Who are Jennifer Hudson Parents? Meet Samuel Simpson and Darnell Donnerson

Who are Jennifer Hudson’s parents?

So who are Jennifer Hudson’s parents? According to online information, Jennifer Hudson’s parents are Samuel Simpson and Darnell Donaldson. Jennifer Hudson is an American singer and actress who was born on September 12, 1981.

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Real name

Jennifer Kate Hudson

Nick name

Jennifer Hudson

Date of Birth

September 12, 1981

age

42 years old

place of birth

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

gender

female

Profession

American singer and actor

Country of Citizenship

American

parents

Samuel Simpson and Darnell Donaldson

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Who is Jennifer Hudson?

Jennifer Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois. She is a multi-talented American artist known for her talents in singing, acting, producing and hosting. Her road to fame began when she appeared on the reality TV show American Idol, where her powerful and soulful voice captivated audiences.

Hudson’s success is not limited to the music field. She is an Oscar-winning actress who received critical acclaim for her role in the film Dreamgirls. In addition, she won a Grammy Award for her outstanding singing talents, which solidified her status as a top-selling record.

Hudson’s first exposure to music was at the age of seven, when she joined the choir of her local church in Chicago. This early exposure laid the foundation for her later stellar career. Her late grandmother, Julia Kate Hudson, was the choir’s mistress and played a key role in developing and influencing her singing abilities.

Jennifer Hudson’s acting career

  • 2004–2005: Appearance on American Idol Jennifer Hudson first gained recognition by participating in the reality television show American Idol.

  • 2006–2007: The success of Dreamgirls Hudson received critical acclaim for her role as Effie White in the film Dreamgirls, winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

  • 2008: Grammy Award and Debut Album Hudson’s musical talents were on full display when she won a Grammy Award for her debut album, marking a major milestone in her singing career.

  • 2010–2012: Weight Watchers and I Remember Me During this period, Hudson developed a diverse career, participating in projects such as Weight Watchers and releasing her album I Remember Me.

  • 2013–2014: JHUD Project Hudson continued to make waves with the album “JHUD,” showcasing her versatility in the music industry.

  • 2015–2016: The Color Purple, Hairspray, and Sing Hudson expanded her presence to Broadway with The Color Purple, while also appearing in live television productions such as Hairspray and the animated film Sing.

  • 2017-Present: Diversifying Projects Jennifer Hudson continues to diversify her career with roles on Sandy Wexler, The Voice (as a coach), the film adaptation of Cats, and as Aretha Franklin in Respect.

Other film and television credits:

  • Sex and the City Hudson had a notable appearance on the iconic TV series Sex and the City.

  • The Secret Life of Bees She contributed to the film adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees.

  • Winnie Mandela Hudson took on the challenging role of playing Winnie Mandela in a biographical drama.

  • The Three Stooges The actress added a comedic edge to her acting career with her role in The Three Stooges.

  • Smash Hudson showcased her acting and singing talents in the musical TV series Smash.

  • Black Nativity She contributed to the film adaptation of the musical Black Nativity.

Jennifer Hudson achievements and awards

Awards received by Jennifer Hudson:

  • Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2007)
  • Vinyl Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Dreamgirls (2007))
  • British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA): Best Supporting Actress in “Dreamgirls” (2007)
  • Critics’ Choice Movie Award: Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2007)
  • A Celebration of Black Film and Television: Actresses – Respect (2021)
  • Golden Globe Award: Best Supporting Actress – Dreamgirls (2007)
  • Drama League Award: Outstanding Performance by a Performer in The Color Purple (2016)
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival: Respect wins Chairman’s Award (2022)
  • Satellite Awards: Best Supporting Actress – Dreamgirls (2006), Best Original Song – Here I Am (Singing My Way Home) from Respect (2022)
  • Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Supporting Actress (Dreamgirls) (2007)
  • BET Awards: Best Actress, Best New Artist, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (2007); Centric Award for “I Can’t Say (How I Feel)” (2014)
  • NAACP Image Awards: Various awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Dreamgirls (2006), Outstanding Album for Jennifer Hudson (2009), and Entertainer of the Year for Respect (2022)
  • Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Best Original Song for a Documentary Film “I’ll Fight” (2018)

Jennifer Hudson Nomination:

  • Academy Awards (Oscars): Best Score for Compilation Album for Visual Media (Dreamgirls) (2008), Best R&B Album, Best R&B Female Vocal Performance, Best R&B Duo or Group Performance, Best R&B Performance, Best Musical Show Album, Best Score for Compilation Album for Visual Media, Best Song Written for Visual Media (Respect) (2022)
  • Billboard Music Awards: R&B Album of the Year for “I Remember Me” (2012)
  • Golden Globe: Best Original Song: “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (2022)
  • Grammy Awards: Multiple nominations, including Best Compilation Score for Visual Media for “Respect” (2022) and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” (2022)
  • Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Best Original Song – Narrative Film: “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from Respect (2021)
  • People’s Choice Awards: Multiple nominations, including Favorite R&B Artist and Drama Movie Star of the Year for “Respect” (2021)
  • NAACP Image Awards: Multiple nominations, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for The Secret Life of Bees (2009) and Outstanding Female Artist in a Motion Picture for JHUD (2015)
  • Soul Train Music Awards: Multiple nominations, including Best Female R&B/Soul Vocal Performance and Song of the Year (Spotlight) (2009)
  • Teen Choice Awards: Choice Movie Actress – Drama: Dreamgirls (2007); Choice Movie Actress – American Idol: 2010; Choice Movie Actress – Comedy: Sandy Wexler (2017)
  • Various critics associations and other awards: Dreamgirls (2007), Winnie Mandela (2013), Black Lives Matter (2014), Empire (2015) and Respect (2022) have been nominated multiple times in various categories.

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