She may not have earned the title of American Idol, but critics are saying Jennifer Hudson is definitely a contender for Oscar® gold! Gayle talks to Jennifer about her jaw-dropping performance in the hit movie Dreamgirls and her stint on American Idol.
Jennifer Hudson beat out hundreds of other hopefuls to make her film debut as Effie White in Dreamgirls. With a star-studded cast, including Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, the movie was a dream come true, Jennifer says. Having no formal music or acting training, she says she has been overwhelmed by her journey and the support she's received.
"[My life] has definitely changed," Jennifer says. "But it is something, of course, I am enjoying because I've never ever wanted anything more. … I'm living my dream."
A Chicago native who grew up singing in her church choir, Jennifer says she has always dreamed about being a singer. Less than three years ago, Jennifer was a contestant on American Idol, but was voted off in the middle of the season. Jennifer says she was upset, but she also saw it as an opportunity to be bigger and better. "Of course I cried," she says. "You think that is your only chance. … [But] when things like that come along and you don't know why…look, search deep because there is a lesson in it."
Jennifer says the end of her American Idol dream was really just the beginning of new opportunities for her. "I knew something was coming," she says. "I didn't know what, how, when or where. But at the time it didn't matter, because if that was it for me, that was enough."
