50 facts about recording artist and actress Jennifer Hudson

50 interesting facts about Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson.

1. Starred as Effie White in the 2006 film Dreamgirls.

2. Proposed with a Neil Lane diamond ring by reality TV star David "Punk" Otunga.

3. Signed to be the exclusive spokesperson for cosmetic giant Avon for its Imari brand and new scent, Imari Seduction

4. Is given 'Jennifer Hudson day' dedicated for her on March 6 by Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley.

5. Close friend to singer Beyonce Knowles since their involvement in "Dreamgirls"

6. Was a finalist in the third season of American Idol.

7. Worked as a singer in Disney cruise ship.

8. Featured in GAP holiday ad campaign, modeling its Wintersoft Turtleneck.

9. Dropped out of Langston University due to homesickness and dislike of the weather.

10. Hudson's song "Love You I Do" won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture in 2008.

11. Was in a relationship with maintenance engineer James Peyton.

12. Appeared in such films as Sex and the City, The Secret Life of Bees, and Winnie Mandela.

13. Single "Spotlight" and was certified gold by the RIAA, with sales exceeding a million copies worldwide.

14. Performed at the Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, American Idol, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

15. President Barack Obama invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills in May 2009.

16. Performed at the White House at the "Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" event.

17. In 2013, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

18. Is a dramatic soprano, with the ability to sing from C3 to C#6.

19. Is the third and youngest child of Darnell Donnerson and Samuel Simpson.

20. Was raised as a Baptist.

21. Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle are her overall biggest influences and inspiration.

22. She had a son with David Otunga in 2008. Son is named David Daniel Otunga, Jr. in 2009.

23. Starred in the 2006 film, Dream Girls, with Beyoncé.

24. Her debut album in 2008 earned her a Grammy award.

25. Her middle name is Kate.

26. Sung in church choir.

27. 2002, Hudson signed her first recording contract with Righteous Records, a Chicago-based independent record label.

28. Was released from her five-year contract with Righteous Records so that she could appear on American Idol in 2004.

29. Hudson won the role in Dreamgirls over hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including Raven-Symoné and Fantasia Barrino.

30. Won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

31. Won the Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

32. After seeing Hudson's performance in Dreamgirls, Simon Cowell taped a congratulatory message to her, which aired on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

33. With the March 2007 issue, Jennifer Hudson became the third African-American celebrity and the first African-American singer to grace the cover of Vogue magazine.

34. Early May 2009, Hudson suffered "throat fatigue" and had to reschedule her tour dates.

35. Hudson performed a Christmas special on ABC in December 2009 called Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas.During the special, she relived her childhood Christmases with musical performances filmed at her favorite locations in her native Chicago.

36. Appeared on the telethon "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief", performing the Beatles' "Let it Be".

37. Hudson recorded the song "One Shining Moment" for the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

38. In 2010 Hudson became the spokesperson for Weight Watchers.

39. Lost a total of 80 pounds.

40. Released autobiography, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down.The book detailed her weight loss.

41. Played a nun in the Farrelly brothers 2012 film The Three Stooges.

42. The day after the death of Whitney Houston, Hudson paid tribute to her by singing Houston's iconic "I Will Always Love You" during the 54th Grammy Awards held on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

43. Sang "America the Beautiful" with the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus at Super Bowl XLVII.

44. In January 2015, it was announced that Hudson would be making her Broadway debut as Shug Avery in a revival of The Color Purple.

45. Hudson's family announced creation of The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, in honor of the three victims of Hudson's family.

46. Enjoys soul food, however, she goes for the lower calorie version of it like turkey wings, baked sweet potato fries and greens.

47. Started her own clothing line.

48. Her most favorite piece from her collection are coats.

49. Her son told her she is his second favorite singer. Michael Jackson is his most favorite singer.

50. Hudson sung at Michael Jackson's memorial.