What Is Jennifer Hudson’s Net Worth?
An American recording artist, actress, and spokesperson, Jennifer Hudson boasts a net worth of $30 million. She gained widespread recognition from the competition series “American Idol” and has since carved out a successful career in both music and acting. Her accolades include numerous Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Notably, on June 12, 2022, Jennifer secured a Tony Award as a co-producer for the play “A Strange Loop,” officially welcoming her into the elite “EGOT” club, which honors those who have achieved an Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, and Tony. Other esteemed members of the EGOT club comprise Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, Audrey Hepburn, and Rita Moreno.
Considered a frontrunner in her season of “American Idol,” she faced an unexpected elimination in the sixth week of the competition. Sources suggest that a power outage in her hometown of Chicago may have impacted her voting results. Following the show, she co-starred in the film adaptation of “Dreamgirls” in 2006, where her portrayal of Effie White—previously associated with Jennifer Holliday’s performance—earned her an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2007, her debut album achieved Gold status and garnered a Grammy. She followed this success with a second album in the spring of 2011, which climbed to #2 on the “Billboard” 200 chart.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Jennifer Kate Hudson on September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois, she is the youngest of three children, growing up in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. After graduating from Dunbar Vocational High School in 1999, Hudson enrolled at Langston University but left due to homesickness, later attending Kennedy-King College.
Hudson began her singing journey at the age of 7 in her church choir, encouraged by her grandmother Julia to engage in community theater. She signed her first recording contract in 2002 with Righteous Records, an independent label based in Chicago. However, in 2004, she departed from her five-year contract to participate in the reality competition “American Idol.”
Initially auditioning for the third season of “American Idol” in Atlanta, Hudson had been performing as one of the Muses from “Hercules” on the Disney Wonder ship in the Disney Cruise Lines prior to that. She showcased her talent well in the competition, even earning the highest vote count in the Top 9 round, yet was eliminated two weeks later during the Top 7 round. Despite her elimination, she is celebrated as one of the competition’s standout contestants; in 2009, MTV named her the sixth greatest contestant with a shocking exit, while the “Los Angeles Times” ranked her third in the history of “American Idol,” behind Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Music Career
Following her departure from “American Idol” in 2004, Hudson ventured into several projects, including a duet titled “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be” with Meat Loaf. In November 2006, she signed a record deal with Arista Records, collaborating with producers Ryan Tedder and Timbaland on several tracks for her debut album. In June 2008, she released her debut single “Spotlight,” while her self-titled debut album hit the market in September 2008 through Arista, crafted with the help of Ne-Yo and Stargate. The album debuted at #2 on the “Billboard” 200 chart and received positive reviews, ultimately winning Best R&B Album at the 2009…
The Grammy Awards recognized her talent, where she was nominated for an additional two awards in the categories of Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Her second studio album, titled “I Remember Me,” launched in March 2011, and it debuted at #2 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. This was followed by her 2014 album “JHUD.” In June 2016, Hudson signed with Epic Records.
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Acting and Television Career
Hudson embarked on her acting career in November 2005, landing the role of Effie White in the movie adaptation of the musical “Dreamgirls.” She shared the screen with notable stars like Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, and Eddie Murphy. Out of hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including Fantasia Barrino, she was selected for the role and received acclaim for her performance. Specifically, her rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” was praised as an outstanding display. For her portrayal of Effie White, Hudson garnered 29 different awards, encompassing the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Furthermore, she earned accolades from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Screen Actors Guild as Best Supporting Actress.
After “Dreamgirls,” Hudson took on supporting roles in several films, including “Sex and the City” (2008) and “The Secret Life of Bees” (2008). She progressed to leading roles in “Fragments” (2009), “Winnie Mandela” (2013), “Black Nativity” (2013), and “Cats” (2019). Additionally, she made her Broadway debut in “The Color Purple” in 2015, winning a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017 for her contributions to the production. Jennifer also showcased her talents on television as a coach in the sixth and eighth seasons of “The Voice UK” and in the thirteenth and fifteenth seasons of the American version of “The Voice.”
In 2021, she took on the role of Aretha Franklin in “Respect,” earning the titles of Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards. In September 2022, she launched her own talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
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Spokeswoman
The year 2010 saw Hudson become a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. In an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” aired in February 2011, she shared that she had successfully lost a total of 80 pounds. Furthermore, Jennifer published her autobiography in 2012, which chronicled her weight loss journey.
Personal Life
From 1999 until late 2007, Hudson was in a relationship with James Payton. Following that, she started seeing David Otunga, a Harvard Law graduate and WWE professional wrestler. In September 2008, they became engaged, and their son, David, was born in August 2009. Unfortunately, the couple parted ways in November 2017. In 2022, she began a romance with rapper/actor Common, who co-starred with her in the movie “Breathe.”
Tragedy struck on October 24, 2008, when Hudson’s mother, Darnell, and brother, Jason, were discovered shot to death in their shared Chicago home with Hudson’s sister, Julia. The situation worsened when Julia’s son, Julian, was reported missing and subsequently found deceased three days later. William Balfour, Julia’s estranged husband, faced charges of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. In July 2012, he received three life sentences without the chance for parole, along with an additional 120 years for other offenses. In the aftermath of this devastating event, Hudson’s family established The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, along with the Julian D. King Gift Foundation, in memory of her nephew.
Real Estate
In 2011, Jennifer acquired a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom residence situated in the Burr Ridge suburb of Chicago. This stunning home, built in 2007, features a floating staircase, several laundry rooms, a private movie theater, and hardwood flooring. She bought the property for nearly $3 million, which was significantly less than its initially listed price. Spanning 12,000 square feet, it provides ample space for her to display future awards in her already remarkable collection.