Singer, actress, and television host Jennifer Hudson has achieved EGOT status—winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Raised in Englewood, she began singing in her church choir at age seven. Hudson rose to fame as a finalist on the third season of American Idolin 2004. Despite finishing in seventh place, she secured the role of Effie White in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Her debut performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, along with a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award. Following this, she released her gold-certified, Grammy-winning self-titled debut album in 2008. Also in 2008, she faced a personal tragedy when her mother, brother, and nephew were killed, prompting her to take a hiatus before returning to music and film. Subsequent acting roles included The Secret Life of Bees (2008) and portraying Aretha Franklin in Respect (2021). She also starred on Broadway in The Color Purple and won a Tony Award as a producer for A Strange Loop (2022). As a television personality, she served as a coach on The Voice (US and UK) and launched her own daytime talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, in 2022. Hudson is widely recognized for her powerful vocals and has been hailed as one of the most successful American Idol contestants ever.