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By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
She may be on the road to Oscar gold, but 'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Hudson isn't pulling any punches getting there.
The heavyset Chicago native, who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress trophy at this year's Academy Awards, tells 'Essence' magazine that her experience on the top rated televised talent competition, 'American Idol,' was "abusive."
"On 'American Idol,' you go through this mental thing," she said in a revealing interview with 'Essence' contributor Denene Milner -- to be published in the magazine's March edition.
"You've been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think. You become a character ... I just knew I had to sing my way out of it."
"I don't believe in looking back, and I didn't look back."
This is coming from the woman who Simon Cowell lambasted when her version of Barry Manilow's "Weekend in New England" got her booted off the hit show.
"You get one shot ...you ain't never gonna be seen again," he scolded.
Well, as we all know -- she's getting the last laugh and possibly will gain more notoriety than any of the actual winners of 'American Idol.'
"The show couldn't take away my talent," Hudson said.
That's true. Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to BV Buzz columnist Jawn Murray -- who broke the news that Hudson was cast in the starring 'Dreamgirls' role -- is singing her praises every opportunity they can get.
Earlier this week, she appeared on 'Oprah' singing her Oscar nominated song 'Love You I Do.' It was there that she revealed plans to sing during the international telecast, and go into the studio for her J Records debut in March.
Hudson also had words about original 'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Holliday, who have been making the media rounds about the movie -- and making sure people don't forget her legacy. (The two-time Grammy Award winner and one-time Tony Award winner's original version of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" is etched into music history as a preeminent tour de force.)
"First off, don't let that be the only song you're performing. Pursue other things and don't just limit yourself to that. I don't intend to say, '[OK], I'm going to sing this song for the rest of my life, and this will be the only character that I portrayed.' I'm Jennifer, not Effie. I'm flexible and different and have other dreams and other goals and songs to pursue."
Wow wee.
BV Extras:
-- Broadway and television veteran Roz Ryan took over the role of Effie in the original Broadway production of 'Dreamgirls'. Find out what the diva dished about the role, past and present here.
Comments: (603)
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By: Bunnie on 2/05/2007 10:10AM
When I read Jennifer's statement about American Idol being abusive, I too, thought perhaps she should have waited until after the Oscars. However, she was sharing an experience, through an interview that was "truely" painful to endure, and there is nothing wrong with that. Too many times people allow the media to dictate what they should or should not do. The spirit of "Don't tell nobody" is killing us daily, when so many people have gone before us so that we can tell. Jennifer is not the first to say that American Idol is not all it's cracked up to be. Besides, Simon said she'd be better saying on a large ship. Did she? If so, perhaps thats when she was selected for Dreamgirls. Whenever she was discovered, God gets the glory, and nobody else. And God decides who gets an Oscar, through everybody else. Jennifer's Sir name is Hudson, not Oscar and I hope she never loses sight of who she is.
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By: Bonnie Stephens on 2/05/2007 9:41AM
J. Hudson Blew Beyonce Out! Gone girl Do ya thang!
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By: Vanessa on 2/05/2007 9:53AM
I feel that Jennifer did her thing......Those of us who are avid watchers of american idol....see the harshness that even the one whom we feel are good singers have to endure, I have seen darn good singers get passed over for singers that was just okay......But Jennifer overcame it all.....You Go Girl....I saw you in Dream Girls and you are very deserving of the Oscar....
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By: Malencie on 2/05/2007 9:55AM
I'd like to say, none of us were there when Jenifer was on Idol. We don't know what she went through. However, we have all seen the redicule contestants go through on stage. I can only imagine what they go through behind the seens. The last time I checked, this is still America and everyone is entitled to say what they want. If she feels she was mistreated, she has the right to speak her mind like anyone else does. Her talent is a gift from God and she will go as far as God intends her to go, not the people on American Idol.
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By: MZZTLOVE on 2/05/2007 9:57AM
JH VS JH... WOW!! I THINK JENNIFER HOLIDAY WAS RIGHT IN COMING OUT AND SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT... ALSO WHILE JENNIFER HUDSON DID WIN, IN MY HONEST OPINION SHE TRIED TO IMITATE JENNIFER HOLIDAY'S STYLE AND CLEARLY AMERICAN IDOL HOPEFUL OR EFFIE SHE IS NO MATCH FOR THE POWERHOUSE VOICE OF A JENNIFER HOLIDAY!!! BASK IN HER GLORY THAT IS GREAT BUT LETS KEEP THE FACTS STRAIGHT AS SO MANY OF US WHO SAW THE ORIGINAL DREAMGIRLS KNOW!!!
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By: Dwight Cornish on 2/05/2007 9:58AM
The comment was more about the bad choice of song,and she had a bad night check the tape she was at the point were any mistake could be your last and "amercia" voted her off not Simon. Girlfriend if no one told you, now you know "you can catch more flies with honey ...." and you see the same people on the way up, you see on the way down. Ms Holiday FYI was more than a one hit wonder, like many of this next generation of "stars" they think that the sun did not rise until they did. You know how easy it is to sell a million records now, where downloads, Walmart orders, etc... all count as sales. American loves the underdog, but watch how fast it can get kicked to the crub if it craps on the carpet. alot
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By: jackie jackson on 2/05/2007 10:01AM
jennifer. is over weight, she is what you see. my comment is why deface the american idol show that helped to assist her into getting where she is today. why stay where you consider yourself abused is my question
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By: Lisa on 2/05/2007 10:55AM
Did you see the look on Aretha's face on the Tribute to Aretha show a week or so ago when Jennifer was singing? She did not appear very receptive. Totally the opposite of her expression when Fantasia sang for her...IMO Fantasia totally outsang Jennifer on that show. Don't get me wrong, I think Jennifer was awesome in Dreamgirls...she stole the movie from Beyonce for sure. But in reality, Jennifer had the lead role. The fact that Beyonce was nominated for Best Actress in the Globes really casts a question on the Globes...I like Beyonce too, but her performance wasn't in league with the other actresses in that category. Jennifer just needs to watch what she says, since without Idol, there's no way she'd have been in Dreamgirls. I wish her well at the Oscars...a win would be fantastic!
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By: MA English on 2/05/2007 10:14AM
Jennifer Hudson doesn't have to be grateful. If you're talented and determined, you will make it anyway. Her perserverence is to thank not Simon Cowell or anyone else. Okay, she's fat. But what does that have to do with her singing. She blew Beyonce away!! Beyonce's beauty didn't help her win a Golden Globe or be nominated for an Oscar.
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By: Corliss on 2/05/2007 10:25AM
I jus wanted to say that I don't it's right for the people who are leaving bad comments about Jennifer Hudson are eligible to be saying anything. You havn't made it as far as she has. So who are you to say that she made mistakes and she should keep her mouth shut. Whether she does or not she's still going to make it. All she's doing is saying how she felt she was treated on American Idol but if she felt that way then she just did. So I think that the ones who are leaving bad commtents and speaking bad on her are just wrong or jealous....
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