Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American entertainer born on September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. After gaining initial recognition as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, she signed with Arista Records. Her self-titled debut album, released in 2008, earned her a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. The album featured the single “Spotlight,” which became a major highlight of her early music career.

Beyond her music, Hudson is widely celebrated for her accomplishments in film and theater. She won an Academy Award for her performance as Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls. Her work has made her one of the select few individuals to have achieved the EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Her Tony Award came from her work as a co-producer for the Broadway musical A Strange Loop. She is an American citizen and a well-known figure in the entertainment industry.