Trivia

Was not in attendance at the 2007 BAFTA Awards ceremony when she was won the award as Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2006). Actor and fellow BAFTA-nominee, Daniel Craig, accepted the award on her behalf. Her award was shipped to her but got lost in the mail. In 2011, Hudson appeared on British talk show, Jennifer Hudson/K D Lang/Bill Bailey (2011), where Norton surprised her with the award.

Beat out 782 actresses for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls (2006).

Is one of a very few actors to receive an Academy Award for their debut performance.

After appearing on the March 2007 issue of Vogue magazine, she became the third African-American celebrity to grace the front cover. The other two were Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry.

Confessed that before making the film Sex and the City (2008), she had never seen the television series Sex and the City (1998). After reading the film script, she went out and bought all of the DVDs on the television series and became completely addicted to them.

Managed to eke out a thanks to the original stage Effie, Jennifer Holliday, as the orchestra music began to unceremoniously drown out Jennifer's emotional Oscar acceptance speech. Both Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph (the theater's first Deena) had expressed hurt and dismay earlier at being snubbed during the mounting publicity for the "Dreamgirls" film. The third original Dreamgirl on stage, Loretta Devine, received a singing cameo in the film version. The other two were not offered or even approached to appear in the film.

On October 24, 2008, Hudson's mother Darnell, 57, and brother Jason, 29, were shot and killed at their home in Chicago. Her 7-year-old nephew, Julian Hudson-King, was kidnapped. He was found dead on October 27, 10 miles away, in the back of a white SUV. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia Hudson, was later arrested for the homicides. If Hudson hadn't accepted her then-fiancé David Otunga's invitation to go with him to a training trip in Florida that weekend, she would have been at her mother's house when she was killed.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6262 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 13, 2013.

Jennifer was going to perform "Over the Rainbow" for movie night but was informed that she had have to perform it Kimberley Locke's way and decided to sing "I Have Nothing" instead.

Packed on 20 pounds to play the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls (2006).

Director Michael Patrick King and actress Sarah Jessica Parker wanted Jennifer specifically to play the role of Louise, Carrie's assistant, in Sex and the City (2008). He created the role with only her in mind.

Her favourite female pop artist is Céline Dion.

She cites Whitney Houston as her musical/movie influence, and has also said recently that her biggest wish is to collaborate on her debut album with Houston.

(March 10, 2007) She was overwhelmed to receive the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. She also performed at the ceremony and said, "I just can't believe I got the Sammy Davis Jr. Award. I'm standing on the same stage where I made the top 32 of American Idol.".

Is a huge fan of Michael Bublé and invited him to sing with her on her Christmas TV special Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas (2009).

Was invited to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009, but respectfully declined, opting instead to make her comeback at the 2009 Super Bowl.

Had she not accepted an invitation by fiancé David Otunga to accompany him to Florida on a training trip that fateful weekend in October 2008, she would have been at her mother's Chicago home where her estranged brother-in-law William Balfour fatally shot both her mother and older brother.

Claims that Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) is her favorite film. Sheryl Lee Ralph, who appears in that film, was in the original Dreamgirls Broadway cast.

Became close friends with singer Beyoncé during the filming of Dreamgirls (2006). Beyoncé was present at the February 2007 Academy Awards ceremony where Jennifer won the Oscar for best supporting actress.

Beat American Idol (2002) winner Fantasia Barrino for her role in Dreamgirls (2006), despite the fact that Barrino had won Season 3 of the talent show with Hudson trailing in seventh place (2004).

Is the first contestant from American Idol (2002) to be nominated and receive an Academy Award.

Dedicated her Golden Globe Award to Florence Ballard on whom her Dreamgirls (2006) character Effie White is so obviously based on. (January 2007)

She is the daughter of Samuel Simpson and Darnell Hudson Donerson, and is the youngest of three children. Her father was a bus driver. Her brother, Jason, was a mechanic, and her sister, Julia Hudson, works as a school bus driver.

Is one of 7 African-American actresses to win an Oscar in a competitive category. In chronological order the others are: Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the Wind (1939), Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost (1990), Halle Berry for Monster's Ball (2001), Mo'Nique for Precious (2009), Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011) and Viola Davis for Fences (2016).

Has three Pomeranian dogs called Oscar, Grammy and Dreamgirl.

Engaged to David Otunga from September 12, 2008: her 27th birthday to November 16, 2017.

Attended and graduated from Dunbar Vocational High School in Chicago, Illinois; she sang in the school's chorus (1999).

Her best supporting actress Oscar for Dreamgirls (2006) stands on the mantel of her Chicago apartment.

Is one of 8 actresses to have won an Academy Award for their performance in a musical. The others in chronological order are; Rita Moreno, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone.

Celebrated her son David's first birthday with a WWE-themed party.

Began singing when she was 7-years-old. As a child, Jennifer performed as part of a choir at her local church in Chicago.

Has a son: David Otunga Jr. (b. August 10, 2009) with ex-fiancé, David Otunga.

Jennifer Hudson is the Godmother for the Disney Dream cruise ship.

Worked at Burger King before becoming a contestant on American Idol (2002) and winning the role of her Academy-Award winning performance in Dreamgirls (2006).

Is one of the 16 actors to win an Oscar for their film debut. The others are: Shirley Booth for Come Back, Little Sheba (1952), Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins (1964), Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl (1968) and Marlee Matlin for Children of a Lesser God (1986) (all for Best Actress in a Leading Role), followed by Katina Paxinou for For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), Mercedes McCambridge for All the King's Men (1949), Eva Marie Saint for On the Waterfront (1954), Jo Van Fleet for East of Eden (1955), Goldie Hawn for Cactus Flower (1969), Tatum O'Neal for Paper Moon (1973), Anna Paquin for The Piano (1993) and Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave (2013) (all for Best Actress in a Supporting Role). The three male actors are Harold Russell for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Timothy Hutton for Ordinary People (1980), and Haing S. Ngor for The Killing Fields (1984) (all for Best Actor in a Supporting Role). Out of these 16 actors, only Mercedes McCambridge, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand and Goldie Hawn have been nominated since their win.

Jennifer attributes her vocal talents to her late grandmother Julia Kate Hudson, who was a former choir mistress in Chicago.

Her favourite types of music are R&B and pop music.

Mentioned by Lil Mama in the remix of Avril Lavigne's song "Girlfriend": "I'm telling you like Jennifer Hudson".

Returned to work 5 months after giving birth to her son, David Jr. in order to begin recording her second album: I Remember Me.

On June 10, 2011, she was rushed to the hospital with severe abdominal pains; was later diagnosed with food poisoning.

Officially received, for the first time, the BAFTA trophy she had won for Dreamgirls (2006) when she appeared as a guest on Jennifer Hudson/K D Lang/Bill Bailey (2011). When Norton learned that Hudson had never actually received her trophy due to her absence on the night of the event, he organized a reissue of the prize with the British film academy and personally presented it to her himself.

The song "All Dressed in Love" was written for the soundtrack of Sex and the City (2008).

Is one of 15 African-American actresses to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The others in chronological order are: Hattie McDaniel, Ethel Waters, Juanita Moore, Beah Richards, Alfre Woodard, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Queen Latifah, Ruby Dee, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Mo'Nique and Octavia Spencer. As of 2012, Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis are the only African-American actresses to receive nominations in both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories.

Made her stage debut with the one-off concert revival of "Hair" on Broadway in September 2004. She then returned to Broadway for the one-off concert revival of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" as Jewel in October 2006.

Is one of 13 actresses to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich (2000), Renée Zellweger for Cold Mountain (2003), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006), Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008), Mo'Nique for Precious (2009), Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010) and Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011), Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables (2012), Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (2013), Patricia Arquette for Boyhood (2014) and Julianne Moore for Still Alice (2014).

She signed a record deal with Clive Davis's label, Arista Records. (November 2006)

Is one of 115 people invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2007.

Is one of 6 actresses to have won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing a character who is pregnant at some point during the film, hers being for Dreamgirls (2006). The others are Mary Astor for The Great Lie (1941), Kim Hunter for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Mary Steenburgen for Melvin and Howard (1980), Brenda Fricker for My Left Foot (1989), and Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener (2005).

The seventeenth person, fifth woman, fifth person of color and third black performer to receive the status of EGOT. The other recipients (chronologically) are Richard Rodgers, Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, John Gielgud, Audrey Hepburn, Marvin Hamlisch, Jonathan Tunick, Mel Brooks, Mike Nichols, Whoopi Goldberg, Scott Rudin, Robert Lopez, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, John Legend, Alan Menken, Viola Davis and Elton John.

As of 2007, she is the eighth youngest recipient of the best supporting actress Academy Award. She won the award at the age of 25 for her performance in Dreamgirls (2006). The others, ranked from youngest to the seventh youngest, are: Tatum O'Neal (aged 10) for Paper Moon (1973), Anna Paquin (aged 11) for The Piano (1993), Patty Duke (aged 16) for The Miracle Worker (1962), Anne Baxter (aged 23) for The Razor's Edge (1946), Teresa Wright (aged 24) for Mrs. Miniver (1942), Goldie Hawn (aged 24) for Cactus Flower (1969) and Angelina Jolie (aged 24) for Girl, Interrupted (1999). She is also the youngest African-American actress ever to win an Academy Award.