Jennifer Hudson Page 5

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson Quick Links

News Pictures Video Film Footage Press Comments Quotes RSS

Sing Review

Very Good

The quality of the animation in this musical comedy may not be up to Pixar standards, but the story and characters are thoroughly endearing. And the music is fabulous. As it follows a group of likeable animals through a variety of plots and adventures, there's plenty for everyone in the audience to connect with. So even if the climactic action mayhem gets a bit ridiculous, the movie keeps us laughing. And it also makes us want to get up on that stage and belt out a few numbers.

It's set in a city populated by animals. Buster (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) is a koala who has been obsessed with musical theatre since he saw the diva Nana (Jennifer Hudson then Jennifer Saunders) perform when he was a child. So he grew up and bought the theatre. Now with audiences waning, he stages a musical competition to save the theatre. In the auditions, he selects his finalists: anarchist porcupine Ash (Scarlett Johansson), jazzy mafioso mouse Mike (Seth MacFarlane) and silky voiced gorilla Johnny (Taron Egerton). He also teams up two pigs as a double-act: frazzled housewife Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) and German dancer Gunter (Nick Kroll). There's also golden-voiced elephant Meena (Tori Kelly), who's too shy to face the audience so takes a role backstage. Of course, nothing goes as planned.

The key conflict comes from Buster's frantic efforts to avoid bankruptcy, plus rather half-hearted action subplots involving a gang of bears and Johnny's criminally minded relatives. These generate quite a bit of tension that erupts into rather outrageously destructive slapstick along the way. More interesting are the personal journeys of the various contestants, especially as Ash, Meena and Johnny all discover their voices and Rosita finds inventive ways to balance her long-lost career with her role as a mother to 25 rambunctious piglets. Yes, the film is rather crowded with characters and storylines, and the animation looks plasticky, but everything comes together cleverly,

Continue reading: Sing Review

Jennifer Hudson Wants To Work With The Voice UK Judges On Music


Jennifer Hudson Will.i.am Gavin Rossdale Tom Jones

Jennifer Hudson wants to work with all three of her fellow 'The Voice UK' judges on music.

The 'Dream Girls' star has learnt a lot from watching Will.i.am, Gavin Rossdale and Sir Tom Jones on the ITV programme and says she and the Black Eyed Peas star are going to record together once filming for the spinning-chair show is complete.

Speaking to The Huffington Post, she shared: ''I do plan on working with will for my next album.''

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson Wants To Work With The Voice UK Judges On Music

Sir Tom Jones Returning To 'The Voice UK'


Tom Jones Will.i.am Jennifer Hudson Gavin Rossdale

Sir Tom Jones is set to return to the coaching panel of ‘The Voice UK’ for its first series on ITV, having been unceremoniously dumped by the BBC just over a year ago.

The 76 year old Welsh crooning legend will be one of the four coaches in the upcoming first series of the talent show at its new home on ITV, to which it’s moved after five seasons on the BBC where it enjoyed mixed fortunes.

“I’m looking forward to returning to my big red chair on ‘The Voice UK’,” Jones said in a statement. “I had some great times on the show and I can’t wait again to discover and help some brand new talent. And of course be back with my pal Will.i.am.”

Continue reading: Sir Tom Jones Returning To 'The Voice UK'

Jennifer Hudson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley And Laverne Cox: The Best Dressed Ladies Of The 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards


Jennifer Hudson Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Laverne Cox Beyonce Knowles

It was the fashion Oscars last night (June 6th 2016) at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York; the CFDA Fashion Awards presented a host of the most glamorous women in showbusiness as it announced the designers and icons who have bagged prizes this year. 

Jennifer HudsonJennifer Hudson gave some Red Queen glamour

Of course, it was Beyonce who landed the coveted Fashion Icon Award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and indeed she showed off her talents in the wardrobe department by eschewing the traditional red carpet gown in favour of a striped pant-suit and an enormous brimmed hat (kind of like a cross between Beetlejuice and Winona Ryder in the same film). Bey-utiful. It's just as well she opted for something a little different given that her contemporaries were especially difficult to beat; Jennifer Hudson showed off her enviable curves in a black and red Prabal Gurung piece that was more reminiscent of the Red Queen.

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley And Laverne Cox: The Best Dressed Ladies Of The 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards

Are Kylie Minogue And Tom Jones Set To Return To 'The Voice'?


Kylie Minogue Tom Jones Jennifer Hudson Will.i.am

Former ‘The Voice’ judges Kylie Minogue and Tom Jones could be set to return to the show, when it moves to ITV for it’s sixth season. According to The Mirror, the two former judges are set to join a revamped line-up which is also rumoured to include Jennifer Hudson and Will.i.am.

Kylie MinogueKylie Minogue is rumoured to be making a return to ‘The Voice’.

A source told the newspaper that Black Eyed Peas star Will is the only current coach ITV are hoping to hang on to. “They’ve pushed the boat out to get Will to stay and are very much hoping he’ll say yes,” the source said. "He loves the show and he’s actually a bigger star here than he is in the US.”

Continue reading: Are Kylie Minogue And Tom Jones Set To Return To 'The Voice'?

Jennifer Hudson Signs On For NBC's 'Hairspray Live!'


Jennifer Hudson Harvey Fierstein

Jennifer Hudson has joined the cast of NBC’s upcoming ‘Hairspray Live!’ The live musical event will air on December 7th and follows the success of other NBC productions ‘The Sound of Music Live!’, ‘Peter Pan Live!’ and most recently, ‘The Wiz Live!’

Jennifer HudsonJennifer Hudson will star in NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live!’

Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle, the role played by Queen Latifah in the 2007 film adaptation. In the play Maybelle is the mother of seaweed, an African-American boy, who meets main character Tracy Turnblad in detention and teaches her new dance moves.

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson Signs On For NBC's 'Hairspray Live!'

Video - Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson And Naomi Campbell Shine At The Versus Versace Spring 2015 Show During New York Fashion Week - Part 2


Among some of the famous faces spotted outside the star-studded Versus Versace Spring 2015 show at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week were supermodel Naomi Campbell and popstars Jennifer Hudson and Nicki Minaj. Versus is an offshoot design brand from Versace which was reborn in 2009.

Continue: Video - Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson And Naomi Campbell Shine At The Versus Versace Spring 2015 Show During New York Fashion Week - Part 2

Jennifer Hudson's Half-Brother Arrested For Allegedly Stabbing Wife's Current Boyfriend


Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson's family is once again at the centre of a violent attack. The singer/actress's half-brother Stephen Angelo Simpson was reportedly arrested on Tuesday (Aug 19th) for stabbing a man several times on Monday night.

Jennifer Hudson
Hudson's half-brother stabbed his wife's boyfriend several times

The horrific incident occurred in Van Buren County, Mich., after Simpson was looking for his estranged wife at her apartment, but ran into her current boyfriend. After knocking down the door, Simpson began stabbing the victim, identified as Charlie, in the chest and face, reports local CBS affiliate WWMT.

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson's Half-Brother Arrested For Allegedly Stabbing Wife's Current Boyfriend

'American Idol' "Dream Team" - Lopez, Urban, Connick Jr. & Seacrest - Set To Return For 14th Season


American Idol Jennifer Lopez Harry Connick Jr. Keith Urban Ryan Seacrest Jennifer Hudson Kelly Clarkson

American Idol judges, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr., will all be returning to the 14th season of American Idol, Fox announced on Monday (23rd June). Ryan Seacrest will also be returning as host and his contract was signed earlier this month. 

Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez at the finale of American Idol season 13.

Lopez was a judge on the show from 2011 to 2012 but returned for the 13th season earlier this year. Urban has been a judge for the past two seasons. Connick Jr. joined the other two judges for the 13th season. All three are confirmed to return for the 14th season of the hit show. 

Continue reading: 'American Idol' "Dream Team" - Lopez, Urban, Connick Jr. & Seacrest - Set To Return For 14th Season

Video - Fergie And Jennifer Hudson Support Brown Shoe Company's 100 Years Of Listing Celebration At The NYSE


R&B singers Estelle, Nelly, Fergie and Jennifer Hudson were snapped posing on the red carpet at the Brown Shoe Company 100 Years Of Listing celebration held at the New York Stock Exchange.

Continue: Video - Fergie And Jennifer Hudson Support Brown Shoe Company's 100 Years Of Listing Celebration At The NYSE

Renee Fleming Announced For Super Bowl 2014: A Look Back On Some Of The Great Anthem Singers Through The Years


Renee Fleming Aretha Franklin Garth Brooks Beyonce Knowles Jennifer Hudson Christina Aguilera

Opera soprano Renee Fleming has been announced to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb. 2. Fleming’s appointment is a pretty big deal, considering that the Super Bowl is easily the most watched television event of the year in the US. Last year, 111 million people nationwide tuned into the game, the infamous Super Bowl ads and, of course, the half time show. Fleming is also a bit of an unusual choice, given that the anthem has been performed by mainstream pop stars every year for the past decade.

Renee Fleming
When it comes to performing live, Fleming is a trusted veteran.

Some of the performances have been stunning and unforgettable, like Aretha Franklin’s 2006 rendition, while others, like Christina Aguilera’s 2011 blunder might be better left forgotten. Hopefully, this year’s anthem performance will have patriots in tears (the good kind), but if not, there are always these historical renditions to look back on fondly.

Continue reading: Renee Fleming Announced For Super Bowl 2014: A Look Back On Some Of The Great Anthem Singers Through The Years

A Week In News: Sandra Bullock Is The People's Choice, Meryl Streep Slates Walt Disney And SNL Gets Even


Sandra Bullock Nina Dobrev Ian Somerhalder Jennifer Hudson Steve McQueen Meryl Streep Shailene Woodley Kate Winslet

Sandra Bullock

People's Choice Selects Victors: This week saw the annual People's Choice awards handed out and what an evening it was. Hosted by the stellar Two Broke Girls' Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings, the audience were kept laughing whilst a slew of gongs were distributed to the year's finest figures in popular culture. Sandra Bullock emerged as the star of the evening after she won four awards for her roles in Gravity and The Heat, not including the overall film win for the space thriller. Check out all the winners here.

The evening also brought tears, drama and scandal as former Vampire Diaries couple Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder hinted during their acceptance speech that things are still very amicable between them whilst singer/actress Jennifer Hudson welled up with emotion when she was honoured with a 'favorite humanitarian award.' Read up on the glam evening's highlights here.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Sandra Bullock Is The People's Choice, Meryl Streep Slates Walt Disney And SNL Gets Even

Video - Jennifer Hudson Talks Movies At The GLWD 2013 Golden Heart Awards - Part 3


Singer/ actress Jennifer Hudson talks to an interviewer on the red carpet at the God's Love We Deliver 2013 Golden Heart Awards in New York. She talks about the event, her new album and her upcoming movies as well as the films she is hoping to see. 'I wanna see 'The Butler' which I have not seen', she reveals. 'There's a couple more that I cannot think of right now but that's first, I'm a little bit behind.'

Continue: Video - Jennifer Hudson Talks Movies At The GLWD 2013 Golden Heart Awards - Part 3

Jennifer Hudson Stuns Chelsea Handler: "I've Never Had A Drink In My Life"


Jennifer Hudson

American singer-actress, Jennifer Hudson, left Chelsea Lately shocked after appearing on her talk show.

The 32 year-old has lost a tremendous amount of weight, 80 pounds to be exact, since becoming a spokesperson for Weight Watchers in 2010.

But cutting down or giving up alcohol had nothing to do with her impressive feat.

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson Stuns Chelsea Handler: "I've Never Had A Drink In My Life"

Jennifer Lopez Planning Return To American Idol?


Jennifer Lopez Keith Urban Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Lopez may be returning to judge American Idol if sources working on the televised reality show can be believed. This is according to a source speaking to the New York Post earleir this week, however, the source was not able to officially confirm whether Lopez has signed the deal as they lacked authorisation. 

Jennifer Lopez
Will Jennifer Lopez be returning to judge American Idol?

However, another source close to Lopez believes the 44-year-old will be returning to judge. This source appears to be Lopez's boyfriend, and former backing dancer, Casper Smart who told E! she would be returning for the 13th season. Despite plans to work on her music, it seems Lopez has decided she wants to return to the show in order for her schedule to include more time with her children. Lopez has 5-year-twins, named Emme and Max, with her ex-husband Marc Antony. 

Continue reading: Jennifer Lopez Planning Return To American Idol?

After A Long And Bumpy Production, 'Winnie Mandela' Is Due Out This Year [Trailer + Stills]


Jennifer Hudson Nelson Mandela Terrence Howard

This year will see the release of a full-blown Nelson Mandela biopic, but before that, another film will focus on a crucial character in the Mandela story – Winnie Mandela, the woman, who stood by her husband and became a tireless activist in her own right. The trailer for Winnie Mandela has just been released and, despite some controversy around Jennifer Hudson playing the part of Mandela, the preview seems every bit as grandiose and inspirational as you’d expect.

Watch the Winnie Mandela trailer below.

Continue reading: After A Long And Bumpy Production, 'Winnie Mandela' Is Due Out This Year [Trailer + Stills]

American Idol's Next Season Will Be A Blast From The Past, With Jennifer Lopez Back On The Judging Panel


Jennifer Lopez Keith Urban Randy Jackson Mariah Carey Nicki Minaj Will.i.am Jennifer Hudson

Turns out Jennifer Lopez’s time on American Idol really has been the show’s most entertaining run to date. It’s no wonder that the show is bringing back the opinionated singer (hopefully with her majestic top knot in tow). According to a report by Deadline, Lopez has just signed a $15 million deal with Fox to return to the next season of Idol, along with longtime judge Keith Urban and of course everyone’s favorite Idol host Randy Jackson.

Jennifer Lopez, Viva Movil Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Jennifer Lopez made for one of Idol's most entertaining seasons to date.

Lopez and Idol have a long and storied history together. The singer came on Fox’s talent competition in 2010, at a low point in her own career. She managed to save the show’s ratings after the departure of the judge everyone loved to hate, Simon Cowell. Now, Fox seems to be hoping for the same kind of turnaround, after the network wasted some extremely high paychecks on Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj last season. All the diva spats in the world couldn’t save American Idol from a ratings nose dive and almost losing the competition to NBC’s brand new shiny contender, The Voice.

Continue reading: American Idol's Next Season Will Be A Blast From The Past, With Jennifer Lopez Back On The Judging Panel

A Week In Movies: Pacific Rim Launches, The Wolverine Shows Himself And Gwyneth Deals With Sex-Addiction


Guillermo Del Toro Idris Elba Hugh Jackman James Mangold Bruce Willis Anthony Hopkins Ashton Kutcher Rachel McAdams Noomi Rapace Gwyneth Paltrow Jennifer Hudson

Pacific Rim

This week's big world premiere was for Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim, which was held in Mexico City on Monday with cast members Charlie Day, Ron Perlman and Rinko Kikuchi. They were joined by British costars Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam and new True Blood hunk Robert Kasinsky for the European premiere in London on Thursday. Critics' reviews are embargoed, but Emma Watson and Kanye West both tweeted praise for the film, which opens next week.

The next big blockbuster this summer will be The Wolverine, a stand-alone X-men movie set in World War II Japan. Hugh Jackman returns as the iconic character, and this week appears in a short behind-the-scenes doc with director James Mangold. They reveal several enticing clips from the film, which opens later this month. Watch The Wolverine featurette here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Pacific Rim Launches, The Wolverine Shows Himself And Gwyneth Deals With Sex-Addiction

John Fogerty's New Album Features Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson


John Fogerty Foo Fighters Keith Urban Jennifer Hudson

Nobody can accuse John Fogerty of resting on his laurels. The former Creedence Clearwater Revival singer has teamed up with the likes of Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Jennifer Hudson and Kid Rock for his new album 'Wrote A Song For Everyone' - featuring fresh takes on his classic hits.

Fogerty, who released the new record on his 68th birthday on Tuesday (May 28, 2013), revamped some of his Creedence work, along with solo hits and new songs. It was in fact Fogerty's wife who had the idea of a collaborative effort, "She suggested getting all my favorite artists to do various songs, and it seemed like a great idea  - to do fresh arrangements and interpretations of them," Fogerty told Reuters.

"It's remarkably hard to get 14 different artists organized, as they're all busy with their own careers, touring and recording," Fogerty said. "Everyone wanted to do it but I had no idea it'd be so difficult."

Continue reading: John Fogerty's New Album Features Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson

FOX Looking To Recruit Former American Idol Winners As Judges For Next Season, But Will It Work?


American Idol Jennifer Hudson Kelly Clarkson Clay Aiken Adam Lambert

With FOX bosses panning a complete re-haul of the American Idol judging panel for next season, it has emerged that producers will no longer be looking to the stars for a new panel, but rather sticking with what they already have. The 2014 season will therefore be bringing back former Idol stars as judges for the next instalment of the long-running talent show, a plan that seems fool-proof, but may end up being a disaster.

As E! News reported on Friday (May 24), Jennifer Hudson has all but signed on the dotted line, effectively bringing her back to the show where she first made her name. Producers are also said to be eying up returns from the first Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, with either Adam Lambert or Clay Aiken being lined up to take on the remaining hot seat. The plan seems like a decent one as it will remind viewers and contestants of the star-making ability the show possesses (or at least what it once possessed) and will no doubt please die-hard Idol fans, however there may be a flaw to the plan as the move will effectively place Idol in it's own little bubble, free from outside influences.

Anyone who watches Idol and listens to popular music will know that the songs performed week in and week out do not necessarily reflect what is popular in the rest of the musical landscape, and it is really here where the problem with Idol lays. The poor viewing figures of recent series may be reflective of an unpopular judging panel, but it more likely reflects a irrelevance now held by the show in the rest of popular culture.

Continue reading: FOX Looking To Recruit Former American Idol Winners As Judges For Next Season, But Will It Work?

A Possible American Idol Alumni Panel Could Feature Jennifer Hudson, Among Others


Jennifer Hudson Kelly Clarkson Adam Lambert

There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of a new American Idol judging panel lately – possibly one featuring Jennifer Hudson. After the departure of veteran Randy Jackson and the reported booting of Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, a number of celebrities have been rumored as potential panelists. But a team of former Idol contestants would make sense for the show – at the very least, they would be more aware of the challenges the current contestants face each week.

There have been reports that both Kelly Clarkson and Adam Lambert have been approached to return to the show as judges, but, if Hudson really is in talks, as Vulture reports, that would mean that Fox is actually going ahead with the idea of a panel with former contestants. Obviously, the network is desperate to revamp the show, whose twelfth season by all standards failed in the ratings department. The final episode of Idol, during which Candice Glover was announced as the winner, was watched by just about half the audience of Idol’s pique years.

Then again, the whole story might be just a rouse, as many Idol rumours (such as the one about Enrique Iglesias coming on as a judge) have turned out to be bogus. Two things are certain though: Changes are coming and they will be massive.

Continue reading: A Possible American Idol Alumni Panel Could Feature Jennifer Hudson, Among Others

Jennifer Hudson To Judge On The Show That Launched Her Career?


Jennifer Hudson Randy Jackson Keith Urban Mariah Carey Nicki Minaj

Jennifer Hudson is reportedly in talks about becoming a judge on the 13th season of 'American Idol'; the same show on which she became a finalist in season 3.

The 'Dreamgirls' star and Grammy winning pop star has had previous experience in talent show judging, having become Kelly Rowland's guest mentor during the Judges Houses stage of the UK show 'The X Factor'. Now she could be set to revisit the beginnings of her own career though, this time, on the other side of the table according to a source in TheWrap. She made an appearance on the show recently for the finale and is allegedly now in talks with the producers. 'She got the offer and her reps are currently negotiating with [production company] Fremantle', said the source, adding, 'The show's producers feel they've lost their core audience. And they want to bring back former contestants in order to tell their core audience, 'We love you.' They know they've made some major mistakes over the past few seasons and they want to make it right with their fans.'

One of the judges, Randy Jackson, has handed in his resignation from the show already, though it is unknown whether or not Keith Urban, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj will stay on for another series.

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson To Judge On The Show That Launched Her Career?

Jennifer Aniston Fails To Hide 'Cupping Marks' At Premiere [Pictures]


Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Hudson Melissa Leo

On the face of it, Jennifer Aniston looked pretty swell at the premiere of her new Lifetime movie Call Me Crazy in Los Angeles this week. Wearing a simple black romper and her hair tied back in a ponytail, the Wanderlust star, 44, managed to stand out from the crowd with subtle elegance. But then there were the cupping marks.

The actress failed to hide a pattern of circular marls on her back, which People magazine said were probably the result of cupping, a Chinese form of alternative medicine designed to promote circulation. 'Cupping' normally uses small glass bulbs that are heated and placed on the skin. Sounds terrible right? Well,  it often leaves red marks on the skin for several days, though encourages better circulation of blood. 

While the history of cupping dates back thousands of years, the first uses are found in the teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Other famous fans of the treatment are said to include Gwyneth Paltrow, which isn't exactly a surprise now is it?

Continue reading: Jennifer Aniston Fails To Hide 'Cupping Marks' At Premiere [Pictures]

Jennifer Aniston Steals The Show At 'Call Me Crazy' Premiere [Pictures]


Jennifer Aniston Melissa Leo Octavia Spencer Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Aniston stunned at the Los Angeles premiere of her upcoming television movie 'Call Me Crazy: A Five Film' this week. The former Friends star executive produced the movie - a compilation of short films about mental illness premiering April 20 on the Lifetime channel. At the premiere, Aniston joked that he's a total "pushover" when in charge.

For a television movie, Call Me Crazy boasts a pretty impressive looking cast, with Jennifer Hudson, Brittany Snow and Oscar winners Melissa Leo and Octavia Spencer. "We were lucky to get the cast that we got," Aniston told the BBC at Tuesday's premiere, "We want to our dream team and we just had all the star align, and people were just willing and excited to jump on board just because they wanted to be a part of this topic of mental illness. To remove the stigma to remove the shame."

Hudson gives a stirring performance in a particularly emotional role, saying, "I'm passionate about the things I do, and I felt that this was something that was worth doing. Mental illness is something that's there, that we don't realise it's there. I definitely wanted the chance to help raise awareness."

Continue reading: Jennifer Aniston Steals The Show At 'Call Me Crazy' Premiere [Pictures]

Video - Jennifer Hudson And Son David Arrive At LAX Armed With Swords (Of The Plastic Variety)


Singer Jennifer Hudson and her 3-year-old son David Daniel Otunga Jr. are snapped arriving at LAX airport in their car. A minder stands with David holding his hand while photographers take pictures of him. He is clutching a toy sword and so is Jennifer when she finally emerges.

Continue: Video - Jennifer Hudson And Son David Arrive At LAX Armed With Swords (Of The Plastic Variety)

Catherine Zeta-Jones And Jennifer Hudson Will Bring Back The Sequins And Glitter At The Oscars


Catherine Zeta Jones Jennifer Hudson Hugh Jackman Jennifer Lawrence

Some big names have been added to the Oscar performers list this year – people like Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and the cast of Les Miserables will be joining already announced performers, including the cast of Les Miserables and some other massive names.

You might be sensing a pattern here. That’s right, this year’s Academy awards will be paying tribute to one of Hollywood’s most beloved format of the past decade – the good ol’ musical. The performances will highlight some of the most successful film musicals of the past ten years, including Dreamgirls, Chicago and of course Les Mis. That list of performers is beginning to make a whole lot more sense, right?

The show’s producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, made the announcement about the show’s theme last month and since then more and more performers have steadily been added to the list. We are pleased to have been able to amass so much talent to create the celebration of musicals of the last decade that we envisioned,” Zadan and Meron said in a joint statement.

Continue reading: Catherine Zeta-Jones And Jennifer Hudson Will Bring Back The Sequins And Glitter At The Oscars

Jennifer Hudson To Join Children Of Sandy Hook In 'America The Beautiful' At The Super Bowl Pregame Show


Jennifer Hudson

Surviving children from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut will perform along with Jennifer Hudson at this weekend's Super Bowl XLVII pregame show, reports USA Today.

The league and footballers have been involved with the school and the community in various ways including Giants wide Victor Cruz visiting the family of Jack Pinto, a 6 year old boy who was killed during the tragic shooting in December. Jack was a big fan of Cruz and the Giants, he was even buried with a No. 80 Giants jersey - Cruz's number.

Players have also been supporting the school by wearing 'S.H.E.S.' stickers on helmets, holding moments of silence at games and making donations to relevant causes. The league are flying the children from the school and their families all the way to New Orleans whose performance will be broadcast just before Alicia Keys sings the national anthem, prior to the game beginning. 

Continue reading: Jennifer Hudson To Join Children Of Sandy Hook In 'America The Beautiful' At The Super Bowl Pregame Show

Sony Music Presents 'Cooking Songs' Released 4 March 2013

Posted on31 January 2013

Sony Music Presents 'Cooking Songs'  Released 4 March 2013

A Week In News: Beyonce Lip-Syncs, Steve Harvey Breakdown, Shakira Gives Birth!


Beyonce Knowles Steve Harvey Kelly Osbourne Shakira Michael Winner Kevin Bacon New Kids On The Block Adele Barack Obama Jennifer Hudson

Beyonce Knowles

Commotion over Beyonce's pre-recorded inauguration performance, a very heart warming clip of Steve Harvey, Shakira becomes a Madre and more!

In Defence Of Bey: Music fans recoiled with indignation this week after it was speculated Beyonce had the audacity to pre-record a live performance for President Obama's inauguration in Washington D.C. We'd point you towards the technical difficulties of singing to 800,000 on the sizeable Capitol Hill, and can think of far worse lip-syncing flubs.

Aww, Steve: YouTube fizzed into action this week with a very special video of everyone's favourite TV host Steve Harvey. The Family Feud star was surprised by an old friend, leading him to choke back the tears. We won't say too much, just check it out!

Continue reading: A Week In News: Beyonce Lip-Syncs, Steve Harvey Breakdown, Shakira Gives Birth!

Private Moment: Barack Obama And Michelle Obama Dance To Jennifer Hudson (Video)


Barack Obama Michelle Obama Jennifer Hudson

The reigning US President Barack Obama and his First Lady, Michelle Obama enjoy a moment dancing together, as Jennifer Hudson perform for them at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration.

Michelle looks stunning, in a long red dress with a cutaway V at the back and low neck line. Obama, wearing a dark suit for the occasion, leads his wife as they dance at the Presidential Inaugural Ball, which took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Watch the Obamas enjoying Jennifer Hudson's performance

Continue reading: Private Moment: Barack Obama And Michelle Obama Dance To Jennifer Hudson (Video)

Video - President Obama And First Lady Michelle Dance To Jennifer Hudson Performance


President of the United States Barack Obama and his First Lady Michelle Obama are seen dancing together as Jennifer Hudson performs at the Presidential Inaugural Ball which took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC. The pair are loudly applauded as the music finishes and they stand to wave to the crowd.

Continue: Video - President Obama And First Lady Michelle Dance To Jennifer Hudson Performance

President Barack Obama And Michelle Celebrate In Style At Jennifer Hudson-Starring Inaugural Ball (Pictures)


Barack Obama Michelle Obama Jennifer Hudson

Michelle And Barack Obama, Inaugural Ball

Michell and Barack Obama wave to the press before their dance

Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx were among the celebrities who helped President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama party into the evening on the day that their second term in the White House began. The inauguration itself in Washington DC went down a storm, with the re-elected leader telling his countrymen to "seize the moment", and mentioning many of his pledges that those who'd voted against him last year rallied against, including state welfare and an end to war in the Middle East. 

Continue reading: President Barack Obama And Michelle Celebrate In Style At Jennifer Hudson-Starring Inaugural Ball (Pictures)

Britney Spears Pays Tribute To Whitney Houston At Star Studded Event


Whitney Houston Britney Spears Halle Berry Usher Jennifer Hudson

The brand new X-Factor judge, Britney Spears, attended a 'solemn' emotional tribute to Whitney Houston entirely organised and funded by the Grammys entitled “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston” held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles this week. The esteemed guests all chose to not broach the darker sides of Houston's later life, instead opting for a celebratory slant, praising her career and achievements.

There were numerous musical tributes in the show. Usher sang 'I Believe In You and Me' and Cece Winans and Yolanda Adams gave a duet of 'Count on me'. According to NY Daily News, Houston's family broke down in tears at the gospel singers' rendition of the song. Jennifer Hudson opted for more up-beat song choices and went for a medly of How Will I Know, I'm Every Woman and I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Celine Dion was also meant to be performing but unfortunately couldn't make it. She has, however, recorded her own version of 'Greatest Love of All' but it will be included on the hour long show which will be aired on CBS in November.

Spears said that she “admired Whitney” and that it was a cover of Houston's 'I Have Nothing' that ended up winning her a record deal. Halle Berry was another guest at the event whose speech was particularly moving. She spoke of Houston's impact upon women: “She inspired a generation of little girls and women to believe in their own dream and to know that they had within themselves the greatest gift of all... I was one of those little girls who then became a woman who never ever, ever, stopped loving Whitney Houston."

Daughter Bobbi Marrying Her 'Adopted' Brother


Whitney Houston Bobbi Kristina Halle Berry Britney Spears Jennifer Hudson Usher

Did you get that? Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina is engaged to her adopted brother Nick Gordon, Fox News reports.

Gordon, 23, was invited by Houston to live with her and Bobbi when he was 12 because his birth mother could not care for him. And considering the late singer never legally adopted him, it’s not that weird. It is a little bit weird though. “No one knew from a godson you would turn into a boyfriend,” Bobbi’s uncle, Gary Houston, says to Gordon in the “On Our Own” clip, posted on Lifetime’s website. “Everybody else doesn’t have to be in my business,” says Gordon. “The family has made me out to be a bad person.” The Houstons: On Our Own premiers October 24th, and follows Houston’s extended family in the wake of the singer’s death last February. “I’m in love with him,” says Bobbi in a clip. “They wanna see us fail,” she says to the camera. “I got one thing to say — you won’t.”

Stars including Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson and Usher all paid tribute to the late "unforgettable" singer at the We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston, Sky reports. "She inspired a generation of little girls and women to believe in their own dream and to know that they had within themselves the greatest gift of all,” said Halle Berry. "I was one of those little girls who then became a woman who never ever, ever, stopped loving Whitney Houston."


Star-Studded Salute To Whitney Houston At Grammys Tribute Concert


Whitney Houston Halle Berry Usher Jennifer Hudson Bobbi Kristina Clive Davis Yolanda Adams Britney Spears Celine Dion

Last night, a host of stars paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston in a final send-off from the organisers of the annual Grammy Awards. The glittering event, named We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston was led by Hollywood actress Halle Berry and musical tributes came from Jennifer Hudson and Usher amongst others. The music world was shaken by Whitney Houston’s death earlier this year, in a Beverley Hills hotel, on the eve of the Grammys.

Introducing the event, tearfully, Halle Berry said to the audience – who included Whitney’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and former record label boss Clive Davis – “She inspired a generation of little girls and women to believe in their own dream and to know that they had within themselves the greatest gift of all. I was one of those little girls who then became a woman who never ever, ever, stopped loving Whitney Houston.”

The R&B star Usher performed ‘I Believe In You And Me,’ whilst the gospel singers Cece Winans and Yolanda Adams performed ‘Count On Me,’ reducing Whitney’s family members to tears. The X Factor judge Britney Spears shared the experience of how her version of ‘I Have Nothing’ secured her a record deal. Celine Dion was scheduled to perform ‘The Greatest Love Of All’ but was unable to attend, so taped her performance, which was then aired during the event last night. A one-hour version of the show will be aired on CNS on November 16, 2012.


Katy Perry, Jennifer Hudson And Stevie Wonder Among The Stars At Barack Obama's Democrat Fundraising Concert


Katy Perry Jennifer Hudson Stevie Wonder Jon Bon Jovi George Clooney Wolfgang Puck

Katy Perry, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder were among the star names to perform at a fundraiser for President Barack Obama's democrats at a concert titled '30 Days To Victory.' With additional appearances by Earth, Wind And Fire as well as Jon Bon Jovi and George Clooney, Obama was pulling all the stops out to regain ground following his listless performance in the debate last week against his presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

However, Obama was more than willing to admit he didn't meet expectations during last week's discussion; taking to the Nokia Theater in California, the Prez joked "Everybody here is incredible professionals, they're such great friends and they just perform flawlessly night after night. I can't always say the same." Obama also pointed out that the road to the 2008 election wasn't easy either, saying, "everybody always remembers the victory, but they don't always remember the bumps in the road. Things always look good in retrospect. But in the middle of it we made all kinds of mistakes. We goofed up. I goofed up. But the American people carried us forward."

There were nearly 6,000 people in attendance for the concert, with tickets going at a cool $250 each. Obama also appeared at a private dinner for just 150 guests at celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck's restaurant WP24; tickets for that were somewhat more expensive at $25,000 a pop.

Stars Sign Up To Perform At Whitney Houston TV Special


Whitney Houston Celine Dion Usher Jennifer Hudson

Usher, Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson have all signed up to star in a TV tribute to the late singing icon Whitney Houston. The life and career of the late pop star is to be celebrated in an upcoming one-hour special titled We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston.

The show is to be filmed at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on October 11th and is likely to draw a huge swell of support from the music world given the profile that Houston once had. The show will also feature artists sharing their memories of Houston, as well as clips of some of her most memorable performances and never-before-seen footage.

The special is set to air in the US on November 16th, just days after a new greatest hits album is released. That release will be titled I Will Always Love You - the Best of Whitney Houston and will feature two previously unreleased tracks, including Never Give Up, produced by Jermaine Dupri, and an updated version of previous song I Look To You which features R. Kelly. The star infamously drowned in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles in February of this year during Grammys weekend.


The Three Stooges Review


OK
The Farrelly brothers return to the vacuously silly style of Dumb and Dumber for this gently idiotic comedy that recreates the iconic knucklehead trio that epitomised movie slapstick from the 1930s to the 1970s. Intriguingly, the film is warm and wacky, only rarely dips into today's more cynical, referential sense of humour. Clearly, the Farrellys have a real affection for the Three Stooges, as do the actors who recreate them.

The story starts as we watch Larry, Moe and Curly (Hayes, Diamantopoulos and Sasso) growing up in an orphanage, watched over by Mother Superior (Lynch) and several rather frazzled nuns (including Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson and Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David). But when the orphanage is threatened with closure, the clueless trio heads out to raise the cash needed to save it. They immediately run into the shamelessly wealthy Lydia (Vergara), who hires them to bump off her husband so she can run off with his business partner (Bierko). But of course everything goes crazily wrong.

Continue reading: The Three Stooges Review

The Three Stooges Trailer


The Three Stooges is a comic caper, following the lives of three men who were left on the doorstep of an orphanage when they were babies. This updated version of the 1930s vaudeville act of the same name sees the familiar characters of Larry, Moe and Curly try to save their childhood orphanage from closure. In the process, they become embroiled in a bizarre murder plot, as well as finding themselves somehow starring in a phenomenally successful reality TV show.

Continue: The Three Stooges Trailer

The Secret Life Of Bees Review


Bad
Caucasians, apparently, have no soul. Or heart. Or common sense. According to the movies, whenever the majority lacks a moment of personal clarity, they seek solace, advice, and sage-like wisdom from the groups they marginalized for centuries. As a result, some manner of karmic comeuppance is achieved. The latest example of this Bagger Vance-ing of inferred race relations is The Secret Life of Bees. Set in the percolating days of the Civil Rights Movement, this weepy feel-good sampling of you-go-girl saccharine has some real value. But it can't avoid the sugared-sap clichés that have helped to craft this particular motion picture subgenre.

Lily (Dakota Fanning) lives in rural South Carolina with her no-account abusive redneck daddy T. Ray (Paul Bettany) and the family housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). Her mother died when she was very young, and the circumstances have haunted the young girl ever since. When President Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1964 into law, Rosaleen decides to register. In the process, she is assaulted, beaten, and arrested. In a moment of opportunity, she escapes the police, and takes Lily out on the run. They wind up in the care of the Boatwright sisters -- August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys), and May (Sophie Okonedo). Successful beekeepers, their safe haven gives Lily a chance to face the demons from the past and plot a course for the future.

Continue reading: The Secret Life Of Bees Review

Sex And The City Review


Weak
Whenever you bring a popular TV series to the big screen, you always face one inevitable difficulty -- will this material play outside the already dedicated fanbase? Does familiarity breed financial rewards, or does the concept's proverbial companion "contempt" expose the limited interests involved. This is the dilemma that faces the four-years-in-the-making Sex and the City: The Movie. While writer/director Michael Patrick King is no longer simply playing to the feverish fanatics who made the series a pay cable success, he does nothing to broaden the scope -- or potential appeal -- of this bit of now tired pseudo-Cinderella shallowness.

As columnist/author Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) prepares to move in with her longtime beau Mr. Big (Chris Noth), her three fabulous friends are facing their own unique issues. Samantha (Kim Cattrall), after five years in California with her soap actor boy toy (Jason Lewis), is getting antsy for her old stomping grounds... and sexual ways. Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) husband Steve (David Eigenberg) has been feeling unloved, and his actions drive a wedge in their marriage. And Charlotte (Kristin Davis) loves being a wife and mother. When a suddenly-planned wedding goes awry, Carrie hires Manhattan newbie Louise (Jennifer Hudson) to help sort out her life. Turns out, it's harder to find love than any one of these modern gals previously imagined.

Continue reading: Sex And The City Review

Dreamgirls Review


Very Good
If only they had let Bill Condon direct Chicago instead of just writing the screenplay. As Condon shows with his razzle-dazzle adaptation of the 1981 Tony-winning musical Dreamgirls, he would have been quite an improvement on Chicago director Rob Marshall -- who, before he gave us a mostly-Chinese cast for Memoirs of a Geisha, tried unconvincingly to prove that Renée Zellweger could sing and Richard Gere could dance. It didn't quite kill the movie (the material is almost indestructible), but made one wonder what it could have been with some actual professionals in the lead. Condon makes no such mistake with Dreamgirls, finding a cast with just the right mix of theatrical chops and movie star charisma. In short: If anybody's thinking of doing a film of Jelly's Last Jam, they should see what Eddie Murphy's schedule looks like.The story is just about perfect for a musical: simple enough to hang a number of tunes on, and not so complex that it requires an inordinate amount of dialogue. A quick pastiche of a number of popular R&B groups from the 1960s and '70s, the musical follows one talented Supremes-like trio of singers, the Dreams, as they get their big break doing backup for James Brown-esque screecher James "Thunder" Early and secure the services of ambitious proto-music mogul Curtis Taylor. The fortunes of some will rise, others will fall, trusts will be betrayed, and beliefs about love and friendship will be tested -- basically nothing that can't be best expressed by a soaring ballad.Dreamgirls fairly jumps out of the gate with startling impatience, doing everything possible to get the audience's attention short of having the performers actually reach out from the screen and drag people up on stage. The entire beginning -- set backstage at a Detroit talent show -- is a barrage of spotlights, flashy and coordinated outfits, and neck-breaking music-video editing; the remainder of the film lets up a little, but not much. The energetic songs come fast and quick, Condon and his brilliant cast snapping them out like there's no shortage. Fortunately, there isn't.The genius of the original musical was setting itself in such a fecund period for R&B and soul, thus providing a deep well from which to draw inspiration. It was that period starting when songs that were popular on African-American radio ("race records," as they were called) were either ignored or stolen and watered down for the white mainstream, moving into the golden era of the Motown groups and stretching up until the early stirrings of disco. Dreamgirls hits, sometimes obliquely, on a number of big historical moments from this period, such as the scene where Taylor (Jamie Foxx) comes up with the idea of payola to bribe DJs to get the girls' songs on the air. The film is hardly weighted down by history, however, as there's always another number to get to, or another fight to resolve; most of the latter being caused by Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), the loudest and most talented of the trio.Condon took a risk by casting a relative unknown (well, save for American Idol) in this key role, but it more than pays off. Cast aside by Taylor fairly early on, once the chillingly business-like producer decides she's too much trouble, Effie spends a good deal of time in exile, working on a comeback. As everyone knows, Hudson more than holds up her end in the singing department, rattling the rafters each and every time it's called for. But fortunately she's a good enough actress to keep her character likeable, admirably tough instead of annoyingly stubborn. Foxx plays things closer to the vest than he normally does, which gives his character a chilling villainy at times, but comes dangerously close to non-acting at others -- with a similarly muted turn in Miami Vice, this could mark a disturbing trend for a normally explosive performer.The biggest and most pleasant surprise, however, is Eddie Murphy as Early. When he could have fallen back on his well-tooled James Brown impression, Murphy instead mixes up a number of different performers into his act and adds his own swagger and polish, while not forgetting the painful vulnerability of a once ground-breaking artist who's terrified about being left behind (there's more than a little autobiography in this performance). It's as though a curtain has been raised from Murphy: He knew and we knew all along that he could pull off something like this, but it just took the right film to make everybody realize once again, what a star he is.With all the killer tunes and star turns (even the normally sleep-inducing Beyoncé Knowles, as the Diana Ross-like Deena Jones, knocks it out of the park) it's surprising in the end that Dreamgirls isn't a complete winner. Maybe too much ground is covered too fast, too much attention paid to flash and artifice, when more groundwork should have been laid. For some reason, even with all the powerful emotions unleashed during the film, there's a strange hollowness at the end, once all the bright lights have dimmed and echoes faded. Maybe it's too much to ask that a musical deliver knockout songs and a solidly-constructed story at the same time, as the two often work at cross purposes. More likely, we should just be happy that Hollywood has figured out how to make musicals again, even if they only come around every four years or so.His girls like to party all the time.
Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson Quick Links

News Pictures Video Film Footage Press Comments Quotes RSS

Jennifer Hudson

Date of birth

12th September, 1981

Occupation

Musician

Sex

Female

Height

1.75




Instagram



Advertisement
Advertisement

Jennifer Hudson Movies

Sing Movie Review

Sing Movie Review

The quality of the animation in this musical comedy may not be up to Pixar...

Chi-Raq Trailer

Chi-Raq Trailer

On his latest project, director Spike Lee creates an current day version of Aristophanes' ancient...

Black Nativity Trailer

Black Nativity Trailer

Christmas time is coming but for young Langston, happy holidays aren't going to come easy....

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete Trailer

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete Trailer

Mister is a 13-year-old boy living amongst the poverty stricken suburbs of Brooklyn, New York....

Winnie Mandela Trailer

Winnie Mandela Trailer

When young Winnie Madikizela first set eyes on lawyer and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela in...

Black Nativity Trailer

Black Nativity Trailer

Langston Hughes is a street-smart teenager whose life gets complicated when his beloved mother, with...

The Three Stooges Movie Review

The Three Stooges Movie Review

The Farrelly brothers return to the vacuously silly style of Dumb and Dumber for this...

Advertisement
The Three Stooges Trailer

The Three Stooges Trailer

The Three Stooges is a comic caper, following the lives of three men who were...

The Secret Life of Bees Movie Review

The Secret Life of Bees Movie Review

Caucasians, apparently, have no soul. Or heart. Or common sense. According to the movies, whenever...

Sex and the City Movie Review

Sex and the City Movie Review

Whenever you bring a popular TV series to the big screen, you always face one...

Dreamgirls Movie Review

Dreamgirls Movie Review

If only they had let Bill Condon direct Chicago instead of just writing the screenplay....

Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews