Jennifer Kate Hudson was born September 12, 1981 is an American actress, and singer. Jennifer is best known for her stint as a finalist on the third season of "American Idol." She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 motion picture adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for which she won numerous awards including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award. The film is expected to be released in late 2006, and also stars some big A-list names, including Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. Hudson influences include Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin .
