Age: 44
female
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.
Jennifer Hudson
Aretha Franklin
for Aretha Franklin in Soul Evolution: A Journey Through R&B History
Suggested by kamsismith
"Soul Evolution" is a captivating TV series that delves into the rich and diverse history of R&B music, tracing its roots from the 1940s to the present day. Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with music legends, and expert commentary, each episode of "Soul Evolution" will explore the cultural, social, and musical milestones that have shaped the genre over the decades. From the emergence of rhythm and blues in the post-war era, to the Motown sound of the 1960s, the funk revolution of the 1970s, the rise of contemporary R&B in the 1980s and 1990s, to the genre-bending artists of the 21st century, "Soul Evolution" will provide a comprehensive and enlightening journey through the evolution of R&B. Featuring exclusive interviews with iconic artists, producers, and industry insiders, viewers will gain insight into the creative process behind some of the greatest R&B songs and albums of all time. From Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin to Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, and beyond, "Soul Evolution" will celebrate the contributions of these trailblazing artists while also examining the social and cultural contexts that influenced their music.
