Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Hudson rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, placing seventh. She made her film debut as Effie White in the musical Dreamgirls (2006), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the youngest African-American to win in a competitive acting category. After signing to Arista Records, Hudson released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which was certified Gold in the US and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Hudson's subsequent studio albums, I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), both charted within the top ten of the Billboard 200, with the former also being certified Gold in the US. Meanwhile, her other acting roles include the films Sex and the City (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Winnie Mandela (2011), Black Nativity (2013), Sing (2016), Cats (2019) and Respect (2021), the television shows Smash (2012), Empire (2015) and Confirmation (2016), and her Broadway debut with the musical The Color Purple. Hudson also contributed as a coach on the UK and the US version of The Voice from 2017 up to 2019, becoming the first female coach to win the former.
Filmography
Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk
as Ophelia the Owl (voice)
Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk
as Ophelia the Owl (voice)
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
as Lilian Ledes (voice)
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
as Lilian Ledes (voice)
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
as Self
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
as Self
GOAT
as Louise Harris (voice)
GOAT
as Louise Harris (voice)
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
Grace for the World
as Self
Grace for the World
as Self
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl
as Self
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl
as Self
Diane Warren: Relentless
as Self
Diane Warren: Relentless
as Self
Christmas with Andrea Bocelli & Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special
Christmas with Andrea Bocelli & Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special
92nd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center
as Self
92nd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center
as Self
Josh Groban & Friends: Home for the Holidays
as Self
Josh Groban & Friends: Home for the Holidays
as Self
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special
as Self
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special
as Self
Breathe
as Maya
Breathe
as Maya
Christmas at Graceland
as Self
Christmas at Graceland
as Self
Tell It Like a Woman
as Pepcy / Kim
Tell It Like a Woman
as Pepcy / Kim
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
Respect
as Aretha Franklin
Respect
as Aretha Franklin
Monster
as Mrs. Harmon
Monster
as Mrs. Harmon
Roll Up Your Sleeves
as Self
Roll Up Your Sleeves
as Self
Baba Yaga
as Forest (voice)
Baba Yaga
as Forest (voice)
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special
as Self
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special
as Self
In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover
as Jennifer Hudson
In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover
as Jennifer Hudson
Global Goal: Unite for Our Future | The Concert
as Self
Global Goal: Unite for Our Future | The Concert
as Self
The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II
as Self
The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II
as Self
One World: Together at Home
as Self
One World: Together at Home
as Self
Cats
as Grizabella
Cats
as Grizabella
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
as Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
as Self
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
as Self
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
as Self
Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
as Self
Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
as Self
Happy Hour with Olly Murs
as Self
Happy Hour with Olly Murs
as Self
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
as Self
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
as Self
A Very Pentatonix Christmas
as Self
A Very Pentatonix Christmas
as Self
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
as Self
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
as Self
Sandy Wexler
as Courtney Clarke
Sandy Wexler
as Courtney Clarke
Hairspray Live!
as Motormouth Maybelle
Hairspray Live!
as Motormouth Maybelle
Sing
as Young Nana (voice)
Sing
as Young Nana (voice)
Confirmation
as Angela Wright
Confirmation
as Angela Wright
Chi-Raq
as Irene
Chi-Raq
as Irene
The Concert for Valor
as Self - Performer
The Concert for Valor
as Self - Performer
Lullaby
as Nurse Carrie
Lullaby
as Nurse Carrie
And the Oscar Goes To...
as Self - Interviewee
And the Oscar Goes To...
as Self - Interviewee
Black Nativity
as Naima
Black Nativity
as Naima
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
as Gloria
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
as Gloria
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
as Maggie
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
as Maggie
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
as Self
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
as Self
The Three Stooges
as Sister Rosemary
The Three Stooges
as Sister Rosemary
Always Whitney Houston
as Self
Always Whitney Houston
as Self
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
as Self
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
as Self
VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul
as Self
VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul
as Self
Winnie Mandela
as Winnie Mandela
Winnie Mandela
as Winnie Mandela
Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas
as Self
Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas
as Self
VH1 Divas 2009
as Self
VH1 Divas 2009
as Self
Winged Creatures
as Kathy Archenault
Winged Creatures
as Kathy Archenault
Michael Jackson Memorial
as Self
Michael Jackson Memorial
as Self
DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70
as Self (archive footage)
DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70
as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Life of Bees
as Rosaleen Daise
The Secret Life of Bees
as Rosaleen Daise
Live from the Red Carpet: Sex and the City
as Self
Live from the Red Carpet: Sex and the City
as Self
Sex and the City
as Louise
Sex and the City
as Louise
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
as Self
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
as Self
Dreamgirls
as Effie White
Dreamgirls
as Effie White
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
as Jewel
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
as Jewel
The Making of 'Sex and the City'
as Self
The Making of 'Sex and the City'
as Self