Seriously? OMG! WTF?

AMERICAN IDOL winner FANTASIA BARRINO was devastated when fellow talent show contestant JENNIFER HUDSON beat her to the part of EFFIE WHITE in the forthcoming DREAMGIRLS movie. Barrino, who beat Hudson in the 2004 season of the televised music contest, auditioned for the role of the troubled sixties singer, but lost out to Hudson. She says, "I was a little hurt. I remember calling Jennifer. She picked up the phone and I said, ‘Heifer, you took my part.’"

Contact Music 

I wonder if Jennifer Hudson called Fantasia after she won American Idol and called her to say heifer, you took my title? Thank G-d Hudson got the role because after seeing Fantasia in her own biopic on Lifetime, she never would have been able to handle it.

HAPPY/SAD DAY
Current mood: depressed

It should be a happy day because I heard that the National Board of Review picked me as one of the BreakThru Actresses of the Year.  What an honor.  I was so thrilled when I heard.  But it turned into a sad day and I can’t understand why or how this happened.  When you are up, people try to tear you down.  Some paper is saying that I have a problem with gay people.  Its just mean and wrong.  My feelings are so hurt and I can’t sleep.  Anybody that knows me, knows that just ain’t true.  Its makes me so mad that people can twist your words and say anything they want. And, there’s nothing I can do about it, except to say,
please don’t believe everything you read.

Jennifer Hudson’s MySpace (Thanks Tazz!)

I am glad she responded so quickly and so well before too much damage could be done.  

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.

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