Seriously? OMG! WTF?

The 25-year-old Chicagoan is an “American Idol” reject. During the show’s third season, Hudson lost to Fantasia Barrino. And Simon Cowell has been gladly eating his stinging remarks — especially since Hudson recently inked a deal with recording legend Clive Davis of Arista Records. However, during her appearance on “Oprah” and other TV shows, you can’t help notice how often Hudson makes shout-outs to God. Which is fine — but ever since Karl Rove mobilized the evangelicals, gays and lesbians become anxious when they hear anything that sounds remotely like proselytizing. How Christian is Hudson? As a kid, Hudson says she visited Dallas a few times. “For church conventions,” she explains. What’s her faith background? “I’m Baptist, if that’s what you mean,” she says. In “Dreamgirls,” the song “One Night Only” is the soulful ballad that becomes Effie’s shot at a solo career. But through a payola scheme, the song gets co-opted by Deena and the Dreams, and Effie’s version gets lost in the dust. On Dec. 30 in New York City, Hudson is the featured entertainer at “One Night Only,” arguably Manhattan’s gayest event during New Year’s Eve weekend. Tickets start at $65, and the singer-actress shares a bill with superstar DJ Junior Vasquez. As a Baptist who’s singing at circuit party, has Hudson reconciled her spiritual beliefs and her gay fan base? Does she support same-sex marriage? “Nobody has ever asked me these questions,” she says. “Everybody sins,” Hudson continues. “No sin is greater or different than the other. To each his own. If it don’t bother Jennifer, then Jennifer don’t mind. I don’t really even think about it because I don’t believe in judging people for what they do.” When referencing themselves, lots of divas probably do that schizophrenic thing where they toggle between first and third person. But did Hudson just say that being gay is a sin? “According to the way we’re taught, and what it says in the Bible — it is,” Hudson says. If her answers didn’t already sound like fundamentalist clichés, Hudson then added, “I have plenty of gay friends.” Her answers were surprising. I had a hunch that Hudson was religious. But when it came to questions about the gay community, I had hoped she might emerge with a thoughtful response. Because she’s a relatively new star, some may say it’s unfair that Hudson should be asked to comment on social issues. But another reporter at the roundtable pointed out that Hudson is a zaftig, dark-skinned woman. He asked Hudson if she feels a responsibility to represent young African-American women in a positive light. “I do think it’s important to be a good role model,” she says. “It just occurred to me a few days ago that I might be a role model. I’m sure that’s a part that comes with the territory. And I want to make sure I represent them well. And give all females — no matter what age, what race — something to look up to.” Part of “Dreamgirls” chronicles the rise of the Civil Rights movement. I tell Hudson that gay audiences might feel a connection because they’re still fighting for equal rights. And when it comes to same-sex issues, all sorts of people might look to Hudson to shed positive light. “I feel we should all have our rights,” she says. “It shouldn’t concern everybody else what somebody’s personal life has going on.” The writer-director of “Dreamgirls” is Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters,” “Kinsey,” “Chicago”). And David Geffen, the backer for the original Broadway musical, serves as the film’s co-producer. Of course, “Dreamgirls” was tailor made for black audiences. “But come on,” I tell Hudson. “This movie is about as gay as it gets.” “Wow,” she says while laughing.

Dallas Voice 

Will this interview cost her the Oscar and her fans? 

Former "American Idol" contestant and current "Dreamgirls" star Jennifer Hudson is hoping to be a role model for real-sized women. Hudson told Newsweek that she’s a size 12, while the entertainment business loves the size 2 woman. She lost weight since making "Dreamgirls," but while the movie people tell her to keep her curves, the music people tell her, "You look great. Keep losing." "Why should I feel like the minority when the majority of America is a size 12?" Hudson asked. Hudson said a lot of singers don’t sound the same when they lose weight, and she has what she called "a little singer’s pouch" and that’s where her voice comes from. "Somebody has to represent the big girls," Hudson said. "Why not me?"

WSB 

Good for her! She is so right and she looks great!!! You go girl!

The Hollywood stars seem to be aligned for Jennifer Hudson. Access Hollywood has confirmed that the former "American Idol" contestant signed a record deal with Clive Davis’ J Records. Jennifer revealed her plans to Access this past Saturday at the "A Fine Romance" event in Hollywood. "My album, I’ll be recording my album! I just signed my record deal 2 weeks ago. So I’m starting on that in January." At J Records, Ms. Hudson joins such music giants as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Barry Manilow, but Jennifer will also feel right at home with her former "Idol"-mates as the J/Arista label houses many of her "Idol" counterparts like Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks. The J Records label is part of the Sony BMG music conglomerate. Oprah Winfrey profiled the cast of "Dreamgirls," including Hudson, on her Monday, November 20th, 2006 show. In her show, she included the following bite from "Idol" judge Simon Cowell: "We have our history together, don’t we, Jennifer?" Simon told Jennifer via Oprah. "Now I feel my criticism has probably had a significant part in your career, because the buzz on you is huge. I heard your [version] of ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ today, and I would like to be the first to eat a massive dose of humble pie. Because there are good performances and occasionally there are extraordinary performances. That was extraordinary, Jennifer, and I feel very proud for you. I feel we had a very small part in what’s happened in your life, and please thank me when you get your Oscar®."

Access Hollywood 

They are a good match.

First, the $6 cup of coffee – now brace yourself for the $25 movie ticket. That’s the record sum that will be charged to see "Dreamgirls" for the first 10 days of its theatrical run, beginning on Dec. 15. The highly anticipated film version of the 1981 Broadway musical about a singing group resembling the Supremes stars Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. It will be showing exclusively at the Ziegfeld in Manhattan, as well as at single theaters in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The $25 ticket buys a reserved seat, a 50-page color souvenir program and a look at a lobby exhibition of costume and set designs. Moviegoers will also have "the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise and the film’s soundtrack in the lobby," according to the movie’s Web site. The film will be shown without commercials or coming-attraction trailers. There will be only one showing per evening, with an added matinee on weekends. Paramount, the film’s distributor, is reaching back into movie history to bring back the "road show" – or reserved-seat engagements at higher-than-usual prices. The practice was standard for big-budget Hollywood pictures into the 1960s, with blockbusters like "The Ten Commandments," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Sound of Music" running six months or more at a single theater with higher prices. The last official road show was "Man of La Mancha," another film based on a Broadway musical, in 1972. "Dreamgirls" is being treated much like a live theatrical presentation – although $25 is a bargain compared with the $110 and up charged for orchestra tickets to Broadway musicals – to build buzz and the film’s Oscar chances. "We wanted to bring it to audiences in a special way, and we think this road show does the film justice," Jim Tharp, Paramount’s president of distribution, told Variety. There’s one difference – road-show movies generally had an intermission. "Dreamgirls," which runs 125 minutes, will not. The last movie with an intermission was "Gandhi," in 1982. Theater owners and studios have debated for years whether tickets to popular and expensive movies should carry a premium, as well as whether prices should be dropped after a movie is running for a few weeks.

NY Post 

I think I might do it because at least you are getting something for your money! Plus it seems like everyone who has seen it, has loved it!!!

« Previous entries Next entries »