The Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer-actress Jennifer Hudson was the guest of honor at a baby shower held over the weekend in Chicago. A family friend who attended the shower confirmed the news.

Hudson is engaged to David Otunga, a graduate of Harvard Law School who appeared on I Love New York 2 and is currently pursuing a career as a pro wrestler.

Another paper, the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Hudson is seven months along.

Watch the video below:

Jennifer Hudson

Isla Fisher was the first choice to play Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant in the Sex & The City film.

Writer/director Michael Patrick King has revealed he had to fight for Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who eventually landed the role of Louise.

He says, “It was originally supposed to be Isla Fisher, but I didn’t agree with that at all.
“It can’t be called Sex and the City without a little colour. Women are very nice when they figure out who I am. And the only negative comment I ever got about the series was every now and then, some woman of colour, whether it’d be Latina or an African-American, they’d stop and say, ‘Where are the sisters?’ – and I was like, ‘Yeah, where are they?’”
[Source]

Jennifer Hudson Sings The National Anthem At Super Bowl XLIII Pre-Game Show

Why Jennifer Hudson Lip-Synched at Super Bowl ?

The reason?

According to US Magazine

“This was such an important performance, because it’s the first time everyone has seen Jennifer,” the show’s producer, Ricky Minor, said of Hudson, who marked her first public performance on Sunday since her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were fatally shot in October. “But she’s in such a great place, with such great spirits, and time can heal her wounds. She’s on fire right now and totally grounded.”

Before her performance, Minor insisted that Hudson sing to the prerecorded track.

“That’s the right way to do it,” said Minor, who also produced Whitney Houston’s powerful 1991 rendition of the anthem. “There’s too many variables to go live. I would never recommend any artist go live, because the slightest glitch would devastate the performance.”

After the performance, Minor said Hudson asked him, “How did I do?”

“I told her, ‘Touchdown!’” he said.

He said her two cell phones also lit up “like slot machines” after her performance. She even got a text message from her Dreamgirls costar Jamie Foxx.

“His text said ‘Amazing. It brought tears to my eyes,’” Minor said. “She’s just getting so much love.”

Jennifer Hudson Sings The National Anthem At Super Bowl XLIII Pre-Game Show

Dressed in a cropped jacket, skinny pants, a white top and gold jewelry, Jennifer Hudson, 27, stepped onto a round dais at Raymond James Stadium for her pre-game performance.

Jennifer Hudson took a deep breath and surveyed the field before launching into her rendition of the National Anthem. She ended the song with her head tossed back and a clenched fist raised to deafening applause.

Jennifer Hudson’s performance followed a tribute to the crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1542 and a performance of “America the Beautiful” by Faith Hill.

Watch the video after the jump

Paula Abdul

“This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family. The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on ‘[American] Idol’ was very special to me, and I personally can’t imagine a greater loss for any family.” — “Extra,” 10/27/08.

Fergie

“I think it’s horrible. I read it and I think it’s shocking. For anybody to go through that. Wow, I don’t understand how a human being could have such little respect for life. My heart goes out to her and her family. Wow.” — The Associated Press, 10/26/08.

Toni Braxton

“I saw her probably two weeks ago on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ We were talking and laughing and she was just really excited about how things were going in her life, so it’s just really disappointing … it’s really sad and my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.” — “Entertainment Tonight,” 10/26/08.

Barack Obama

“Oh, it was heartbreaking. In fact, I’m still trying to get a phone number to call her at this tragic time … She is somebody who has campaigned for me, she also lives in my community. So, we’re really going to have to … help her and pray for her and her family during this difficult time.” – “Extra,” 10/25/08

[Source]

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is offering a $100,000 cash reward for information leading to the safe return of her seven year old nephew, who has been missing since Friday.
The Dreamgirls Oscar-winner issued the appeal after the double shooting of her mother Darnell Donnerson and her brother Jason Hudson at their home in Chicago, Illinois on Friday.
Seven year old Julian King, the son of Hudson’s sister Julia, was staying with his grandmother when the murders took place, and he has not been seen since.
Julia’s estranged husband William Balfour was arrested by police later that day and is currently being quizzed by cops over the slayings.
Authorities have issued an Amber Alert in the search of the missing boy, meaning police have launched a statewide campaign to find the child.
But Hudson, who spent the weekend (25-26Oct08) identifying the bodies of her loved ones, has stepped up the search for her nephew by offering the money and urging anyone with any knowledge of his whereabouts to come forward.
A statement from Hudson’s representative Lisa Kasteler says, “Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian.
“We ask that all inquiries be directed to the Chicago Police Department, Area 1 Detective Division at 312/747-8380.”
The FBI have been called in to assist with the search for Julian.
Ross Rice, special agent and spokesman for the FBI’s Chicago-branch says, “I can confirm that we have been asked to provide assistance to the Chicago police department to assist in the search for seven-year-old Julian King.”
Hudson has also reached out to her fans online, thanking them for their support and asking them to join the search for her nephew by posting a photo of him on her MySpace.com page.

C’mon guys, let’s help her! Open your eyes and ears!
[Source]

The Oscar-winning actress – who plays columnist Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant in the hotly-anticipated big screen adaptation of the hit US TV series – is struggling to walk in stilettos for her scenes.

She told Us Weekly magazine: “They love heels! The producer Michael Patrick King is like, ‘Heels all the time! Have to wear the heels!’

“I’m not a shoe girl at all, so I’m like, ‘Are you serious?’ So that’s very different for me.”

The show’s main stars – Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall – are all famed for their love of highs and wore them constantly throughout the six series of the show.
[Source]

“Success can turn you into a person who thinks they’re better than somebody else. But everybody’s human, and these two people haven’t let the fact that they have money and fans turn them into monsters.”

Contact Music

The Dreamgirls stars have both been nominated in the Best Performance category at the prestigious event.

Epic action movies 300 and Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest will seemingly dominate proceedings after garnering five, and four nominations respectively.

The box office smashes will battle it out for Best Movie whilst their stars compete for the main acting prizes.

Having led 300 Spartans onto the battlefields on film Scottish star Gerard Butler will now face the equally daunting prospect of competing with Beyoncé, Hudson and Johnny Depp – who is nominated for his turn as Captain Jack Sparrow – for Best Performance.

Beyoncé will be hoping to take home the Golden Popcorn gong after her co-star Hudson walked off with an Oscar earlier this year, while the Irreplacable singer failed to get a single acting nomination at the ceremony.

The Devil Wears Prada, Blades Of Glory and Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan were all put forward for three accolades.

The Los Angeles ceremony will be hosted by US stand-up
comedienne-and-actress Sarah Silverman and will take place on June 3.

2007 MTV Movie Awards full list of nominations:

Best Performance:

Gerard Butler, 300
Johnny Depp, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Keira Knightley, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Beyoncé Knowles, Dreamgirls
Will Smith, The Pursuit Of Happyness

Breakthrough Performance:

Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Lena Headey, 300
Columbus Short, Stomp the Yard Jaden Smith, The Pursuit Of Happyness
Justin Timberlake, Alpha Dog

Best Comedic Performance:

Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Will Ferrell, Blades Of Glory
Adam Sandler, Click
Ben Stiller, Night At The Museum

Best Kiss:

Cameron Diaz & Jude Law, The Holiday
Will Ferrell & Sacha Baron Cohen, Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Columbus Short & Meagan Good, Stomp The Yard
Mark Wahlberg & Elizabeth Banks, Invincible
Marlon Wayans & Brittany Daniel, Little Man

Best Villain:

Tobin Bell, Saw III
Jack Nicholson, The Departed
Bill Nighy, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Rodrigo Santoro, 300
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada

Best Fight:

Jack Black & Héctor Jiménez vs Los Duendes (Wrestling Match), Nacho Libre
Gerard Butler vs The Uber Immortal (The Spartan/Persian Battle), 300
Sacha Baron Cohen vs Ken Davitian (Naked Wrestle Fight), Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Will Ferrell vs Jon Heder (Ice Rink Fight), Blades Of Glory
Uma Thurman vs Anna Faris (Super Girl Fight), My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Best Summer Movie You Haven’t Seen Yet :

Evan Almighty (June 22)
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (June 15)
Hairspray (July 20)
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (July 13)
Rush Hour 3 (August 10)
Transformers (July 4)

mtvU Best Filmmaker On Campus:

Robert Dastoli, Southwestern Orange County vs The Flying Saucers (University of Central Florida)
Maria Gigante, Girls Room (Columbia College, Chicago)
Josh Greenbaum, Border Patrol (University of Southern California)
Alexander Poe, Please Forget I Exist (Columbia University)
Andrew Shipsides, Bottleneck (Savannah College of Art & Design)
[Source]

Cate Blanchett

Best Supporting Actress nominee Blanchett wears the first and only dress she tried on, a beaded Armani Privé gown.

Emily Blunt

The delightful Blunt is shimmering in a blue gown by Francisco Costa by Calvin Klein.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Apparently Paltrow likes Zac Posen’s spring collection—her gathered gown was fresh off the runway!

Helen Mirren

Winner of the Best Actress statue for The Queen, Mirren plays the part on the red carpet in a stunning Christian Lacroix gown.

Jennifer Hudson

Hudson, who took home the gold statue for Best Supporting Actress, dazzles on the red carpet in an Oscar de la Renta creation.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez is glorious in Marchesa—her recent red-carpet designer of choice.

Nicole Kidman

Kidman plays the role of lady in red to perfection in her floor-length Balenciaga stunner.

Penélope Cruz

Though she didn’t win the Best Actress award, Cruz makes a dramatic (and gorgeous!) statement in her blush-colored Versace number and elegant updo.

Portia de Rossi

Girlfriend of the host Ellen Degeneres, de Rossi looks positively gorgeous in a floor-length navy blue gown.

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon shows off her toned shoulders and flirty hair in a strapless floor-length Nina Ricci gown.
Source: Glam

Hudson received the breakthrough performance prize at a gala Saturday after missing the festival’s award ceremony earlier this month.

“I never imagined any of this, I never thought about the outcome,” Hudson said. “All I wanted was the part. It never occurred to me I would be a part of such greatness.”

Later, she launched into Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and the Barry Manilow favorite “Weekend in New England” — the last song she sang before being voted off 2004′s “American Idol.”

Jennifer Hudson, 25, plays soulstress Effie White in “Dreamgirls,” adapted from the stage hit about a singing group that rises to stardom in the 1960s.

Her film debut has earned a Golden Globe nomination, and she’s considered a potential Oscar nominee.

“I’m going to have to do a lot of praying to get ready for that,” Hudson said of the Academy Award nominations being announced later this month.
[Source]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070115/ap_en_mo/people_jennifer_hudson