Jennifer Hudson

Season 3 · Eliminated 7th

Where are they now

Jennifer Hudson hosts the syndicated daytime talk show The Jennifer Hudson Show, which started in September 2022; its fifth season was set to premiere on September 14, 2026. She is a producer of a Broadway revival of Dreamgirls that was announced to open in fall 2026. Her most recent album, the Christmas album The Gift of Love (Interscope, October 2024), received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2026.

Key figures

Known for

  1. I Remember MeAlbum · 2011
  2. Jennifer HudsonAlbum · 2008

Interest over time

Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, July 2015 – September 2026.

Coach on The Voice UKCoach on The VoiceOscars song performanceMemory on The VoiceRespect film opens

Career

  1. 2004

    American Idol, season 3

    Eliminated 7th

    January 19 – April 21, 2004

  2. Television

    Finished seventh on season 3 of American Idol (Fox, January to May 2004); she left the competition at the Top 7 stage.

  3. 2006

    Record deal · November 2006

    Signed a recording contract with Arista Records.

  4. Acting · December 25, 2006

    Made her screen debut as Effie White in the film musical Dreamgirls, which opened in limited release in December 2006; the role won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

  5. 2008

    Release · September 30, 2008

    Released her debut studio album, Jennifer Hudson, on Arista; it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.

  6. 2011

    Release · March 22, 2011

    Released her second studio album, I Remember Me, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.

  7. 2012

    Book

    Published an autobiography, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down.

  8. 2014

    Release · September 23, 2014

    Released her third studio album, JHUD, on RCA Records; it peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200.

  9. 2015

    Broadway

    Made her Broadway debut as Shug Avery in the revival of The Color Purple; the cast album later won a Grammy.

  10. 2016

    Record deal · June 28, 2016

    Signed a recording contract with Epic Records.

  11. 2017

    Television · 2017 – 2019

    Served as a coach on The Voice UK (series 6 to 8) and on the U.S. version of The Voice (seasons 13 and 15); her act Mo Adeniran won The Voice UK series 6.

  12. 2021

    Acting · August 2021

    Played Aretha Franklin in the biographical film Respect and sang its soundtrack album.

  13. 2022

    Broadway

    Was a producer of the Broadway musical A Strange Loop, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in June 2022.

  14. Television · September 12, 2022

    Began hosting the syndicated daytime talk show The Jennifer Hudson Show; its fifth season was set to premiere in September 2026.

  15. 2024

    Release · October 18, 2024

    Released the Christmas album The Gift of Love on Interscope Records, her first studio album since 2014.

  16. 2026

    Broadway · February 11, 2026

    Was reported on February 11, 2026 to have signed on as a producer of the Broadway revival of Dreamgirls, her third Broadway producing credit after A Strange Loop and Smash; the revival was set to open in fall 2026.

Discography

TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. salesBillboard peak
And I Am Telling You I'm Not GoingSingle2006No. 60Hot 100
SpotlightSingle2008No. 24Hot 100
Jennifer HudsonAlbum2008Arista / J RecordsGoldNo. 2Billboard 200
If This Isn't LoveSingle2009No. 63Hot 100
Let It BeOther2010No. 98Hot 100
Where You AtSingle2011No. 64Hot 100
I Remember MeAlbum2011Arista / J RecordsGold459,000September 21, 2014No. 2Billboard 200
Think Like a Man (with Ne-Yo featuring Rick Ross)Single2012No. 90Hot 100
JHUDAlbum2014RCANo. 10Billboard 200
Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Soundtrack2021Epic / MGMNo. 151Billboard 200
The Gift of LoveAlbum2024InterscopeNo. 160Billboard 200

Cover images: Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz).

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2007Academy AwardsActress in a Supporting RoleDreamgirlsWon
2009Grammy AwardsBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceSpotlightNominated
2009Grammy AwardsBest R&B AlbumJennifer HudsonWon
2009Grammy AwardsBest R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With VocalsShared: Jennifer Hudson, FantasiaI'm His Only WomanNominated
2015Grammy AwardsBest R&B Solo PerformanceShared: Jennifer Hudson, R. KellyIt's Your WorldNominated
2017Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater AlbumShared: Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Joan Raffe, Scott Sanders, Jhett TolentinoThe Color PurpleWon
2021Emmy AwardsOutstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program (Daytime Emmy Awards)Shared: Eric Darnell, Mathias Chelebourg, Maureen Fan, Kane Lee, Larry Cutler, Jennifer HudsonBaba YagaWon
2022Grammy AwardsBest Compilation Soundtrack For Visual MediaRespectNominated
2022Grammy AwardsBest Song Written For Visual MediaShared: Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole KingHere I Am (Singing My Way Home) [From Respect]Nominated
2022Tony AwardsBest MusicalShared: Jennifer Hudson, other credited producers of A Strange Loop (full list not opened)A Strange LoopWon
2026Grammy AwardsBest Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumThe Gift Of LoveNominated

Sources

Compare Jennifer Hudson with others

Other season 3 finalists

Season 3: all finalists and their careers · Semifinalists