16:11):
to win. In three short years, Jennifer Hudson had gone
from American Idol defeat to Oscar, winning glory at age
twenty six. She began two thousand and eight as Hollywood's
unlikely hit girl. Are you getting flooded? Oh yes? Oh
my god, I get like I can't even keep up,
(16:32):
and like, okay, all right, maybe not this one. What
about this one? It was such a whirlwind that just
would not slow down. I haven't even had a chance
to stop and say, Coloma, where am I? Women? What's
going on? Every since I got the call for Drick Girls.
It's like a rocket that just shot off, and it's
been going every since the success of dream Girls open
(16:55):
the floodgates opportunistic record labels who had once shown little inch,
we're now knocking on Jennifer's door. Clive Davis, the legendary
recording industry mogul, was one of those who had initially passed.
Although I felt that Jennifer was wrongfully eliminated when she
was on American Idol, I did not express any interest
(17:18):
in signing Jennifer. It was really when I got to
take of her audition for dream Girl that I saw
a depth of talent, that I saw that special ingredient
that says this is a major new star in the
making Clive quickly signed Jennifer, and in June of two
thousand and eight, she went into the studio, fulfilling a
(17:42):
lifelong dream. I always said my voice is like a
treat with many grists. I needed to prove that no,
I'm not just a big bald singer. I can do
radio music. I can give you a dance shag just
the same. Helping guide her through the process was R
and B superstar Neo, who produced and penned the album's
(18:02):
hit single, Spotlight. The difficulty in her voice is taking
something so grand and regal and putting it in a
box this big, which is pop music. You know what
I mean. I think we did all right, if I
to say so of myself. She took her time with it.
She felt like her fans and the people that were
gonna be buying that record, we're gonna want to hear
(18:24):
something great. They expected something great, and she wanted to
give them something great. Jennifer's career was on fire. While
recording her album, she appeared in two of the year's
biggest films, Sex in the City and The Secret Life
of Bees. On the outside, Jennifer had it all, but
privately she wanted someone to share it with, and when
(18:46):
she was introduced to reality star David Otunga, she found
what she was looking for. I saw him on TV
and I was like, Wow, do anybody else see that?
I think that is the most people men I've ever
said am I. I actually didn't really followed her career
too much. I knew the name, I knew she was
an American idol, and I hate to admitness, but I
(19:06):
hadn't even seen dream Girls. Their chemistry was undeniable. Jennifer
and David were now an item few months in, so
I realized, plaint a minute, I got a girlfriend. Now,
how did this happen? I wasn't even looking for anybody.
With their romance in full bloom, David accompanied Jennifer to
the biggest event of the summer, the two thousand and
(19:26):
eight Democratic National Convention. She was excited about that, like,
oh my god, Obama wants me to same for him.
Can you believe Obama wants me to say for him?
I'm going to sing for Obama. I remember being on
the phone with my sister and they're like, you're nervous,
seeing you're nervous, and I'm like, no, I can't wait
to get out there and do it. I'm so excited.
I'm here to represent by Chicago. As with all the
(19:47):
big moments in her life, Jennifer shared this one with
her mother, Darnell. I remember sitting there and watching her
as with her mom and here, just like, this is
history being made right now, and you know Jennifer's are
part of it. Wow. Jennifer's self titled debut album was
released and immediately shot to number two on the R
and B charts. I remember going through the record store
(20:10):
just to see it on the show. Now my' is
a pitch of me, just like this is my first
album and it's finally here. This is the moment that
I've worked for and waited for my whole life. But
less than a month later, the unthinkable happened. On October eight,
(20:31):
a devastating tragedy would change Jennifer's life forever. I walked
in to my office, got a call and just like
held the phone was remember just being silent. The mother
and brother of Oscar winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson
were found murder in the family's home yesterday and tonight.
That tragedy is compounded by the growing mystery over what
(20:53):
happened to Hudson's seven year old nephew. Jennifer, who was
in Florida at the time, rushed back to Chicago. Even
as this tragic double murder settles in, the Hudson family
has no time to mourn, with that search intensifying for
Julian all I, I don't care who you are, just
(21:14):
let her baby think. It was strictly about being hopeful
and trying to to get Julian back home. We people
were constantly coming in and out and just trying to
figure out what this is about, who did it, what
does it mean? You know, there's so many unanswered questions.
At that time. Police have taken into custody Hudson's estranged
(21:37):
brother in law, William Balfour, who is currently being questioned
as a person of interest in this case. This morning.
There is speculation that these senseless murders may have taken
place over something as simple and mundane as an argument
over car payments. Three days later, the Hudson family received
(21:57):
the news they had been dreading. Oscar winning actress Jennifer
Hudson arrived at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office with
the grim task of identifying the body of her seven
year old nephew. We can confirm that the body located
inside the vehicle was the body of seven year old
Julian King. Jennifer's beloved mother, brother, and nephew were gone.
(22:20):
The nightmare had reached its horrific conclusion, but the pain
was just starting to sink in. Jennifer was absolutely in shock.
He never expect anything like that. So the reaction this shock, anger,
her frustration, all the emotions a normal person would feel,
she felt it. On October, Jennifer Hudson's world was shattered
(22:53):
by the tragic loss of her mother, Darnell, brother Jason,
and seven year old nephew Julian. The only thing left
was to say goodbye. Three d mourners attended a private
service in Jennifer's old South Side Chicago neighborhood. American idol
friend Fantasia sang a special gospel him. They meant so
(23:15):
much to the Hudson family. I remember everyone kind of
kept it together until Fantasia sang. Once Fantasia sang, it
became a lost cause for anyone who was prone to cry.
That's when the tears came. Because her song during the
funeral was so very emotional. The local community showed its
(23:37):
support by lining the streets with flowers, candles, and teddy bears.
Jennifer's celebrity friends also reached out, with everyone from Simon
Cowell to Barack Obama expressing their condolences the tragedy that
Jennifer Husson experienced. It was something so evil and foul.
I know, I wanted to try to find out who
(23:59):
we are. It wasn't did this terrible thing because Jennifer
Huston belonged to us? Now, how could somebody be that
evil to somebody so nice? It's out like a blur.
It was surreal, you know, it wasn't really. It was
like I was outside of myself. I pray when I
(24:20):
get up in the morning, and pray before I lay
down at night. If I didn't out to wake up
the pressed, they didn't go right for most two weeks
straight inside one room with just family and friends coming
in and out. I mean, because of course the press
was everywhere, and it was like where's Jennifer. Jennifer learned
(24:41):
the hard way what the kinds of celebrity are. It's
like everybody is right there in your business, and it's like,
this has nothing to do with my singing, This has
nothing to do with my acting. This is personal, this
is family. This is something that that I'm supposed to
be dealing with in privacy, but you can't because you're
Jennifer Hudson. Now coming up a precious new gift to
(25:02):
ease the pain when behind the music continues. I was
pretty much secluded from everything that was going on. I
didn't watch any TV. I didn't I want to even
know what was going on because I had more than
enough to deal with. I remember being asked to a
(25:23):
film around the same time, and I was like, I
have to get adjusted to who I am now, so
I can't be another character, be another character if I
don't know who I am. After two months in seclusion,
Jennifer took the first brave steps towards resuming her life,
(25:45):
and it was music that led the way. I can't
do this anymore. I don't sit still very well, and
I knew if I sit here and dwell on it,
it's gonna be harder. One of Jennifer's first public appearances
was at the Grammys in February of two thousand nine.
Her self titled solo album was nominated for three awards,
(26:06):
the Grammy for Best RMB Album both. It was just
so much build up to that night, and I'm just
like shaking. I'm so nervous, and she's not nervous at all.
She's trying to call me down. Jennifer Hutson. Making the
moment extra special was accepting the award from her idol
(26:26):
Whitney Houston. I didn't think anybody else was going to
kid about her. I know, I knew she was going
to win it. Absolutely one of the greatest voices of
our time. Oh my God, send me over them all
right there, receiving my first Grammy from when he used it.
I don't really think it was about the Grammy itself.
I just think it was more of a moment in
(26:47):
her life that she won't forget. That was a moment
I will never forget. I won't. I don't really know
what's First of all, I got women Houston listen to me,
and wow, I'm just in all now. I really cannot
put into words how special of a moment that wasn't me.
It was like, if there could be anything to lift
(27:08):
me up, that would be it. But the dramatic high
point of the evening was Jennifer's performance on stage. She
chose a little known track from her album that now
took on greater meaning. You pulled me through. I feel
like I've seen the highs of the high and the
lowest of those. So it made perfect sense me singing
(27:28):
this song. But when I recorded it, I just didn't
know what I was singing before. It had a purpose,
and that was its purpose. I said to her, you're
the storyteller, paint the picture. When she sung that, it transcends.
And it's this performance that just reaches straight through the television,
just grabs your heart. You know, it's just amazing. With
(27:53):
a heavy heart, Jennifer sang for her fallen family, I
could hear my brother in my head like of him,
you need to kill this, You need to get up
and do you. I knew he would be disappointed if
I didn't do it. Justice. God never gives you anything
that you can't handle. And again it's in a religious thing,
but you go like, wow, he's allowing her to handle
(28:15):
it tonight. He's allowing her to still have a sweet
taste in her mouth after all of these bitter things.
Towards the end, it was all right. I mean, because
I'm always emotional and I've had to work on that,
and my mom was it used to irritate herself, of Jenny,
why you always got to be crime when you get
up there the same what are you crying for? I
(28:37):
was definitely thinking of my family when I was singing
that song. Just twenty seven years old, Jennifer Hudson had
been through hell and back, but as two thousand nine
got underway, she had some good news to share. She
was expecting her first child and the joy of new
life with honor the memory of those who had been lost.
(29:01):
I think it was Mother's Day when I told my family,
which of course we needed some good news by then,
and everybody was so excited. It definitely makes it easier
once you've you know, lost life, to have this new
life after everything that had happened, and people were just
so happy, you know, there were tears everything. I initially
wanted the baby to be born on my nephew's birthday, Julian's,
(29:23):
which was August fourteen, since the due date was August twelve,
and I'm like, if I could hold out to the
four take and the doctors like I have never seen
somebody trying to stay pregnant as long as they can,
and I'm like, I just want to make it. I
just want to make it, but the baby had other plans.
On August tenth, two thousand nine, Jennifer and David welcome
David Daniel Otanga Jr. Into the world. I wanted to
(29:46):
fill the labor pains. Maybe I didn't even make it too.
I was like, I felt enough, do whatever you need
to do, get this baby out of me. I remember
just saying, oh my gosh, it's little David, Jennie's little David.
And he came out yelling and sc men and being everywhere,
and we're smiling, and it was the most amazing experience.
And there he was, my little mumskin. Let me go
(30:07):
back to working. Okay last night, man, Okay today. Jennifer
shares everything with her son and supports him, just as
her family always supported her. It's so many things to
honor and to be remembered, and in so many ways
(30:30):
to do that, like in the way my brother drives
me and my music. My son reminds me of my nephew,
and being a mother reminds me of my mom. In
so many ways, I channeled her because she's such a
great mom. Jennifer Hudson has endured the darkest of times
and has emerged with grace and resolve and inspiration to
(30:51):
her friends, fans, and family. Jennifer Hudson with all of
what she's gone through, the good, the great, the tragic,
no matter what happens, you can't take the town away
from I think that's a theme within our family. We
(31:13):
expect each other to be strong and you don't stop
when you hit a roll block. You find a way
to go around it or jump over it. I hear
it every day, like when we're traveling places. Oh, it's
because of you, and you know what you've been through
and to see how you persevered and still stay so strong.
(31:33):
My daughter looks up to you, your role model. I
feel like I've lied about at least three or four
different lives there. You would have your ups and your
downs and and everything is bit asleep across the board.
But I would not trade my career for nothing in
the world. I hope to still be around twenty years
(31:54):
from now. I want to be like, oh, this was
just a trend. No. I want my son, his innarrations
and the whole Jennifer Husson was From two thousand nine on.
Jennifer Hudson's worked tirelessly to advance herself as both an
actress and musician. Over the short span of three years,
(32:14):
Jennifer put out two critically acclaimed albums, I Remember Me
In and Jay hud In. Jay hud debuted at number
ten on the charts and featured It's Your World, which
was later nominated at the Grammys for Best R and
B Performance. Her vocal prowess was recognized in when given
the honor of performing for Obama at the President's Inaugural ball.
(32:39):
That very same year, Hudson earned herself a star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There seemed to be nothing
Jennifer Hudson couldn't do. She's acted in movies, TV shows, plays.
She even found time to coach the voice for multiple
seasons in both the US and UK. In Hudson had
the opportunity to play their lifelong idol, Aretha Franklin in
(33:02):
the biopic respect Despite her personal hardships, Jennifer Hudson has persevered.
Her talent across the board is evident as one of
the few artists of her generation to have both successful
acting and musical careers. Listen and subscribe to Behind the
(33:23):
Music on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Be sure to rate
and review Behind the Music on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
What more episodes You can watch remastered best of the
Vault and new episodes of Behind the Music only on
Paramount Plus
She's one of the world's most dynamic superstars, whose powerful
voice launched her improbable rise to fame. Jennifer Hudson first
made her mark as an American idol, then turned a
stunning defeat into Oscar winning glory. Her fairy tale reached
its peak when she found true love. But just when
(00:24):
she had it all, Jennifer lost everything. Rocked with grief,
she found strength through the healing power of music, but
her greatest comfort came from a precious gift of her own. Now,
for the first time, Jennifer opens up about surviving her
devastating nightmare. Behind the triumph, behind the tragedy. This is
(00:50):
the story of Jennifer Hudson, behind the music party. It's
a busy afternoon for Jennifer Hudson. Everything is all over
the place right now, because one day it's a photo shoot,
(01:12):
and then the evening we're in the studio, and then
the next dame and in my dialect coaching. So I'm
I'm all over the place. But today is funny because
I love did I say, I love taken picture, I
love taking year Heard the Low. The Grammy and Oscar
winning superstar enjoys showing off her sleek new look while
also showing off the biggest superstar in her life, son
(01:34):
David Jr. What is this one of these picture picture?
I got to kill this little baby in the har
got to cull this little faith for wow world. I'm
still getting adjusted to being a moment well, just balancing
out everything like the career, being at home part, the
(01:56):
mom part, which is of course the biggest job of
it all because it never stops. Its four seven you,
claud He makes me feel like the most special person are.
I want him to get the same love and the
same upbringing it's my mother gave us, and I'm sure
that way he'll be loved. Jennifer's love of family began
(02:17):
on the South Side of Chicago, where she was born
on September Twelfe, the youngest of three. Jennifer, her sister Julia,
and brother Jason were raised in a loving environment by
their single mother, Darnell. I remember when my mom used
to sit and bounce me on her knee, or I
used to. It's a lot to put me to sleep.
(02:39):
She has to scratch me. She has so much patience.
She's the singer songs. She's to sing the temptations, good
have been anything. Let's want to active the way you
do the things you do. But the real singer in
the family was Jennifer's grandmother, who blew away the congregation
every Sunday at church. I remember here my grandmother sm
(03:01):
to the house and her house shoes and her house gown,
any kitchen, singing hymns. When Jennifer sings, I can hear
a little bit of that voice in Jennifer's voice. As
a seven year old, Jennifer joined her grandmother in the
gospel choir, and by the time she was a teenager,
she was expected to take center stage. I wanted to
(03:24):
sing a solong, but when it came time to get
up on the stage to sing it, I was like,
I wanted to do the smith If I don't want
to sing, Oh my god, I'm so nervous. And then
that's the last thing I remember before I sang. Once
I finished singing, everybody was standing the pony feet clapping,
and I'm like, wow, music was it for me? That's
all Jennifer wants to do was sing and be famous.
(03:48):
By the time Jennifer enrolled at Dunbar High School, she
would sing everywhere and anywhere in her childhood friend Walter Williams,
helped her make a name for herself around town. I
fell in love with her voice, and so I was
so passionate about Jennifer, and I just wanted the whole
world to see what I saw on her. He started
(04:10):
quote unquote managing her. He would pay for her hair,
by her outfits and said he with a makeup artist
and just take her around to perform at different local
events here in Chicago. But I just kept pushing her
because I knew that I was investing on something that
was great. Thanks to Walter's tireless efforts, Jennifer sang in
(04:32):
talent shows, weddings, anywhere. To get exposure. We'll go to
the gay clubs like they would have dreg queens singing,
lip singing, and they would make toop money. Well, I'm
a real girl, and I really say so. I would
go in and make all the money because I'm singing
for real. It was very weird and scary because she
had never been to a gay club, but she got
(04:54):
in there and did her things. And then of course
she wanted because she had raw talent and didn't two
thousand three, That raw talent helped land twenty one year
old Jennifer her highest paying gig yet as a chorus
girl on a Disney Wonder cruise. After a year at sea,
she was ready for an even bigger challenge. In the
(05:15):
winter of two thousand four, Jennifer traveled to Atlanta, where
the mother of all talent shows, American Idol, was holding
an open casting call. I remember the day that she auditioned.
My thing about Jennifer the first time I saw her,
and this is what I look for all the time.
She just had natural, God given raw talent. It's out
(05:39):
like a blurt. It was surreal. It was like I
was outside of myself. In two thousand four, Jennifer Hudson
was a little known singer from the South Side of Chicago,
but now she faced the ultimate challenge as one of
the twelve finalists on American Idol, the most watch TV
show in the nation. I fell been in the bubble
(06:01):
because you're going to show and you really don't get
to go outside of the idle world. To me, that
was the toughest part. But where I come from, as
my grandma would say, staying flat foot and saying and
just saying to the top of your LUNs all of
us felt as though we could win. But I think
every contestant knew in our hearts that with Jennifer, we're
(06:25):
looking at a star. Each week, the idle contestants gave
it everything they had, knowing the nationwide vote would send
one of them home. As Jennifer survived each round, her
family cheered from the front row. You know, I remember
she had the most loving family. Everybody was there. Everybody
(06:48):
was so supportive and they were really sweet. We all
took weeks and we went down to l A and
we just wanted her to know and to understand that
she has the support, and we always wanted her to
have a little bit of home. Meanwhile, back in Chicago,
Jennifer was becoming a hometown hero. Jennifer was a local celebrity.
The moment that she got on American Idol, there were
(07:10):
news articles about the school that she graduated from. There
were churches that had huge gatherings on Tuesday night and
they would watch American Idol and then they will rush
home in order to vote for her. Chicago seriously supported
Jennifer during those times. Oh my god, my mother had
me going to the Renaiscena to get a rent a
(07:31):
big screen TV. I mean it was so crazy. We
had the T shirts and we had so much fun.
Jennifer also became a fan favorite across America. Audiences loved
her singing and the judges loved her sass, if not
(07:51):
her style. Hearn Simon had this thing going on about
these fits. She could always laugh at it with us
laughing at her, laughing at herself. But she was just
starting to get into the zone and figure out who
she was. With the competition down to seven finalists, Jennifer
saying the Barry Manilow Classic Weekend in New England her
(08:13):
most impressive performance yet. On a weekend in New England.
I was able to show who I was as a vocalist,
as an artistan. That's all I could ask for and
for it to be received so well and it's like, Okay,
this is what I'm used to. That was the one
week that we went into the elimination and not worrying
as to whether or not Jennifer was eight. Unbelievably, Jennifer
(08:37):
was voted off the show. Her dream of becoming the
next American Idol was over. We were all shocked vocally
talent wise, I mean, she was one of the best
in the whole season. Sometimes the public doesn't get it
right away, you know what I mean. But Jennifer's elimination
wasn't without controversy. Residents and parts of Illinois are cleaning
(08:57):
up today from devastating spring storms and tornadoes. There were
I think three tornadoes that whipped through the Chicagolan area
and knocked down power lines and telephone lines. Clearly the
main base of her support simply couldn't get through that day.
Nobody was able to vote. None of my family, nobody.
My mom's like, I didn't want you to worry about it,
but we couldn't vote. And to me, I was like, well,
(09:18):
God's voke. You know, hey, what can you do about that?
We called her, and Jennifer, are you okay? She's like,
I'm fine, Are you all okay? And we're like. Jennifer
reacted calmly to the disappointment. At twenty two, she'd made
(09:40):
a name for herself on America's biggest TV show, and
that would have to be enough for now. I just
knew I was going somewhere and I had the same
my way to it, and I couldn't give up coming
up a dream girl takes Hollywood by storm when Behind
the Music continues. In the spring of two thousand four,
(10:14):
twenty two year old Jennifer Hudson was on the fast
track to winning American Idol, only to see her dream derailed.
Being on the Idol it was like a roller coaster,
so it's like you don't even know what was about
to hit it. When once she got eliminated, everyone is
telling her, you're gonna get a record deal, don't worry
about it. Jennifer stayed visible on the American Idol summer tour,
(10:38):
but her brush with fame appeared short lived. Soon enough,
she was back in Chicago on the local circuit, playing
corporate events, just another singer hoping to make it. After
the tour and she came home, the cock tex did
not start coming. Nothing happened, and we couldn't figure out
why is it no one calling. It's like you're stuck
(11:00):
in between the worlds after coming off a reality show,
because the world where you came from season was this
huge start now and they expect you to be doing
to take big things, and then the world that you
should be and I want to be in is like
you haven't gotten there yet. I'm sorry. She was like,
(11:21):
you know, well, if nothing happens, I'm just gonna take
my money and go into real estate. And I looked
at her, I'm like now. After a year of paying
her dues, in the fall of two thousand five, Jennifer's
exposure on idol finally paid off. A film adaptation of
(11:42):
the musical dream Girls was starting production, and she was
called to audition for the part of Ettie White along
with seven other women. Imagine that it would be some
stiff competition, you know, like, no, I got this card.
I don't even care if they go off and cast
somebody else. They still don't have to come back into
(12:02):
the card to me. After multiple callbacks over a grueling
eight months stretch, Jennifer finally received word from dream Girls
director Bill Condon terms I'm just called and tell you
you are f you White, And I was like, I didn't,
I didn't, I didn't didn't even tell me I made it.
And I remember being all my knees just like praising
got like every milestone in Jennifer's life. This was a
(12:27):
victory not just for her, but for the entire Hudson family.
The first thing you do is like, Okay, who do
I call? Who do I share this? Who? You know?
Mom is first? So I called her. Of course she
went from through the house set of my sister, of
my brother, and just everybody was so exciting. It was overwhelming,
you know, almost, Oh my god, we just don't believe it.
(12:50):
Jennifer finally had her big break, joining a high powered
cast that included Eddie Murphy, Beyonce, and Jamie Fox. If
one went, didn't I already hit my mind set that
from my experience on Idol, I would never let anyone
else intimidate me. But oh Lord help me for some woman. Jamie.
He walks on the set and they just like action, Okay, kiss,
(13:13):
And I'm like, huh, I really didn't know much about
this girl. Like I knew she had been on an
American Idol, but I mean this is her first go
at it in a big movie. This is new to me.
I'm not confidable with that. Hi, Jamie, can we meet?
I mean it was just instant walk on the set. Kiss.
It was a nice kiss. And you know I've had
(13:35):
you know, some I've kissed a few people in my life.
Jennifer was a natural on camera. In her crowning moment,
came when she performed the film's most pivotal song, and
I'm telling you, I'm not going Oh goodness. I remember
shooting that scene and then I'm telling you and it
(13:55):
was extremely emotional. Anything I felt, I just put it
into that moment. I'm singing right here, right now. If
there was any questions about Kenne's girl handle this song
gone within the first line and tears in my eyes
watching people would just come to just hear this girl,
(14:17):
uh sing the song over and over. Released in December
of two thousand six, Dream Girls was a huge hit.
Critics and audiences alike were blown away by Jennifer's performance.
Once this film came out, everybody was talking about Jennifer Hudson.
All this for my sister. You know this was It
(14:37):
was like unreal. Jennifer took home over thirty awards for
her role, including the prestigious Golden Globe. Jennifer Hodson I
have always dreamed, but never ever this big, and only
the Oscars remained nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Jennifer's wild
(15:04):
ride reached a dizzy and climax in February. You Have
two thousand seven. I remember sitting there Bill Kendon asked,
and we'll go with me and if I do it,
they said, my NEI so us. And then I was like,
get up because did nobody hear that? But you okay?
And then all of a sudden, everybody's looking at me,
and I'm like, well maybe they think the same by that,
(15:26):
but be like, get up, hurt you about to get up?
I'm still in shock, like and I really just win.
I didn't like. I said, you never know and you
can never be too sure. And it was a surprise
that it still is. It's gonna take a while to
get used to this. Just two years after being voted
off American Idol, Jennifer Hudson was now an Academy Award
(15:47):
winning actress. To be nominated for Everything on the Planet
and win it and pretty much your first movie blew
a lot of people away that hesitate sweep to be
heard like this. I know that on the inside, she said,
My god, him, oh this is little look at look
at what's happening. And I think that's what great stories
are about, when the underdog really gets a chance to
(16:11):
to win. In three short years, Jennifer Hudson had gone
from American Idol defeat to Oscar, winning glory at age
twenty six. She began two thousand and eight as Hollywood's
unlikely hit girl. Are you getting flooded? Oh yes? Oh
my god, I get like I can't even keep up,
(16:32):
and like, okay, all right, maybe not this one. What
about this one? It was such a whirlwind that just
would not slow down. I haven't even had a chance
to stop and say, Coloma, where am I? Women? What's
going on? Every since I got the call for Drick Girls.
It's like a rocket that just shot off, and it's
been going every since the success of dream Girls open
(16:55):
the floodgates opportunistic record labels who had once shown little inch,
we're now knocking on Jennifer's door. Clive Davis, the legendary
recording industry mogul, was one of those who had initially passed.
Although I felt that Jennifer was wrongfully eliminated when she
was on American Idol, I did not express any interest
(17:18):
in signing Jennifer. It was really when I got to
take of her audition for dream Girl that I saw
a depth of talent, that I saw that special ingredient
that says this is a major new star in the
making Clive quickly signed Jennifer, and in June of two
thousand and eight, she went into the studio, fulfilling a
(17:42):
lifelong dream. I always said my voice is like a
treat with many grists. I needed to prove that no,
I'm not just a big bald singer. I can do
radio music. I can give you a dance shag just
the same. Helping guide her through the process was R
and B superstar Neo, who produced and penned the album's
(18:02):
hit single, Spotlight. The difficulty in her voice is taking
something so grand and regal and putting it in a
box this big, which is pop music. You know what
I mean. I think we did all right, if I
to say so of myself. She took her time with it.
She felt like her fans and the people that were
gonna be buying that record, we're gonna want to hear
(18:24):
something great. They expected something great, and she wanted to
give them something great. Jennifer's career was on fire. While
recording her album, she appeared in two of the year's
biggest films, Sex in the City and The Secret Life
of Bees. On the outside, Jennifer had it all, but
privately she wanted someone to share it with, and when
(18:46):
she was introduced to reality star David Otunga, she found
what she was looking for. I saw him on TV
and I was like, Wow, do anybody else see that?
I think that is the most people men I've ever
said am I. I actually didn't really followed her career
too much. I knew the name, I knew she was
an American idol, and I hate to admitness, but I
(19:06):
hadn't even seen dream Girls. Their chemistry was undeniable. Jennifer
and David were now an item few months in, so
I realized, plaint a minute, I got a girlfriend. Now,
how did this happen? I wasn't even looking for anybody.
With their romance in full bloom, David accompanied Jennifer to
the biggest event of the summer, the two thousand and
(19:26):
eight Democratic National Convention. She was excited about that, like,
oh my god, Obama wants me to same for him.
Can you believe Obama wants me to say for him?
I'm going to sing for Obama. I remember being on
the phone with my sister and they're like, you're nervous,
seeing you're nervous, and I'm like, no, I can't wait
to get out there and do it. I'm so excited.
I'm here to represent by Chicago. As with all the
(19:47):
big moments in her life, Jennifer shared this one with
her mother, Darnell. I remember sitting there and watching her
as with her mom and here, just like, this is
history being made right now, and you know Jennifer's are
part of it. Wow. Jennifer's self titled debut album was
released and immediately shot to number two on the R
and B charts. I remember going through the record store
(20:10):
just to see it on the show. Now my' is
a pitch of me, just like this is my first
album and it's finally here. This is the moment that
I've worked for and waited for my whole life. But
less than a month later, the unthinkable happened. On October eight,
(20:31):
a devastating tragedy would change Jennifer's life forever. I walked
in to my office, got a call and just like
held the phone was remember just being silent. The mother
and brother of Oscar winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson
were found murder in the family's home yesterday and tonight.
That tragedy is compounded by the growing mystery over what
(20:53):
happened to Hudson's seven year old nephew. Jennifer, who was
in Florida at the time, rushed back to Chicago. Even
as this tragic double murder settles in, the Hudson family
has no time to mourn, with that search intensifying for
Julian all I, I don't care who you are, just
(21:14):
let her baby think. It was strictly about being hopeful
and trying to to get Julian back home. We people
were constantly coming in and out and just trying to
figure out what this is about, who did it, what
does it mean? You know, there's so many unanswered questions.
At that time. Police have taken into custody Hudson's estranged
(21:37):
brother in law, William Balfour, who is currently being questioned
as a person of interest in this case. This morning.
There is speculation that these senseless murders may have taken
place over something as simple and mundane as an argument
over car payments. Three days later, the Hudson family received
(21:57):
the news they had been dreading. Oscar winning actress Jennifer
Hudson arrived at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office with
the grim task of identifying the body of her seven
year old nephew. We can confirm that the body located
inside the vehicle was the body of seven year old
Julian King. Jennifer's beloved mother, brother, and nephew were gone.
(22:20):
The nightmare had reached its horrific conclusion, but the pain
was just starting to sink in. Jennifer was absolutely in shock.
He never expect anything like that. So the reaction this shock, anger,
her frustration, all the emotions a normal person would feel,
she felt it. On October, Jennifer Hudson's world was shattered
(22:53):
by the tragic loss of her mother, Darnell, brother Jason,
and seven year old nephew Julian. The only thing left
was to say goodbye. Three d mourners attended a private
service in Jennifer's old South Side Chicago neighborhood. American idol
friend Fantasia sang a special gospel him. They meant so
(23:15):
much to the Hudson family. I remember everyone kind of
kept it together until Fantasia sang. Once Fantasia sang, it
became a lost cause for anyone who was prone to cry.
That's when the tears came. Because her song during the
funeral was so very emotional. The local community showed its
(23:37):
support by lining the streets with flowers, candles, and teddy bears.
Jennifer's celebrity friends also reached out, with everyone from Simon
Cowell to Barack Obama expressing their condolences the tragedy that
Jennifer Husson experienced. It was something so evil and foul.
I know, I wanted to try to find out who
(23:59):
we are. It wasn't did this terrible thing because Jennifer
Huston belonged to us? Now, how could somebody be that
evil to somebody so nice? It's out like a blur.
It was surreal, you know, it wasn't really. It was
like I was outside of myself. I pray when I
(24:20):
get up in the morning, and pray before I lay
down at night. If I didn't out to wake up
the pressed, they didn't go right for most two weeks
straight inside one room with just family and friends coming
in and out. I mean, because of course the press
was everywhere, and it was like where's Jennifer. Jennifer learned
(24:41):
the hard way what the kinds of celebrity are. It's
like everybody is right there in your business, and it's like,
this has nothing to do with my singing, This has
nothing to do with my acting. This is personal, this
is family. This is something that that I'm supposed to
be dealing with in privacy, but you can't because you're
Jennifer Hudson. Now coming up a precious new gift to
(25:02):
ease the pain when behind the music continues. I was
pretty much secluded from everything that was going on. I
didn't watch any TV. I didn't I want to even
know what was going on because I had more than
enough to deal with. I remember being asked to a
(25:23):
film around the same time, and I was like, I
have to get adjusted to who I am now, so
I can't be another character, be another character if I
don't know who I am. After two months in seclusion,
Jennifer took the first brave steps towards resuming her life,
(25:45):
and it was music that led the way. I can't
do this anymore. I don't sit still very well, and
I knew if I sit here and dwell on it,
it's gonna be harder. One of Jennifer's first public appearances
was at the Grammys in February of two thousand nine.
Her self titled solo album was nominated for three awards,
(26:06):
the Grammy for Best RMB Album both. It was just
so much build up to that night, and I'm just
like shaking. I'm so nervous, and she's not nervous at all.
She's trying to call me down. Jennifer Hutson. Making the
moment extra special was accepting the award from her idol
(26:26):
Whitney Houston. I didn't think anybody else was going to
kid about her. I know, I knew she was going
to win it. Absolutely one of the greatest voices of
our time. Oh my God, send me over them all
right there, receiving my first Grammy from when he used it.
I don't really think it was about the Grammy itself.
I just think it was more of a moment in
(26:47):
her life that she won't forget. That was a moment
I will never forget. I won't. I don't really know
what's First of all, I got women Houston listen to me,
and wow, I'm just in all now. I really cannot
put into words how special of a moment that wasn't me.
It was like, if there could be anything to lift
(27:08):
me up, that would be it. But the dramatic high
point of the evening was Jennifer's performance on stage. She
chose a little known track from her album that now
took on greater meaning. You pulled me through. I feel
like I've seen the highs of the high and the
lowest of those. So it made perfect sense me singing
(27:28):
this song. But when I recorded it, I just didn't
know what I was singing before. It had a purpose,
and that was its purpose. I said to her, you're
the storyteller, paint the picture. When she sung that, it transcends.
And it's this performance that just reaches straight through the television,
just grabs your heart. You know, it's just amazing. With
(27:53):
a heavy heart, Jennifer sang for her fallen family, I
could hear my brother in my head like of him,
you need to kill this, You need to get up
and do you. I knew he would be disappointed if
I didn't do it. Justice. God never gives you anything
that you can't handle. And again it's in a religious thing,
but you go like, wow, he's allowing her to handle
(28:15):
it tonight. He's allowing her to still have a sweet
taste in her mouth after all of these bitter things.
Towards the end, it was all right. I mean, because
I'm always emotional and I've had to work on that,
and my mom was it used to irritate herself, of Jenny,
why you always got to be crime when you get
up there the same what are you crying for? I
(28:37):
was definitely thinking of my family when I was singing
that song. Just twenty seven years old, Jennifer Hudson had
been through hell and back, but as two thousand nine
got underway, she had some good news to share. She
was expecting her first child and the joy of new
life with honor the memory of those who had been lost.
(29:01):
I think it was Mother's Day when I told my family,
which of course we needed some good news by then,
and everybody was so excited. It definitely makes it easier
once you've you know, lost life, to have this new
life after everything that had happened, and people were just
so happy, you know, there were tears everything. I initially
wanted the baby to be born on my nephew's birthday, Julian's,
(29:23):
which was August fourteen, since the due date was August twelve,
and I'm like, if I could hold out to the
four take and the doctors like I have never seen
somebody trying to stay pregnant as long as they can,
and I'm like, I just want to make it. I
just want to make it, but the baby had other plans.
On August tenth, two thousand nine, Jennifer and David welcome
David Daniel Otanga Jr. Into the world. I wanted to
(29:46):
fill the labor pains. Maybe I didn't even make it too.
I was like, I felt enough, do whatever you need
to do, get this baby out of me. I remember
just saying, oh my gosh, it's little David, Jennie's little David.
And he came out yelling and sc men and being everywhere,
and we're smiling, and it was the most amazing experience.
And there he was, my little mumskin. Let me go
(30:07):
back to working. Okay last night, man, Okay today. Jennifer
shares everything with her son and supports him, just as
her family always supported her. It's so many things to
honor and to be remembered, and in so many ways
(30:30):
to do that, like in the way my brother drives
me and my music. My son reminds me of my nephew,
and being a mother reminds me of my mom. In
so many ways, I channeled her because she's such a
great mom. Jennifer Hudson has endured the darkest of times
and has emerged with grace and resolve and inspiration to
(30:51):
her friends, fans, and family. Jennifer Hudson with all of
what she's gone through, the good, the great, the tragic,
no matter what happens, you can't take the town away
from I think that's a theme within our family. We
(31:13):
expect each other to be strong and you don't stop
when you hit a roll block. You find a way
to go around it or jump over it. I hear
it every day, like when we're traveling places. Oh, it's
because of you, and you know what you've been through
and to see how you persevered and still stay so strong.
(31:33):
My daughter looks up to you, your role model. I
feel like I've lied about at least three or four
different lives there. You would have your ups and your
downs and and everything is bit asleep across the board.
But I would not trade my career for nothing in
the world. I hope to still be around twenty years
(31:54):
from now. I want to be like, oh, this was
just a trend. No. I want my son, his innarrations
and the whole Jennifer Husson was From two thousand nine on.
Jennifer Hudson's worked tirelessly to advance herself as both an
actress and musician. Over the short span of three years,
(32:14):
Jennifer put out two critically acclaimed albums, I Remember Me
In and Jay hud In. Jay hud debuted at number
ten on the charts and featured It's Your World, which
was later nominated at the Grammys for Best R and
B Performance. Her vocal prowess was recognized in when given
the honor of performing for Obama at the President's Inaugural ball.
(32:39):
That very same year, Hudson earned herself a star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There seemed to be nothing
Jennifer Hudson couldn't do. She's acted in movies, TV shows, plays.
She even found time to coach the voice for multiple
seasons in both the US and UK. In Hudson had
the opportunity to play their lifelong idol, Aretha Franklin in
(33:02):
the biopic respect Despite her personal hardships, Jennifer Hudson has persevered.
Her talent across the board is evident as one of
the few artists of her generation to have both successful
acting and musical careers. Listen and subscribe to Behind the
(33:23):
Music on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Be sure to rate
and review Behind the Music on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
What more episodes You can watch remastered best of the
Vault and new episodes of Behind the Music only on
Paramount Plus
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!