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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > September > 29 > Entry
9/29: Jennifer Hudson’s album finally out, LaKisha getting hitched
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I would have posted sooner but my laptop hard drive had a heart attack and died. Tech folks are trying to glean data out of it. I hope they do because even as it was grinding on Friday, I stupidly did not back up key files. I can only pray or a couple of stories I’m working on might be in jeopardy. I never learn!
Anyway, I’m on a temporary laptop for now and here’s the “Idol” news I can glean for now: (UPDATE: the tech folks replaced my hard drive and retrieved my data. Phew!)
Here are clips from newspapers that have interviewed Jennifer Hudson. No clue if they had preconditions but her personal life or talk about her cover are not referenced in any of the three stories below:
Despite her familiarity from the movies, television and prominent gigs like singing the national anthem last month at the Democratic National Convention in Denver (at the request of Senator Barack Obama) Ms. Hudson is still a risky proposition in the music industry. She’s on the brink of household-name status yet hasn’t scored a hit song of her own. She has a bold, powerful voice but not the centerfold physique of most of the women who top the pop charts. And that Oscar has created expectations difficult for any first-timer to meet.
From USA Today
More than four years ago, when the then-unknown singer finished seventh on Season 3 of American Idol, she delivered an “exit speech. I said, ‘I don’t know when or where or how, but God has something in store for me.’ I think the judges or producers kind of laughed.”
Hudson, 27, laughs herself at the memory, and with good reason. Not long after making that prediction, she landed a key role in the star-studded screen adaptation of Dreamgirls, and wound up winning an Academy Award.
Heck, even the Wall Street Journal talked to her.
Ms. Hudson: I have a great sense of who I am and I’ve never been one to duplicate or imitate. What was challenging was that because of the award for “Dreamgirls” and the attention from the film, it added pressure on me — not in the acting, but in the music. I’ve been singing music from other artists that came from a different time and I’m always compared to them. So it’s been challenging to be me and be current, while still connecting to everything I’ve portrayed so far. It would make me nervous when I’d walk the streets. It’s all different kinds of people approaching me, and I’d think, “What am I offering all of them?”
And here’s a great blog entry from the Los Angeles Times’ brilliant writer Ann Powers about why we connect with Jennifer Hudson and David Cook.:
When these singers really let go, their voices smash through the limits imposed by their bodies and personalities, making them golden. That’s what we once wanted from great singers — fat or scrawny, pimpled or aging, they could blow away our prejudices. Imperfection is highly discouraged in corporate pop now, but for Hudson and Cook, it helps; more glamor would dampen the wonder of their performances. That’s why it’s sad to encounter so much airbrushing in the new musical products meant to secure their places as pop stars.
And then she gets into the critique of her album:
Hudson’s self-titled debut album, to be released next week, has been so long in coming that it’s no surprise how focus-grouped it feels. Ten producers over 13 tracks does not make for a strong artistic identity. If this were Hudson’s fifth or even third album, the variety might have worked: Hudson’s helmsmen would have had a strong persona to embrace or oppose. As it is, she’s the one bending to adapt, pleasing everyone but receding at the same time.
-Here is her appearance (at the 35 minute point) on Jay Leno’s “The Tonight Show.”
She addresses her fiance David Otunga, noting he’s an attorney and Harvard grad. She conveniently omits the fact he was “Punk” on the reality show “I Love New York 2.” She told Jay that he proposed to her by blindfolding her on a beach, have her dig up a bunch of messages, then giving her the ring. And she sings “Spotlight.”
-Kristy Lee Cook with “Why Wait” opened with just 9,552 in sales and #49 on the Top 200. That’s far below Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington, both which opened around 60,000 to 70,000 and not even as good as Phil Stacey, which opened at 13,000 earlier this year. So her 15 minutes are indeed… up, eh?
-LaKisha Jones is getting married Sunday to a guy named Larry Davis in Beverly Hills. Gina Glocksen and Melinda Doolittle are set to attend, according to Idol Chatter in USA Today.
Comments
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
I just saw JHud on The View. She sounded pretty good!
By tanning lotion
September 29, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
I just heard Jennifer Hudson on Ellen Degeneres and she sounded good.
best tanning lotion
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
An additional note about J-Hud: she had a guest cameo on Extreme Home Makeover last night — once again, as with Dancing with the Stars, ABC did not allow them to mention rival Fox Show appearance on American Idol (you will recall that DWTS did not mention Lacey’s participation in SYTYCD). In this day and time of mass communications and media cross-over, you’d think they’d actually look BETTER by crediting someone’s history even if it’s on a different network, but noooooooo. Anyway, the young girls in the family wanted to be performers (er, that is, super stars) and one of the “designers” went to see Jennifer in Chicago and had her tape a message to the girls “… and most of all never give up”
just thought i’d mention it, since it’s AI related despite ABC’s attempt to ignore it!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
dang that gal’s busy, if you both “just saw her” on two different shows, LOL!!!
By ADL
September 29, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
I’m not waiting on it. My dog ahs enough toys to chew on.
By Fun times
September 29, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Is this really blog worthy. Her past music sounded like a bag of dying cats.
By Snore
September 29, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Wake me up when somebody who has talent puts out an album.
By Miss A
September 29, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Wow, Snore…..you don’t think Jennifer Hudson has talent? Oh, that’s right, you are waiting for Lindsay Lohan or Brittany Spears’ cd to drop….LOL…now that’s talent, huh?! Jeesh…..
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Jennifer Hudson has a talent, it’s the talent of being photo-shopped beyond recognition… if only they gave out awards for that sort of thing.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
wow … MEOW!!!! Hisssssss Pffft!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Now now JT… the gal CAN sing; she’s very old-fashioned, when true to her own best style, but she DOES have the voice and range to do quite well. She should NOT try pop diva stuff. And she’s soooooooooo much better IMHO than ahem others from her “generation” of AI…
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
What’s going on in here?
Everybody must be crabby from the awful football weekend we had. :-)
JHud is talented…anyone who saw her in Dreamgirls would be hard pressed to deny it. However, she hasn’t made it in the music business. Maybe her choice of music isn’t good enough. Time will tell on this next cd.
By Voiceofreason
September 29, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
What’s SYTYCD??
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Deirdre, I think we have one crabby person who discovered how to post under multiple names. Well then you have me, but by default I get crabby with the whole J. Hudson thing.
Voiceofreason: SYTYCD = socialists yelling to young cross dressers ???
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Wait I have it: SYTYCD = Stupid Yellow Things You Can’t Digest! Oh wait that brings up the whole Archie-corn connection again doesn’t it?
By Nana
September 29, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
Does JHud need a centerfold physique to top the pop charts as the NY Times stated? I certainly hope this is not the case. She has the talent to top out if she can get the songs that will relate to the fans. Time will tell if her cd release can make the chart.
Sounds as if the cats are out in full force, with claws waiting to swipe.
SYTYCD stands for: So You Think You Can Dance.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
JT, you’ve got me hiccuping i’m laughing so hard!!!!
SYTYCD = So You Think You Can Dance = another FOX network competition that is related (by way of Nigel Lythgoe) to American Idol
anything else you want to know? we’re a fountain of useless information here, you see…
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
HEY!! this means someone actually READ my post!!!!
wow, way cool!!!
~¿@
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
JT…LOL!!!!!
By Nana
September 29, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
JT, you need to stop making me laugh. I laughed out loud on the 1st definition and before I finshed, I read your 2nd one. You are a real hoot. But hey, that’s okay. Laughter is good for the soul. Keep it coming.
By JHudfan
September 29, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, singers are under great pressure to “look” a certain way. Remember the year Alicia Keys won over India Aria because she had the right “look”. Simon on American Idol is really bad about picking singers with the right “look”. So, no, it’s not all about how they sing, it’s about how they look. Otherwise the record co. wouldn’t have photoshopped Jennifer’s pic. Anyone who is a Jennifer Hudson fan knows exactly what she looks like.
I think she’s talented and I will buy her CD; maybe not tomorrow, but I’ll get it.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 29, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
yeah…. JHfan…and unfortunately quite a few of the so-called “big stars” in the pop world are more like flashes in the pan, talent-wise! As an example, I’d rather listen to Melinda Doolittle sing over most of the contestants ever on AI, but she wasn’t blessed with a beyonce-or-britney body….
in this day of instant video availability, the crass, shallow, greedy industry leaders want “pretty” instead of “excellence” … those of us who have better taste have to plow through the pretty sh*t to get to the good stuff!!!
such is life, eh?
By harrietth
September 29, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
Just a retro thought to last Friday’s subject: I actually bough tDonald Braswell’s CD on ITunes on Friday. It is really good, if a bit dated-material-wise.
By GRACE
September 29, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
I believe she has had some bad mgmt that wasted too much time. Right after she finished Dream Girls in the Spring, when the movie came out in December, JHud should have been releasing her 1st single. By the time she was on the award show circuit from Jan-March, JHud should have been promoting her 1st CD along with celebrating her wins. She missed out on a lot of free press, now she has to pay for commercials. JHud could learn a thing or 2 from Beyonce. Alway promote a movie & CD at the same time. The studio is setting up interviews to promote the movie. You should use the free press to promote a CD. Now that she is in the news becomeing the prey of Cali’s latest young, hot gay hustler, JHud stock has decreased.
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
I do love my acronyms.
Excellent point Grace, there is no excuse for this sort of delay.
I won’t be so quick to blame Simon or the industry for the music-image situation that we are in. Instead I’ll point the finger at the consumer. The industry is driven by money and for that it caters to demand. Sex sells and even though I know better - I’m buying.
By DJ
September 29, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Perhaps JHud shouldn’t have put out a CD at all, at least in the conventional sense. On iTunes, buy.com, walmart.com, labels could put out a digital CD with no album art at all.
In the past (the vinyl past) we had 12” LP jackets to showcase album art, pics, thank you’s , etc. With the advent of the CD, a lot of this art has to be whittled down to fit a 5” square. No wonder music labels take to photo shopping to get more on the album art. And us Older Folks have a hard time seeing that small print. LOL
I read in Essense that JHud has lost 50 pounds. (Maybe it all wasn’t in time for the CD cover shoot). I wouldn’t normally “weigh” in on these subjects but those of you hating on anything she’s putting out needs to take a long look in the mirror. Or sing into a tape recorder (old school) and play it back…. If you look or sound better than JHud, try out for American Idol. Otherwise….. stop hating.
And who listens to critics anyway? New York Times, reviewing “pop” or r&b? PUHLEASE!!!
By Mo's mom
September 29, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Unless it’s a cd with a cover showing what she REALLY looks like, a big beautiful woman, & not that photoshopped crap they’ll put out, I will not be purchasing it!
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
DJ, I reserve the right to be a “hater” regardless of my physical or vocal prowess. I respect your opinion and I do so without requiring photo’s or recordings.
Just to be clear, I’m a “hater” of the photo-shopping and more importantly I’m a “hater” of the method with which the cover has been handled by JHud and her people.
By Nana
September 29, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Size should NOT make a difference in promoting a cd, movie or etc. Hollywood is nothing but a hypocritical town and doesn’t give a sh*t about what it has to do to make money. It’s alright for a star to be arrested for DUI, drug prosession, or whatever, even murder (OJ, Robert Blake). All they get is a slap on the hand. Take a common person like me and if I were to do something like that, I would be put under the jail and the key thrown away, as would you. Its no wonder the stars are like they are. They know they can break the law and get by, as long as they are making Hollywood richer. If your weight is above the norm (size 0)you are to big and your cds, movies (if you can make one in a size 1) won’t sell. This is just a bunch of BS. I don’t care what JHud’s size is, she is very talented and and did not deserve the remark that the NY Times said about her size keeping her from the top of the pop chart. No, I don’t care for her that much, but it just ticks me off that the emphasises that is put on one’s size is always the issue, especially for the female. The entertainment world uses a double standard where the male and female is concerned. For example, how many times did we hear Simon Cowell put down JHud, Frenchie Davis and other plus size female contestants because of their weight, but I personally do not remember him ever once saying anything to Ruben about his. Yes, it is a double standard. Is it fair, heck no, but that is the mindset of the producers, and directors in the entertainment field. All they see if the almighty dollar sign. Again, I repeat, size should NOT make a difference in the talent. It doesn’t take the talent away from anyone who has it.
Okay, I think I have vented enough.
By JHudfan
September 29, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, singers are under great pressure to “look” a certain way. Remember the year Alicia Keys won over India Aria because she had the right “look”. Simon on American Idol is really bad about picking singers with the right “look”. So, no, it’s not all about how they sing, it’s about how they look. Otherwise the record co. wouldn’t have photoshopped Jennifer’s pic. Anyone who is a Jennifer Hudson fan knows exactly what she looks like.
I think she’s talented and I will buy her CD; maybe not tomorrow, but I’ll get it.
By Blkshepherd
September 29, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
I like her voice and she does have a gift.but that attitude still turns me off. I C she dumped the boyfriend who was with her before she became famous and was a nobody for some fool she just met. talk about shallow. An oscar does not guarrentee roles coming at you and more success. Yes as cuba gooding jr, whoppi goldsberg..lou gossett. the only one who gets to command his career and whats thrown his way is Denzil Washington.(who appears to be a modern day Sidney Poitier..bac in the 60s he is the only one that could appear next to any white actor/tress and end up bigger or stealing the movie..no matter who he played next too. WiLL Smith is also respected in Hollywood(and a big box office draw) I dont see J Hud being a big draw for anything music or screen. Her head is just too damn big and yes sometimes winning an oscar so early in one’s career Kills them for future gigs..Any one know where “Show me the Money” Cuba-LOOK MA! I WON AN OSCAR-gooding jr is now? Winning the top awards does not garrentee longevity in the movie or music business..Lauryn Hill won five grammies..where the hell is she now? Even Jami Foxx win..so what?
By Nana
September 29, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’m wrapping up my day and headed home. As always, y’ll be safe and drive careful.
By Mike D
September 29, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
I’d say she is a two bagger. I’d put one bag on her and one on me just incase one of the bags fell off.
Also I would keep something in her mouth to keep her from singing.
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
DJ…here’s the thing…I don’t need to weigh 98 pounds, look like Alicia Keyes and sound like Diana Ross to know what I like and don’t like about someone’s music. Jealousy, believe it or not, is not a factor in what music I listen to. I mean…sheesh!
When people don’t like the same artist that other people do like…it’s usually just a matter of personal taste. Is it so frickin hard to believe that someone doesn’t like the same artist you like!!!!???? What makes you the expert in what I should like to listen to?
And BTW, I looked at myself in the mirror and listened to myself sing. Nope, I wouldn’t buy any cd I made. Does that make me a hater?
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Uh OH! I think I caught the Crabby Virus! :-)
By ,,,=^..^=,,, @ home
September 29, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
D i’m with you girl, just because i don’t PREFER a particular person or sound DOESN’T make me a hater; it just means i don’t think or feel the same way you do. How many times a year do we have to say this? This is a BLOG. It is meant for OPINIONS. Not slander, not disrespect, not name-calling or put-downs. Read my lips “O-P-I-N-I-O-N-S”. Opinion is defined, among other things, as a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; “my opinion differs from yours”; “I am not of your persuasion”; … a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; “his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page”
we all have them. like some other things in life. get over it and quit making accusations that we are haters because we don’t AGREE with YOU.
sheesh
By ,,,=^..^=,,, @ home
September 29, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
and Mike D, you’re just rude. You contributed exactly LESS THAN NOTHING to the conversation.
By Mike D
September 29, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Weird cat icon person. I was just giving my opinion as to what I would like to do. I’m completely fine with her sounding like an injured dog while she is singing.
By Deirdre
September 29, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!
Yep…it’s just a grumpy day today…obviously the Falcons and the Dawgs are at fault!
This paragraph in Rodney’s blog got my attention:
She addresses her fiance David Otunga, noting he’s an attorney and Harvard grad…. She told Jay that he proposed to her by blindfolding her on a beach, have her dig up a bunch of messages, then giving her the ring.
What are they…12 year old?
By JTesla
September 29, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
“Weird cat icon person”… classic ;)
Deirdre, what do you expect from a guy named Punk!
By MusicMan
September 29, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Surprised that KLCook’s album has had such cr@ppy sales…hope it picks up!
By ,,,=^..^=,,, @ home
September 29, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
hey mike d i’m impressed you figured out the cat part. (picture upraised first finger moving in “wowee” circles). woo hoo.
well now that that is out of the way… i had to laugh at you Deirdre on that one … does sound kinda silly, but when you’re in love …
and at LEAST he didn’t take her to dinner in a fancy restaurant, get down on one knee in front of the mariachi band (or single violinist) and propose… now THAT would be boring!!! LOL!
and no, it wasn’t an opinion. it was crude and rude. but hey, it’s a so-called “free country” so by all means, continue to express your opinion! all you do is show people how totally shallow-minded you are! far be it from me to interfere with THAT!
By ,,,=^..^=,,, @ home
September 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
i just figured it out. mike d likes britney and jessica and the like…. my opinion—boooooring! (picture joanne worley, oldtimers, on Laugh In…)
By Harmony
September 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
DWTS- My favorite ia still Warren Sapp!
By Carrot
September 30, 2008 1:52 AM | Link to this
Kristy has gotten little promo to date and all the country others had a video out and could thus appear on CMT shows to promote which she can’t. Plus 15 has just cracked the top 40 country charts whereas Bucky and all had done so prior to cd release. She should have clearly sold more, but her label is not helping get her exposure and released the cd too early before a video and hit single were achieved.
By Ms.Simon
September 30, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this
I’m with you Blkshepherd, J Hud has gotten so BRAND NEW.
If you all can reach back and remember, when she first came to the “spotlight” she was still dating a guy from back home in Chicago. Now she’s suddently “engaged” to some guy that was on a Reality Show, if you want to call it that and by the way he looks like Star Jones’ ex. Remember her, errrr him.
Jennifer can sing, but come on now who is that on the CD cover. You can hardly recognize who she is. Be who you are honey BIG AND BEAUTIFUL. What kind of message are you sending to young ladies that look up to you.
By trinigal
September 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
I LOVE hearing Jennifer Hudson sing.. her voice gives me goose bumps…
i thought it was hillarious when she described Punk as a Lawyer and Harvard Grad (wtf did that have to do with anything)… She’s ashamed of the fact that he was NY’s B*tch for a minute there.. Plus I still think he’s on the low…
I think he’s a user… He’s looking for Mrs. Celebrity not Mrs. Right.. I hope she figures it out before its too late.. I really hope my opinion is wrong b/c she has an amazing talent and I would hate to see it dissolve over her personal issues with him (Whitney anyone)…
She already has the hollywood cookie cutter, waffer image to battle… not this downlow… gold digger…
Great… I wish her luck b/c a gift like that must shine..
By JP
September 30, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Good for her! I was a fan of her from day one. Not only is she talented but a sweet person to boot! You go girl!
By JP
September 30, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Good for her! I was a fan of her from day one. Not only is she talented but a sweet person to boot! You go girl!
By Deirdre
September 30, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
LOL!!! linny…unfortunately, my traveling around today involved taking mom for a doc appt. BUT….I can’t say I’m not enjoying my freedom. I don’t spend as much time at home as before…except if I’m low on gas. Hubby and I will even be going out to dinner tonight! :-)