Boys, She'll Make You Happy: And you, and you, and you, you’re gonna love Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls.
By Brandon Voss
Tear down the mountains, yell, scream, and shout! Although she should’ve sung it the moment she got prematurely ousted from season 3 of American Idol, Jennifer Hudson finally gets to belt “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” — the signature showstopper Jennifer Holliday made famous on stage — in Dreamgirls.
In out writer-director Bill Condon’s all-star (Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy) film adaptation of the ‘80s Broadway smash about a Supremes-like girl group called the Dreams, 25-year-old Hudson (known as J.Hud to some fans) makes her big-screen debut as Effie, the plus-sized vocal powerhouse who goes solo after she’s booted from the group for not fitting a certain image.
A slimmed-down Hudson gave us all the skinny on her sistah Bey, gay groupies, and how to Jenniferize.
HX: Had you won American Idol, do you think you’d still be where you are now?
Jennifer Hudson: Not at all. It’s like a fate thing — Idol was for Fantasia and Dreamgirls was for me.
Jennifer Holliday left some big heels to fill. Were you nervous stepping into the role of Effie?
Of course! I mean, c’mon, it’s Jennifer Holliday! She’s so amazing — her voice is like thunder. I’m just honored to be the one who gets to do it. It’s like, well, what does that say about me? I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t do the part.
Did you know Dreamgirls before you auditioned?
Not the complete soundtrack, just Jennifer Holliday’s music from her albums. The only songs I knew from Dreamgirls were “And I Am Telling You” and “I’m Changing,” but I thought those were just her songs.
Have you met Miss Holliday yet?
No, but I can’t wait. When I do, I’m going to pass out. I will, honey. Pick me up off the floor.
She became a huge gay icon playing Effie. Are you ready for that status?
Well, I’ve been prepping for it for a long time with Idol and even before. I love it. I think the world of the gay community, and I feel like it’s an honor. The gay community is the hardest community to please, so if they love me, I must be fierce, honey.
And you’re performing for the boys at One Night Only, the Saint at Large New Year’s Eve Eve Party with Junior Vasquez.
Yeah, I’m so excited to do it. I just got to get myself together so I can bring it.
Do you have many gay friends?
All my friends are, actually — all guys. We just hang out and shop like we ain’t got no sense. We have our Destiny’s Child moments and just be diva, I guess. [Laughs]
What was the first thing you bought with your Dreamgirls money?
Oh, wow, I probably went and bought some kind of gadget because I’m a gadget freak. I love cell phones, I love iPods. You know what, I think I got the video iPod.
Have you ever told a man that you weren’t going?
[Laughs] No. I do have a boyfriend, but he got good sense — he knows he got to love me. He’s very supportive and proud of me. I have nothing but full-on support from everybody back home, because they know how hard I’ve worked and how bad I wanted this.
I hear you’ve lost some weight since filming.
Just a little bit. For Effie I had to gain weight and then maintain it, which was harder than gaining. I had to hold on to my jelly because Effie ain’t skinny. See, I’m a very healthy eater — no fried foods, no red meat, I don’t even drink pop — so it was hard for me to maintain. I had to eat things like cakes, cookies, and pies. Beyoncé’s munching on crackers and I’m eatin’ up everything! I enjoy working out, too, and I had to stop all of that until the last week of filming when everybody was like, “Are you on a diet?” And I was like, “No, this is just how Jennifer eats. I was Effie for six months, now it’s time for Jennifer to come back.”
Did Beyoncé offer you any advice on set?
She would definitely help out as far as choreography and things like that. She was just patient, because honey, I am not a dancer. And as far as acting, Jamie was always there helping me out if I didn’t seem to understand how to approach a scene. Overall, everybody was just so supportive and helpful.
Can you believe that you and Beyoncé are buddies?
I know, right? That’s my Dreamgirl sistah! Two years ago I never would’ve guessed that Beyoncé would be on my Christmas list and I would be on hers. That blows my mind.
What can we expect from your debut album?
I’m about to find out myself! I just signed to Arista with Clive Davis and we’re gonna discuss what I’m looking for. But I know my main following is the gay community, and I just want to give them what they want. What do you guys want?
Big, powerful ballads with lots of high notes!
We call that Jenniferizing. That’s the term for when you hit those big notes — like, okay, I got to Jenniferize this! There will definitely be a lot of that no matter what style I decide to go with.
What advice would you give a J.Hud drag queen?
Be fierce, honey, and work it! And don’t forget to throw that hand on the hip for that big note at the end. That says, “Oh, this note is nothin’. What’s next?”
HX, December 2006.
Jenniferized: Our dreamgirl's spotlight is still sparkling with a new album and fiancé, but don't be fooled by the rocks that Jennifer Hudson's got.
By Brandon Voss
A new Neil Lane ring ain’t the only thing wrapped around Jennifer Hudson’s finger; the American Idol third season finalist has had homos hanging on just as tight since her Oscar-winning portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls. A part in this past summer’s Sex and the City movie cemented her gay icon status, and now, leading up to two more high-profile features (Winged Creatures and The Secret Life of Bees), the barely-27-year-old star releases her long-awaited, self-titled debut album.
I spoke to Hudson by phone just a few days after she announced her engagement to boyfriend David Otunga (“Punk” from I Love New York 2) to discuss the diva’s diamonds, dream wedding, and delicious queer following.
HX: Do people treat you differently now that you’re an Oscar-winning star?
Jennifer Hudson: Yeah, everything’s all different. It’s a whole new life and a whole new world. It’s kinda odd, though.
I’ll bet strangers still expect you to be just like Effie.
Oh, yes, a lot of the time — for the most part, actually. But then when they meet me and get to know me, they realize I’m nothing like Effie!
Did Miss Effie find her way onto your debut album?
We have some of the Effieness on there — “And I Am Telling You” is actually on there. But there are many other sides of me that I wanted to display, so there’s a good variety on the album.
In our last interview you described your process of Jenniferizing songs with those big powerful notes your gay fans love. Is there a lot of Jenniferizing on the album?
Well, that’s what I did to every single song. I had to Jenniferize them and make them my own, whether it was vocally or personality-wise.
So what is it about gay men and Jennifer Hudson that goes together like chocolate and peanut butter?
I don’t know, but I love it! You gotta love chocolate and peanut butter — it’s good!
Describe a typical encounter with a gay fan.
For one, it just seems natural, familiar. I feel right at home, they feel right at home and we instantly click. One time, actually, when went to Hawaii on the Idol tour, there was a drag queen dressed like Jennifer Hudson. I almost lost my mind! I was like, Wow! I loved it! I’m looking, thinking, I like that outfit! — before I even knew he was dressed like me. That was cool.
What was it like to perform at the Pier Dance this past summer during New York Gay Pride?
I was looking so forward to that show. I love performing for the kids, so it was very exciting. That was the biggest gay event I’ve ever done, which was overwhelming. There was so much energy, love and support out there. I felt right at home.
How’s that diamond engagement ring of yours doing?
It’s doing great, thank you [laughs]. I’ve got it right here on my finger. I’m very, very happy.
Are you looking at it now?
Well, I’m holding the phone with that hand, so no [laughs].
Your fiancé is a good-looking man. Who’s really living under whose spotlight?
You know what? We both keep good tabs on each other, to be honest.
Have you kept in touch with the Sex and the City gang?
We see each other from time to time — maybe Sarah or Michael Patrick King — though we email more than anything. I haven’t spoken to any of them recently because we’re all so busy, but it’s good when we do get to see each other.
If the girls from Dreamgirls and Sex and the City are all on the guest list, your wedding is going to like be a gay man’s wet dream come true!
[Laughs] That’s funny. We shall see!
When you need a pick-me-up, do you go look at all your awards for Dreamgirls?
Well, they’re all at home and I don’t have much furniture right now, so when I come in the door that’s pretty much what I see. And the Oscar has its own stand with a light.
Looking back on your choices since Idol, is there anything you’d do differently if you could?
No, I don’t like to look back like that. Everything happens for a reason, and there’s always a lesson to be learned.
But what about your infamous Oscar night dress by Oscar de la Renta? Because you know some bitches weren’t feeling it.
[Laughs] I don’t even know how to answer that! You can’t please everybody all the time, I guess. They can hate on me if they want.
What are you spending your cash on these days? Or are you just dressing yourself up in love?
Ooh, I like the way you said that! I’m into gadgets more than anything, but now that fall’s here, I’m into little things like hats and scarves. And now I’m really into jewelry; I just got a pair of diamond hoop earrings. But I usually don’t have to buy anything because so much is just given to me now, so that’s very nice.
Just be careful not to get any jewels that outshine that big rock.
Trust me, I’m not too worried about it!
HX, October 2008; extended online version.