Also Credited As: Jennifer Hudson
Born: on 09/12/1981 in Chicago, Illinois
Job Titles: Singer, Actress

Family
Brother: Jason Hudson. older
Father: Samuel Simpson. deceased
Grandmother: Julia Kate Hudson. maternal grandmother; avid churchgoer who sang in the choir
Mother: Darnell Hudson.
Sister: Julia Hudson. older
 

Jennifer Hudson Biography
It is rare for any actor to receive critical acclaim and awards buzz long before their film’s nationwide theatrical release. But Jennifer Hudson joined that elite league in 2006, when her performance in the big screen adaptation of the stage musical, “Dreamgirls” was touted as a shoe-in for all major acting awards – even before the movie premiered in theaters. In February of that year, she was even named “Female Star of Tomorrow” by ShoWest (the film industry’s largest annual convention). It all amounted to an impressive debut for a shy and sweet Midwestern girl who never had any formal training in music and acting and whose biggest prior credit was being unanimously voted off “American Idol” (Fox, 2002- ) in the show’s third season.
Born on Sept. 12, 1981, Jennifer Kate Hudson grew up in Chicago, IL and started singing in her church choir at the age of seven. Her late maternal grandmother, Julia Kate Hudson, also sang for the church, and became Hudson’s vocal inspiration. Throughout elementary and high school, Hudson participated in various talent shows and productions that honed her skills as a singer. Her melodic gifts landed Hudson a singing contract with the Disney Cruise Ship line, the “Disney Wonder,” where she portrayed Calliope – a main character in the ship’s entertainment extravaganza. The show, which the singer considered a huge milestone in her life, ran from February to August of 2003, and inspired Hudson to pursue her chosen career much more seriously than ever before.