Jennifer Hudson's story is one of remarkable resilience, talent, and transformation in the face of profound tragedy. From her early days in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood to winning an Oscar and Grammy, Hudson has experienced both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. This article explores Hudson's weight loss journey, her career milestones, and how she coped with the tragic loss of her mother, brother, and nephew.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jennifer Hudson grew up in the South Side neighborhood of Englewood in Chicago. Despite the challenges of growing up in an under-resourced and violent area, Hudson harbored dreams of stardom. Her mother, Darnell Donerson, encouraged her to pursue her singing ambitions and audition for "American Idol." Hudson had been singing since her teenage years in a Chicago church. Before auditioning for American Idol, she was already working as a singer on a cruise ship. She made the final of the third series.
Although Simon Cowell famously told Hudson she was "out of her league" when she was kicked off "American Idol" in 2004, Hudson proved him wrong.
Rise to Fame and "Dreamgirls"
Hudson's breakthrough role came in 2006 when she starred as Effie White in the film adaptation of the musical "Dreamgirls," alongside Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx. Her performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Following "Dreamgirls," Hudson released an award-winning self-titled album.
The 2008 Tragedy
On October 24, 2008, tragedy struck when Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot dead inside their family home. Three days later, her sister Julia Hudson's 7-year-old son, Julian King, was found dead in a parked car. All three suffered multiple gunshot wounds. William Balfour, Julia Hudson's estranged husband, was arrested and charged with the murders.
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In February 2011, Hudson told Oprah Winfrey that the deaths were a "complete shock," saying, "It's such a shocking thing and it's a lot to take in. It's like, OK, is this real? Did this really happen? It's hard to put it in sync with reality."
In an interview with "Vh1's Behind The Music: Jennifer Hudson," the singer spoke about the days immediately after the shootings. "It's all a blur. It was surreal," Hudson told Vh1. "It was like I was outside of myself. For almost two weeks straight … [I was] inside one room with just family and friends coming in and out."
Despite the tragedy, Hudson found strength in her family, her faith, and the birth of her son, David, in August 2009. "I keep holding on to things that they taught us," Hudson said of her deceased family. "My mother and even my brother -- I can hear him saying to me, 'Just knock it off.'""My mother right now would say to me, 'Why are you always crying? Stop crying,'" Hudson said. "You've got to keep going.
Hudson made her first public appearance after the deaths at the Super Bowl in 2009, where she delivered a flawless performance of the national anthem. Later that month, she won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
Weight Watchers and Transformation
In addition to her career and personal life, Hudson has also been open about her weight loss journey. As a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, she lost over 60 pounds. Hudson slimmed down to a size 6 from a size 16. She told Oprah that she'd shed 80 pounds through Weight Watchers.
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Hudson said, ‘After being pregnant for I felt like forever … you want your body back. And then I realized when I was pregnant I wore these same clothes before I was pregnant. So what does that say? I don’t really like this. Most of all I wanted my body back, so I made up my mind while I was pregnant.’ Even Tim Gunn graced the couch to praise her transformation and dub the star, who got her start as an ‘American Idol’ finalist, one of Hollywood’s best dressed women. ‘Jennifer before the weight loss? Stunning. Since the weight loss? Staggering,’ the ‘Project Runway’ mentor said.
The Trial and Aftermath
The trial of William Balfour was a difficult time for Hudson and her family. In the summer of 2012, Hudson and her sister Julia witnessed his trial and conviction. Balfour received three consecutive life sentences. "In many ways the trial was the most dreadful part of it all," Hudson said. "But again I know my mother would not have wanted us to miss a beat, so we were there every day."
To honor her mother, brother, and nephew, Hudson and her sister established the Julian D. King Gift Foundation. "We both wanted to find a way that we would not dread every birthday and holiday and family occasion again." The foundation provides support and resources to children in need. The pair have also created an annual event they call Hatch Day, in which they travel to schools giving out much-needed teaching supplies. "My nephew was super into education. He used to call himself Dr King. [My sister] can pour his blessings on to these kids and keep his memory alive," said Hudson.
Reflections on Faith and Family
Hudson has often spoken about the importance of faith and family in her life. She said that religious faith helped to overcome the aftermath of the killings and the horror of the ensuing trial: "There would be no point in faith if it wasn't tested. My mother always told me no matter how negative your life seems to be, you must always look for a positive."
Adding that she repeated her mother's advice to herself each day, Hudson explained that the song Moan, on her new album JHUD, which is due to be released in September, was written in her memory. Although Donerson was a quiet woman, her daughter now realises she taught her children a lot."Now she has gone, I realise she had a lot to say. My brother, I hear him, too. When we were kids, any time my brother saw me crying he would be, like, 'Jenny, knock it off.' And that is what I hear him say when I cry now."
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Continuing Success and Inspiration
Despite the tragedies she has faced, Jennifer Hudson continues to inspire others with her talent, resilience, and commitment to giving back. She is now a mother, an A-list singer and she understands its popularity, she finds the emphasis on it boring. "Does everything have to be about that one thing?
Hudson's story is a testament to the power of faith, family, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Her journey from Englewood to Hollywood is an inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamed of achieving their goals, no matter the obstacles.
The Englewood Context
The trial of William Balfour brought attention to the issues facing the Englewood neighborhood where Hudson grew up. As WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore noted, Englewood is an area plagued by violence, unemployment, and health disparities. It's mostly black, poor, in-segregated and under-resource.
While there are strong black clubs and people who work and pay taxes in Englewood, the neighborhood is often painted with a broad stroke of negativity. Moore emphasized that violence in Englewood is often interpersonal violence among young black men, rather than solely gang-related. She also highlighted the role of drugs, lack of resources, and high unemployment in contributing to the violence.
A Victim's Perspective
Cook County Prosecutor Anita Alvarez emphasized that Jennifer Hudson was a victim in the case, just like any other family member who had lost loved ones. Her celebrity status had nothing to do with the fact that she was there. It was the love of her family.
While Hudson's celebrity status may have initially brought more attention to the case, jurors maintained that it did not influence their decision. Ultimately, the jury saw the case as a domestic violence issue, rather than focusing on the challenges of Englewood or the fact that Hudson's brother was a crack dealer.