Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Ill.

Having had some musical experience during her childhood such as performing in gospel choirs and touring for Disney’s “Hercules: The Musical,” she was well prepared when she finally broke out onto the pop culture scene during the third season of FOX’s most popular reality T.V. series, American Idol.

Although Hudson’s incredible soulful voice didn’t allow her to become the official “Idol,” she went on to star in one of Hollywood’s most memorable musicals, Dreamgirls, for which she won an Oscar in 2007.

Hudson followed up her silver screen debut with a role in 2008’s Sex and the City: The Movie opposite Sarah Jessica Parker.

The multi-talent is engaged to I Love New York 2 star David “Punk” Otunga. The couple welcomed their first child, David Daniel Otunga Jr., in August 2009.

Hudson faced a family tragedy in October 2008 when her mother, brother and nephew were found brutally murdered at their Chicago home.