Jennifer Hudson - Bitten and Bound

Sandy Hook Children’s Choir Sings with Jennifer Hudson: VIDEO

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Feb 042013

Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-actress Jennifer Hudson performed ‘America the Beautiful’ before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLVII Sunday night with 26 children who make up the Sandy Hook Elementary School Choir from Newtown, Connecticut.

The rendition brought tears to the eyes of Baltimore Ravens players and some of their San Francisco 49ers opponents.

Hudson was a perfect choice to accompany this group of children who were left to cope with the deaths of 20 first-graders and six adults gunned down in a shooting rampage at their elementary school on Dec. 14.

Jennifer’s mother, sister and nephew were murdered in their Chicago home by a relative who shot them with a hand gun. William Balfour, Hudson’s brother-in-law, received three life sentences without the possibility of parole in July 2012.

Check out the touching video below:

Photo: Courtesy WENN, Video Screen Grab

Jennifer Hudson Serenades First Couple at Inaugural Ball: VIDEO

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Jan 222013

It wasn’t by chance that Jennifer Hudson chose to serenade President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with the Al Green standard ‘Let’s Stay Together’ during one of the official Inaugural balls.

The song is one that the Commander-in-Chief sang, in part, during a fundraiser held at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater last year. He received rave reviews from Al Green, who later acknowledged, “He nailed it.”

Last night it was Jennifer Hudson who wowed the audience with her own rendition while the First Couple danced and mouthed the words to each other.

Before taking the stage at the high-profile gig, Hudson hit Twitter to share her excitement, “Right now the President and First Lady will dance to Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together,’ to be performed by … ME!!! Yes!~ Amazing night!”

Check out the video below. We’ve taken the liberty of adding Obama’s 2012 rendition for your viewing pleasure:

Photo: Twitter-Barack Obama

Jennifer Hudson Joins ‘Smash’ Season 2 Cast

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Jun 232012

The NBC Broadway drama ‘Smash’ will add Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson when season two airs in the fall.

Hudson won the Academy Award for Supporting Actress for her portrayal in ‘Dreamgirls.’ She has signed on to play Veronica Moore on ‘Smash.’

The former Idol alum from season three will appear in a multiple-episode role on the show that stars another Idol competitor, season five runner-up Katharine McPhee.

NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a network announcement, “We’re thrilled to have Jennifer Hudson coming to ‘Smash.’ This series is a showcase of some of the best musical talent in the business, and that’s a fitting description for Jennifer Hudson. Her character will represent someone who reached their Broadway dream but also paid a price for it.”

Executive producer Steven Spielberg said, “It’s wonderful to be reunited with her at Dreamworks Television and NBC.”

For those who followed the first season, three characters have been booted: Jaime Cepero (Ellis) and Raza Jaffrey (Dev) are out and Brian D’Arcy James (Frank), will return briefly before wrapping up his storyline opposite Debra Messing‘s Julia.

Photos: WENN

Jennifer Hudson ‘Relieved’ Following Guilty Verdict: Issues Statement

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May 122012

Jennifer Hudson bit her lip and tears rolled down her cheeks as the verdict was read in court on Friday. She managed a small smile that she shared with her sister as William Balfour was found guilty of murdering three of their family members.

The slayings occurred during a jealous rage over a balloon gift that Balfour’s ex-wife Julia Hudson received from her new boyfriend.

An eleven day trial included testimony by 83 witnesses and was built on circumstantial evidence.

After three days of deliberation, Balfour was convicted of first degree murder, home invasion and residential burglary in the 2008 deaths of Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson and Julian King.

Jennifer Hudson and her sister Julia released a statement: “We have all suffered terrible loss in this tragedy. It is our prayer that the Lord will forgive Mr. Balfour of these heinous acts and bring his heart into repentance someday.”

They also praised police and trial witnesses and thanked prosecutors for their “dedication and tireless work.”

Balfour, 31, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Check out a verdict video below:

Jennifer Hudson ‘I Will Always Love You’ Grammy Tribute to Whitney Houston

Awards Shows, Celebrities, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston No Responses »

Feb 132012

During last night’s 54th Grammy Awards there were several moving tributes to singer Whitney Houston that included a heartfelt opening prayer by show host L.L. Cool J.

LL said, “There’s no way around this. We’ve had a death in our family, and so at least for me – for me – the only thing that feels right is to begin with a prayer for a woman we loved, for our fallen sister, Whitney Houston.”

“Whitney, we will always love you,” he continued. “And we’ll remember you the best way we know how – with a song.”

Jennifer Hudson sang I Will Always Love You on a darkened stage with a photo of Whitney on the big screen behind her. The brave and emotional rendition received a standing ovation from the crowd.

We have been covering the sudden death of Houston, who was discovered dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hill suite several hours before she was to have attended a pre-Grammy bash thrown annually by her mentor Clive Davis.

View Hudson’s tribute below:

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