name | Jennifer Hudson |
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background | solo_singer |
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birth name | Jennifer Kate Hudson |
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birth date | September 12, 1981 |
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birth place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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instrument | Vocals |
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genre | R&B;, soul |
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occupation | Singer, actress, spokesperson |
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years active | 2004–present |
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label | RCA Records (2011-present)Arista |
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associated acts | Ne-Yo |
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website |
}} |
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Headerstyle | background:#F0E68C; |
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Labelstyle | background:#ddf; |
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Datastyle | background:#DCDCDC;
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Header1 | Film Awards |
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data2 | {{Infobox
| child yes
| title Academy Awards
| label1 2006
| data1 Best Supporting Actress
| label2
| data2
}} |
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| data3 =
| data4 =
| data5 =
}}
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an
American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the
third season of ''American Idol'', coming in seventh place. She made her film debut in the 2006 film ''
Dreamgirls'', which won her an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a
Golden Globe Award, a
BAFTA Award, an
NAACP Image Award and a
Screen Actors Guild Award.
She won a Grammy Award for her eponymous debut album, ''Jennifer Hudson'', which was released in 2008 on Arista Records and was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 800,000 copies in the US; sales exceeded 1 million copies worldwide. Additionally, it spawned the hit single ''Spotlight''. Her second album, ''I Remember Me'', was released in March 2011, and reached number two on the Billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release.
In late 2008, after Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting, Hudson stepped out of the limelight for three months. Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009, and has since performed at the Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, ''American Idol'', and ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. Hudson has been described as a friend of President Barack Obama, who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills in May 2009. She also performed at the White House at the "Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" event. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano. Hudson has sold 1,280,000 albums and 2,237,000 tracks in the United States as of February 2012.
Biography
Early life and American Idol
Jennifer Hudson was born on September 12, 1981, in
Chicago,
Illinois. She is the third and youngest child of Darnell Donnerson (November 7, 1950 – October 24, 2008) and Samuel Simpson (died 1999). She was raised as a
Baptist in
Englewood and attended
Dunbar Vocational High School, from which she graduated in 1999. She cites
Whitney Houston,
Aretha Franklin, and
Patti LaBelle as her overall biggest influences and inspiration. At the age of 7, she got her start in performing by singing with the church choir and doing community theater with the help of her late maternal grandmother, Julia. She enrolled at
Langston University but she left after a semester due to homesickness and unhappiness with the weather, and signed up at
Kennedy–King College.
In January 2002, Hudson signed her first recording contract with Righteous Records, a Chicago-based independent record label. The company's president, David Johnson, and his staff put Jennifer through a full year of artist development, working five days a week on live performance, stage presence, songwriting, on-camera interviewing, charm school etiquette and physical fitness. She was released from her five-year contract with Righteous Records so that she could appear on ''American Idol'' in 2004, but Jennifer credits David Johnson with teaching her "so much" and preparing her for the successful career she is enjoying today.
Hudson auditioned for the third season of ''American Idol'', in Atlanta, commenting that she had been singing on Disney Cruise Lines (aboard the Disney Wonder) for the past few months (as one of the Muses from ''Hercules''); and contestant judge Randy Jackson said, "We're expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you."
Hudson struggled to gain popularity in the early stages of ''Idol'''s live shows, receiving the second-lowest number of votes in two of the first three shows. However, after a change in song choices, she soon became a favorite to win, receiving the highest number of votes in the "Top 9" after her performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life" on April 6, 2004. During the "Top 7" show, Hudson performed Barry Manilow's, "Weekend in New England", which garnered praise from all three judges. Hudson was eliminated during this week, which some blamed in part on a power outage in Hudson's hometown of Chicago due to storms and tornadoes in the area. This also led to controversy since the "Battling Divas" were all in the Bottom 3. On April 21, 2004, Hudson became the sixth of the 12 finalists to be voted off the show, finishing the competition in seventh place. In May 2010, the ''Los Angeles Times'' claimed Hudson to be the third greatest ''Idol'' contestant in the history of the show. She placed behind Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson and Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood.
''American Idol'' performances
2006-07: ''Dreamgirls'', career breakthrough and Music career development
In September 2006, Hudson performed the song, "Over It," live on
Fox Chicago Morning News. In the interview she stated the song would be included on her debut album, to be released in early 2007, however this was before she was signed to a record label. In November 2006, Hudson signed a record deal with Arista Records. On ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', Hudson announced plans to enter the studio in March 2007. Hudson said on ''
The Tyra Banks Show'', on February 23, 2007, that she just finished the first song for the album. Hudson also recorded a song called, "Stand Up", which was available for preview on her fan website which was produced by Chicago natives
Earl Powell and Herman Little III, who arranged the song. The power-ballad would later become available on the deluxe edition of Hudson's
self-titled album as a
bonus track.
In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the role of
Effie White for the
film adaptation of the musical ''
Dreamgirls'', which also starred
Jamie Foxx,
Beyoncé Knowles and
Eddie Murphy. The role, originally created in a Broadway performance by
Jennifer Holliday, marked Hudson's debut screen performance. She won the role over hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including
Raven-Symoné and
Fantasia Barrino. Filming of ''Dreamgirls'' began on January 9, 2006, and the film went into limited release on December 25, 2006, and national release on January 12, 2007.
Hudson has won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", the signature song of the role, which had earlier been recorded, and had already reached the status of musical standard, because of the definitive performance of Jennifer Holliday. ''
The New York Observer'' described Hudson's performance of the song as "five mellifluous, ''molto vibrato'' minutes that have suddenly catapulted Ms. Hudson... into the position of front-runner for the best supporting actress Oscar". ''Newsweek'' said that when moviegoers hear Hudson sing the song, she, "is going to raise goose bumps across the land." ''
Variety'' magazine wrote that Hudson's performance "calls to mind debuts like
Barbra Streisand in ''
Funny Girl'' or
Bette Midler in ''
The Rose'', with a voice like the young Aretha".
Hudson's version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" debuted at number 98 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the January 13, 2007, issue. The ''Dreamgirls'' track became Hudson's first top 10 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot Adult R&B; Airplay chart on February 24, 2007. "
Love You I Do" was nominated for the 2007
Academy Award for Best Original Song and won the 2008
Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
As Effie White, Hudson has garnered 29 awards from film critics as Best Supporting Actress and Breakthrough Performer of 2006. She won the Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In addition, she has been named Best Supporting Actress by the Broadcast Film Critics Association and also by the Screen Actors Guild. After seeing Hudson's performance in ''Dreamgirls'', Simon Cowell taped a congratulatory message to her, which aired on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. With the March 2007 issue, Jennifer Hudson became the third African-American celebrity, and the first African-American singer, to grace the cover of ''Vogue'' magazine.
On 11 February 2007 the 60th British Academy Film Awards were held in London, but Hudson was not there to accept her award for BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. The BAFTA Award went missing and Hudson did not receive her award until April 22, 2011, when it was presented to on the ''Graham Norton Show''.
On February 25, 2007, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. During her acceptance speech, Hudson said: "Oh, my God, I have to just take this moment in. I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. I didn't think I was going to win. [...] If my grandmother was here to see me now. She was my biggest inspiration." She also concluded her speech by thanking Jennifer Holliday.
Later in 2007, the Mayor of her home town Chicago, Richard M. Daley, declared March 6 as "Jennifer Hudson Day". She was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on June 18, along with 115 other individuals for 2007. ''Entertainment Weekly'' put her performance on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Sure, Beyoncé's performance was great. And Eddie Murphy's was impressive. But there was really only one reason we all rushed to see 2006's Dreamgirls: Jennifer Hudson's soul-to-the-rafters rendition of the classic 'And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going'. When she sang 'You're gonna love me,' it wasn't just a lyric — it was a fact."
2008-10: Subsequent film roles, ''Winnie'' and ''Jennifer Hudson''
In May 2008, Hudson appeared in the feature film ''
Sex and the City'' as Louise,
Carrie Bradshaw's assistant. Filming finished in December 2007 and the movie was released on May 30, 2008.
In October 2008, Hudson had her third film appearance in ''
The Secret Life of Bees'' as Rosaleen, the mother figure of Lily Owens (
Dakota Fanning). Also starring in the film are fellow Oscar nominees
Queen Latifah and
Sophie Okonedo, as well as
Alicia Keys. The film opened on October 17, 2008, and grossed over $37 million at the box office. The film won two
People's Choice Awards in January 2009 in the categories, Favorite Drama Movie and Favorite Independent Movie. The film also received nine
Black Reel Awards nominations including three wins. Hudson was nominated for her performance in the film, but lost to
Queen Latifah. The film also received eight nominations at the 2009
NAACP Image Awards, including a nomination for Hudson for her performance.
In 2009, Hudson starred as Kathy Archenault in ''
Fragments'', a film based on the novel by
Roy Freirich, with Dakota Fanning and
Forest Whitaker. The name of the film was changed from "Winged Creatures" to "Fragments". It was released on DVD on August 4, 2009.
In 2010, Hudson started filming an upcoming
biopic film ''
Winnie'' based on the South African politician
Winnie Mandela starring alongside
Terrence Howard and directed by
Darrell J. Roodt. Andre Pieterse and Roodt and Paul L. Johnson based the film's script on Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob's biography, ''Winnie Mandela: A Life''. The Creative Workers Union of South Africa have opposed this choice, stating they will push for a moratorium on the film if the casting is not reversed. Winnie Mandela has threatened legal action over this film, claiming she was not "consulted" about the film. ''Winnie'' was scheduled to be released in December 2011; the trailer was released in 2010.
In January 2008 Hudson returned to the studio to record new material for her debut album. Her label was reportedly unhappy with the direction they were sending Hudson musically and decided it would be best to scrap the older songs and instead focus on new ones. Hudson worked with Ryan Tedder and Timbaland on a number of songs. Her debut single, "Spotlight" was released on June 10, 2008 and became Hudson's first top 40 hit peaking at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and became a top 20 hit in the United Kingdom and Turkey.
Her debut album, ''Jennifer Hudson'' was released on September 30, 2008 on Arista and was written by Ne-Yo, who co-produced along with Stargate. Additional contributors on the album include Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke, Harvey Mason, Jr., Diane Warren, Earl Powell, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, among others. The album debuted at number two on the ''Billboard' 200 with 217,000 copies in the US and opened to positive reviews. As of August 2009, the album has sold 739,000 copies in the US, receiving a Gold certification for surpassing sales of 500,000. She has performed the song, "All Dressed in Love" for the ''Sex and the City'' soundtrack, which was released on May 27, 2008. Hudson performed the national anthem at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
The album's second single was to be released in October 2008, and was originally set to be "My Heart" before "If This Isn't Love" was chosen as the official second single. After three of her family members were murdered brutally by her estranged brother-in-law, the single was rescheduled for a January 2009 release. However, in January 2009, her label decided to postpone the release of the second single once more until, choosing a February 2009 release date. After the release of "If This Isn't Love", the single eventually peaked at number 63 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 37 on the UK Singles Chart. The third single was announced as "Pocketbook" featuring Ludacris in April 2009, for a June 2009 release, despite speculation that the third single would be "My Heart" after it was canceled as the second single. In May 2009, "Pocketbook" was canceled as the third single due to negative reception from fans and critics alike. The third single was then rescheduled as "Giving Myself" and was released on June 2, 2009 to the US.
Her debut album garnered Hudson three nominations at the 2009 Grammy Awards; Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance for "Spotlight", Best R&B; Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "I'm His Only Woman" with Fantasia Barrino, and Best R&B; Album for ''Jennifer Hudson''. She won the last of these and performed at the awards ceremony.
Hudson sang ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' at Super Bowl XLIII. She toured the United States with Robin Thicke in 2009. In early May 2009, Hudson suffered "throat fatigue" and had to reschedule her May 16–19, 2009, tour dates. She sang "Will You Be There" at the Michael Jackson memorial service on July 7, 2009.
Hudson recorded "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," originally by Gladys Knight & the Pips, for ''American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics'' — the official ''American Idol'' album for the third season. She is featured in a duet, "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be," on Meat Loaf's ''Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose''. She also performed the song "Easy to be Hard" on the Actors' Fund benefit recording of the musical ''Hair''; and she is featured on Ne-Yo's second album, ''Because of You'', on the track, "Leaving Tonight". Hudson sang "Dancing a Catchy Rhythm" with Brooke White.
Hudson performed a Christmas special on ABC in December 2009 called ''Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas''. During the special, she relived her childhood Christmases with musical performances filmed at her favorite locations in her native Chicago. Hudson also visited family members, friends and other childhood influences during the broadcast.
On January 22, 2010, Hudson appeared on the telethon "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief", performing the Beatles' "Let it Be". The telecast generated $61 million in donations as of January 26, 2010.
Also, that year, Hudson recorded the song "One Shining Moment" for the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
2011-present: ''I Remember Me''
Early in the album's development, Ne-Yo told
E! Online that Hudson was ready to get personal on her second studio album. When probed for details he said that he might be producing the album. He also said "I'm pretty good at writing personal records...It starts with her idea and her thoughts." She's gone through a lot over the last year, so she has a lot to talk about," he continues. "She's definitely gotten stronger. The things that she's gone through and for her to still be upbeat and happy, it's amazing."
Hudson released her second studio album ''
I Remember Me'' on March 22, 2011. ''I Remember Me'' debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release.
On January 24, 2011 Hudson premiered the album's lead single "
Where You At". It was written by
R.Kelly and produced by
Harvey Mason, Jr. The song went for radio adds that same week. On February 3, 2011 due to radio adds the single made its debut on the US
Billboard Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 53, having so far reached a peak of number 10. The music video premiered on
BET's ''
106 & Park'' and through
Vevo on February 24, 2011. "No One Gonna Love You" impacted on
Urban adult contemporary radio in the United States on May 24, 2011. A remix bundle titled "No One Gonna Love You-The Remixes" was released as a digital download in the US and the UK on July 13, 2011. The song has reached number 23 on the
Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs. The third U.S. single will be "I Got This".
Non-single track "Don't Look Down" reached number 70 on the US
Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Hudson will play a nun in the Farrelly brothers upcoming film ''The Three Stooges'', scheduled to be released in 2012.
Following the death of Whitney Houston on February 11, 2012, Hudson paid tribute to Houston interpreting "I Will Always Love You" during the 54th Grammy Awards held on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Personal life
Hudson began dating James Payton in 1999, when she was 18. The couple separated in late 2007. Hudson met
David Otunga, a Harvard Law graduate, and the couple became engaged on September 12, 2008. On August 10, 2009, Hudson gave birth to her first child with Otunga; a boy named David Daniel Otunga Jr.
Family murders
On October 24, 2008, Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donnerson, and the singer's 29-year-old brother, Jason, were found shot to death inside the Chicago home Donnerson shared with Hudson's elder sister, Julia. An AMBER Alert was issued for Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, after Hudson's sister, Julia, reported him missing.
Later that day, Chicago police arrested a suspect, William Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, but he was not charged with the crime. Balfour was on parole and had spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. The Illinois Department of Corrections' records revealed one of Balfour's addresses to be the home where Donnerson and Jason Hudson were murdered.
Three days later, on October 27, 2008, the dead body of a young boy was found inside a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban parked on a street in Chicago's West Side area. The license plate and the vehicle's description matched that given in the AMBER Alert. The FBI confirmed the body was that of Julian King. Autopsy reports released on October 29, 2008, from the Cook County Medical Examiner's office indicated that Julian King's death was due to "multiple gunshot wounds".
A gun found in a West Side vacant lot was confirmed to be the murder weapon by Chicago police Superintendent Jody Weis on October 31, 2008. The gun belonged to Jason Hudson and had been missing for several months.
Funeral services for the three victims were held on November 3, followed by a private service at Chicago's South Side Apostolic Church of God on November 10. Hudson's family announced creation of The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, in honor of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
Because he had not yet been officially charged with the murders, Balfour appeared without an attorney at a 35-minute parole violation hearing on November 10, 2008. At the hearing it was decided that he was believed to have violated parole and should be held in custody until a December 3 hearing before the full Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
Balfour became the prime suspect on December 1, 2008, and was transferred into police custody. A police department spokesperson said, "He is awaiting formal charges for three counts of murder. There likely will be a press conference once there are formal charges against him." Balfour was officially charged with three counts of first degree murder, one count of home invasion and was denied bail.
Balfour was indicted for the murders on December 30, 2008, and pleaded not guilty in a January 27, 2009, court appearance.
On February 1, 2009, Hudson made her first public appearance since the murders when she sang the ''Star-Spangled Banner'' at Super Bowl XLIII.
On January 19, 2012, Cook County Judge Charles Burns rejected the defense's request for a futher postponment in the trial and set a date of April 23, 2012, for opening remarks to commence.
Other media
As of April 1, 2010, Hudson became the spokesperson for
Weight Watchers. She has lost in the last year and "does not want to lose any more weight." However, on February 10, 2011, she appeared on ''
The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and revealed she has now lost a total of 80 pounds.
Discography
''Jennifer Hudson'' (2008)
''I Remember Me'' (2011)
Filmography
Hudson has appeared in the following film releases:
+ List of film credits
|
! Year
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! Title
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! Role
|
Notes
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2006
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Effie White
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2008
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Louise
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2008
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''''
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Rosaleen Daise
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2009
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Kathy Archenault
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2011
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Winnie Mandela
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2012
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A nun
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Filming
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Awards and nominations
References
External links
Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:Actors from Chicago, Illinois
Category:African American female singers
Category:African American film actors
Category:American dance musicians
Category:American mezzo-sopranos
Category:American Idol participants
Category:American rhythm and blues singers
Category:American soul singers
Category:Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award winners
Category:Baptists from the United States
Category:Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners
Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners
Category:Dunbar Vocational High School alumni
Category:Grammy Award winners
Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois
Category:RCA Records artists
ca:Jennifer Hudson
cs:Jennifer Hudson
cy:Jennifer Hudson
da:Jennifer Hudson
de:Jennifer Hudson
et:Jennifer Hudson
es:Jennifer Hudson
fa:جنیفر هادسون
fr:Jennifer Hudson
ko:제니퍼 허드슨
hr:Jennifer Hudson
id:Jennifer Hudson
it:Jennifer Hudson
he:ג'ניפר הדסון
hu:Jennifer Hudson
ms:Jennifer Hudson
nl:Jennifer Hudson
ja:ジェニファー・ハドソン
no:Jennifer Hudson
pl:Jennifer Hudson
pt:Jennifer Hudson
ro:Jennifer Hudson
ru:Хадсон, Дженнифер
sq:Jennifer Hudson
simple:Jennifer Hudson
sk:Jennifer Hudsonová
sr:Џенифер Хадсон
fi:Jennifer Hudson
sv:Jennifer Hudson
tl:Jennifer Hudson
th:เจนนิเฟอร์ ฮัดสัน
tr:Jennifer Hudson
uk:Дженніфер Гадсон
vi:Jennifer Hudson
yo:Jennifer Hudson
zh:珍妮佛·哈德遜