ON HER SIZE
“Look, I used to be a size 22. Now, I’m a size 12. When I go to Hollywood stuff, I’m the biggest girl there. And I could care less. I still feel sexy and pretty whoever I’m standing next to because when I’m out in the real world, I’m the size of the average woman. And there is nothing wrong with us. There’s something wrong when you’re just skin and bones. It’s not cute. I love my size, period…. You gotta be comfortable in your own skin! I’m comfortable in mine. I don’t have a problem with it at all. I work with a trainer these days—to tone, not to lose. This jelly ain’t going nowhere.”
ON THE RUMORED FUED WITH BEYONCE
“I’m too busy trying to enjoy my blessings to be dwelling in mess. It’s not about that. It’s supposed to be about enjoying it. But then again, when something is good, people are always gonna try to find something wrong with it and try to throw a monkey wrench in there somewhere. We support each other as much as we did on day one. I mean, come on! That’s Beyoncé! We’d rather see people focus their attention on our work.”
ON FILMING DREAMGIRLS’ “AND I’M TELLING YOU”
“I think that was the most exposing scene, you know? And it was hard because I’m a newcomer, and everybody wants to come and watch the scene being done, so that was a little nerve-racking—like do they really need to have all of these people in the room? And I’m the only person on this stage, other than [co-star] Jamie [Foxx]. Just being able to match the emotion, when it was needed from the different angles, being able to hold on to it—it was a long process, and it was the last week. Everybody else was wrapped, and I was the very last to wrap. It took about three, four days to shoot. I had just shot “One Night Only” and “I Am Changing,” so all three of those, back to back to back… It was a blessing to have such a patient and kind director [Bill Condon] and for him to be able to know how to approach talent and get what he wants and needs from you.”
ON HER LOVE LIFE
“My boyfriend is my childhood sweetheart. We’ve been together since 1999! It’s crazy. I’m the dreamer and he supports my dreams – always has. He’s happy to be my rock and let me fly. I think it makes more sense to date someone outside of showbiz. He is stationary, stable, a home base. I’m on planes, here and there and always on the go. It’d be a whole different story if he was moving around, too. Instead I have a patient, understanding man who’s there for me when I get home. He’s home to me.”
Images by photographer Mark Alesky // Interviewed by Scott Poulson-Bryant
Nice interview. I love how she cleared up all the ridiculous rumors about her and Beyonce — here, in Essence, on Oprah, and in People Magazaine. I know folks are still gonna believe MediaTakeout though, LOL.
The cover pic is pretty nice.
I LOVE her. She is a force to be reckoned with. A normal force with amazingly abnormal abilities. I loved her from idol and lover her now. There is NOTHING even almost wrong with her man. Dark, big and handsome. Stable and a supporter!!! Can’t beat it. She needs to stay right with him. There love is based on love and nothing more.
Girl looking fierce work it Jennifer!!!
I LOVE her. She is a force to be reckoned with. A normal force with amazingly abnormal abilities. I loved her from idol and lover her now. There is NOTHING even almost wrong with her man. Dark, big and handsome. Stable and a supporter!!! Can’t beat it. She needs to stay right with him. There love is based on love and nothing more.
124 So was Kelly Price… and were is she now?
She is better than ok to me considering she hasn’t been on the scene that long. This is just the beginning. She is very talented and I am happy for her.
126 comments already! J-Hud looked so beautiful on Oprah the other day. She also sung. She was sashaying across the stage like a sophisticated diva.
When the interview first started Oprah asked about the rumor with SWSNBN. I see J-Hud has already learned how to be diplomatic.
Of course she isn’t going to say ANYTHING negative about ANYBODY. Whether ppl want to believe it or not, established artists can become insecure with newcomers that are literally BURSTING on the scene winning accolades that aren’t even in their genre. You go girl1!!!
um… where do i start?
these pics are beautiful… the interview seems like it’s great.. she has lots of positive and interesting things to say…
i just wish the magazine wasn’t called “GIANT” W=with a big ol’ pic of her face on the cover…. maybe it’s just me!
ad!os
It looks like #84 is already starting the hate,must be a beyonce stan. Jennifer keep up the good work and i will support you all the way. Shake off those haters and soon to be haters.
#45…People are praising her b/c she can act her ass off and SANG (yes I said sang) her ass off. Don’t forget Ms. Whitney gave her props; Oprah and now seasoned actors/actresses from Hollywood are giving her props.
Come on! This has nothing to do with anybody else!
I voted for Fantasia all the way. The fact is, there were sooo many excellent singers that yr on AI. Some ppl liked LaToya. My sister loved J-Hud. I also loved George Huff. So please with insinuating the bullshit.
She Looks Really Pretty, She Just She Do Sumtn With Her Teeth In That 3rd Pic, Sorry. Still Like Her Tho!
# 84 you sound like a fu****** hypocrite. You say J-Hud was NOT one of the good actors. You obviously don’t know WHO votes for the SAG AWARDS!!! Old Hollywood actors vote. People who have won Oscars themselves. YOU SOUND REALLY STUPID. Please don’t compliment Jenny anymore because you really don’t mean it.
its obvious this year belongs to jhud nutin can go wrong…it seems like she has a better life than ms.knowles her self.
people on here are predicting all kinds of shit about this girl,she will break-up with her boyfriend,she will become arrogant,she will flop as a singer…wow i did’nt know conrete loop had so many psychic’s,can somebody please predict whether or not i’ll be getting that promotion.
I still haven’t made it through all of the comments yet. But what I have read so far epitomizes how ppl act when they are jealous and very intimidated.
Jennifer Holiday said that someone she really admired walked up on her and told her, her voice was too heavy and loud and that she would never make it. She was initially hurt but she later realized that this celeb (that she admired) was really jealous and intimidated.
People on here are trying to tell J-Hud what genre she should stick with, she didn’t act well, she’s fat, blah, blah, blah. ALL of the ppl who have said mean-spirited things about J-Hud needs to practice what yall preach.
Let’s see, she is bound to get an Oscar and a Grammy is inevitable. #74…I totally agree with the “BROADWAY” statement. J-Hud, go work that BROADWAY stage so you will not only have an Oscar and a Grammy, but YOU will be the FIRST African American female to win ALL three.
BESIDES, THERE’S NO ONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT HAS A CHANCE IN HELL. Hello, you are J-Hud! Oprah said this is YOUR year. #57 did you go deaf when Oprah said that?
That was a rhetorical question. I really don’t do the tit for tat shit.
Love her!!
Get em Jen!
All three: Oscar, Grammy and TONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHE IS AMAZING… KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MAMA
#111 i have to disagree. if you just won a golden globe, sag and now nominated for an oscar, would you just stick to broadway? it’s a stupid question, right?
i am a bey fan but definitely not a stan. i am not insane. j-hud tore that song up and acted her azz off in dreamgirls. bey needs to stick with singing. j-hud is going to go farther than alot of you naysayers. that’s a damn shame. give the girl her props!
I love this lady! I’m sure GOD has plenty more in store for her. Go J-Hud!
I love this lady! I’m sure GOD has plenty more in store for her. Go J-Hud!
go girl! thats right. i love her. the cover looks amazing
She’s beautiful on the inside and out. Good for her.
I love this girl! Jennifer is truly a breathe of fresh air. She reminds me of the old school singers. Did you guys hear her sing Aretha Franklin’s, “I Never Loved A Man.” She tore that song up!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZBU0zF2_AKw
JENNIFER LOOKS BEAUTIFUL….I LOVE HER AND WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS
Aaawwwww, i have no words, i’m speechless…she takes my breath away,luv her!…i think she’s the next angela basset..makes me proud to be a young black woman….U leave dem haters alone n take it to the next level gal!..mwaaaah
she’s beautiful and
comfortable in her own skin!
im glad she spoke up about the “beyonce” thing.
maybe this will stop the hate *wishful thinking*
I like her realness, unlike *ahem* some pple, SWSNBM.
#84..I’M NOT SURE IF WE SAW THE SAME MOVEIE…WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DREAMGIRLS; RIGHT..WELL I WILL TELL YOU I SAW THE MOVIE AND BEYONCE WAS NOT CHEATED OUT OF AN AWARD..SHE RECEIVED JUST WHAT SHE DESERVED, NOTHING..THE SAME THING SHE DID FOR THE MOVIE DREAMGIRLS. THE ONLY TIME I PAID ATTENTION TO HER IN THE MOVIE IS WHEN SHE WAS SINGING LISTEN AND THAT IT..
I can’t wait for her album, though.
@ #135 SEXY…
“Let’s see, she is bound to get an Oscar and a Grammy is inevitable. #74…I totally agree with the “BROADWAY” statement. J-Hud, go work that BROADWAY stage so you will not only have an Oscar and a Grammy, but YOU will be the FIRST African American female to win ALL three”.
Um..SEXY..Whoopi Goldberge ia already the FIRST black women to do all that….
But I do agree that JHUDD is a breath of fresh air. People can be mad all they want, but that chick can’t sing…she SAAANGS!! PERIOD. I read people saying that she’ll be forgotten about or whatever…that’s okay…she’ll have GOLDEN GLOBE, SAG and OSCAR to keep her company. All that on your first TRY at acting. That’s CRAZY. Do you know how many people go their ENTIRE career without even getting CLOSE to those awards? I hope she does win that OSCAR, just to see all you “ANGRYS” come back on concreteloop the next day RANTING!
Well, Kita you will be the first but certainly not the last of the JHud Backlash Brigade…..because unfortunately that’s what stardom brings. It’s a trip ain’t it, she ain’ t but five minutes out the gate and already a hater.
Save your post, boo boo, cause really…..that was purely uncalled for. At least give her a minute to really do something to piss people off.
SMH
umm THOSE SONGS THAT LEAKED ARE HELLA OLD LIKE 2 YEARS..SHE HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER NOW, SO, SHE KILLED “I NEVER LOVED A MAN” SO YES SHE CAN SING SONGS BESIDES BROADWAY.
She looks like a 14 to me too, but women have different body types and a size 12 come in many different shapes.
I am very happy to read this.
I dont know about anyone else, but when she won the Golden Globe, I cried with her.
I felt like I had actually won myself.
that’s how happy I was. I celebrated in her victory as if it was my own.
Not many singers have done that in my life. Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill, Billy Holiday,Tracey Chapman, Janis Joplin have all moved my spirit.
Jennifer has “IT”
most people call it the favor of GOD.
I agree
She will be loved and embraced by anyone who sees her for what she truly is.
She will inspire many young females just like her.
As far as the girl who just couldnt help herself and started predicting the woman’s demise, it was so sad to read you type that.
Everything you predicted her to do is everything that you will personally do in your life.
If you keep that hateful jealous evil theme in your predictions, you will be doing your life an extreme diservice.
I’m very happy that we have Jennifer Hudson. It doesnt even matter that she’s not the typical physical representation. She doesnt need to be bc she is TALENTED, RELEVANT, POSIITIVE and BLESSED.
Nothing can bring her down anyway.
She looks great in these pics man she is doing it big. I can’t wait to hear her album, I just wonder what type of sound she’s gonna have hopefully it will be pure RnB/Soul no hip hop or pop influence. Not that, thats bad but all we have out now are mixed genre music enough.
I WOULD RATHER SEE JENNIFER HUDSON ALL THE TIME THAN BEYONCE. SHE SINGS BETTER ANYHOW. I MEAN, I AM JUST TIRED OF SEEING BEYONCE. SHE’S EVERWHERE! SHE IS LIKE A ALIEN TRYNA TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
That’s a very nice cover….very simple.
It looks like it’s a nice article. I wonder if they stock the magazine here.
You people on here are CRAZY! The same people on here praising Jennifer are the same people bashing Beyonce. Two wrongs don’t make a right. They are not is the same league. And for the breathe of fresh air comment aboout jennifer where have you’ll been? jill Scott, kelly Price, Angie Stone, MJB and Fantasia. Hell even Joss Stone or Norah Jones are Soul Singers. Jennifer is good in the movie but her version of the song (the only reason why she was nominated) was not as good as the ORIGINAL. Lots of poeple have sang the hell out of the song even the 16 year old girl that audition for american idol season 6 a couple of weeks ago did a hell of a job. And my same league comment is base on experience. Beyonce and jennifer are both the same age but beyonce has been on top of her game for over 7 years and jennifer just getting a break. Nobody would even give her a change for a record deal and as for her doing interview about american idol being abusive last time i check Clive Davis signed all the contestants to his record label and they are also sign a contract for 5 or more years with american idol management too. if you wasn’t voting for jennifer on AI then why are you all jumping on the bandwagon? i use too dislike DC because they were everywhere and I always felt like it was Beyonce and the Childs anyway but now i LOVE beyonce as a fan and give her all my props. But jennifer will have to earn them. Winning awards doesn’t mean nothing. I have seen most of the movie people have won awards for and some of the movie aren’t even good. Well i’m tired of b$tching so that my 2 cents (i mean $5 bucks).
@159
you are doing the same thing you’re accusing everyone else of doing,putting down jennifer hudson to uplift beyonce,no matter how much you bitch or moan about it j.hud is gonna have her fans and beyonce will have her’s some people even like both,so what if they are just jumping on the bandwagon,maybe they were’nt following american idol,i know i personally don’t watch it,so does that mean i can’t like j.hud. i swear some of ya’ll are so silly.
160 you must of misunderstood me. I wasn’t downing jennifer to uplift beyonce. I like her too. You act like i talk about her character. I just said what was on my mind. These woman don’t dislike each other but you can’t tell the fans that right? I was just pointing out that everybody is praising Jennifer now but why jump on the bandwagon? If all the so called fans voted for her on AI than maybe she would have won and some people haven’t even seen the movie. She doesn’t sound any different from when she was on AI and i watch every week from season 1 to now. If you do like jennifer than that is fine with me. But she is no different than the rest of the people in the music business including beyonce. beyonce just has more experience.
160 you need to re read my comment at 159
JHUD is gettin all this rave because everyone is hating on Beyonce and Fantasia..But I prefer their voices over Jhud..Jhud has no originality..and the broadway sound will not sell..I did not vote for her on american idol bc i felt no emotion and she had the attitude as if she was already a winner..I am glad she’s getting Fast Fame..It’s well deserve..but it’s only setting her up for failure in the future as far as the music industry..bc we are only gonna demand more from her…and she gonna have to prove herself…although she did well her first round on the Aretha Tribute..her second song Think, WEll *thank* as she called it…was a mess!!!
Jennifer singing *thank* lol by ARetha Franklin….SHe loses her breath..and gets caught up after 1:24 A MESS! and the last note! LOL
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WnTLfZzWEfo
164 thanks for the post. she still sounds the same as when she was on AI. nothing special. Simon said she was too pitchy then. But i still like her but not jumping on the bandwagon.
Cosign #18
These folks on here hating proves it.
Co-sign to the FULLEST with #151 Janee.
@ #159, I was about to say the same thing to #159.
SweetJazz21 you were indeed putting down Jen to uplift Bey. You said “Beyonce and jennifer are both the same age but beyonce has been on top of her game for over 7 years and jennifer just getting a break. Nobody would even give her a change (*and I guess you mean chance) for a record deal…” and then you said “anyway but now i LOVE beyonce as a fan and give her all my props. But jennifer will have to earn them. Winning awards doesn’t mean nothing. I have seen most of the movie people have won awards for and some of the movie aren’t even good.”
Dayum! I should have copied your whole post! But my point is, if you don’t call this bashing Jen then I don’t know what is.
I meant @ #160, I was about to say the same thing to #159
167 since you want to comment and spell check then I will answer.
How am i putting Jennifer down by saying that she has to earn my fanship? Beyonce has earn my fanship (it only took 5 years for me to like her as a artist). I was putting her down to bring nobody up. She has to work harder for me and like i said getting awards don’t mean nothing to me its whatever your talent is. and she hasn’t change much since AI.
167 also if you are going to copy and paste don’t take parts of my comments to make them seem like bashing. if you are going to paste it then paste the whole thing.
she looks really good.
J-Hud looks FAB!!!
omg after these pics and her interview I love her like 10 times more now.
I THINK BEYONCE IS JEALOUS OF HER…..
SHE DID NOT DO DREAMGIRLD TO TAKE A BACKSEAT TO FAT AS J.HUD..BEYONCE IS JEALOUS. AND IT IS OKAY.
Jennifer Hudson dissing Jennifer Holiday?
Rumor has it that Jennifer “Singing on Gay Cruises for Jesus” Hudson isn’t as humble as one would expect from someone who just started receiving all of this praise no more than four months ago. In the March issue of Essence magazine, which hits newsstands February 12th, Hudson had a little chit-chat about Broadway icon, Jennifer Holliday, who played the original Effie White in the Broadway version of Dreamgirls in 1981. She philosophizes, “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, ‘Okay, 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.”
Is Jennifer Hudson feeling it? Isn’t it a little too early for an American Idol castaway to give advice to the woman who paved the way for there to even to be an Effie White character past the second act? In addition, while “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)” is Holliday’s biggest and most popular hit, it is not her ONLY hit. Anyone who knows their female soul music of the ’80′s history knows: Holliday’s 1983 song, “I Am Love,” from her Feel My Soul album, hit number two on the US R&B charts and number 49 on the Us Hot 100 and she would also follow with “Just Let Me Wait” (#23 US R&B Charts). In 1985 Holliday garnered two other hit singles “Hard Time For Lovers” (#17 US R&B Charts, #69 US Hot 100) and “No Frills Love” (US R&B #29, #87 US Hot 100). Between 1987-1991 Holliday would have three other R&B hit singles including the #10 hit “I’m On Your Side.” Holliday is also a two-time Grammy Award winner, in 1982 for “And I Am Telling You” and 1985 for her song “Come Sunday.” Also, just as a point, charting on the R&B charts in the ’80′s wasn’t disregarded as it is today…black artists rarely got airplay on “mainstream” radio and charting on the Hot 100 was nowhere near an easy task for a black female artist. From 1996-2001 she garnered three number one dance hits. Of course no one can forget her appearances on the hit Fox series Alley McBeal and she even performed for President Bill Clinton in 1997. Does this sound like the work of a woman who only let one song be the only song she is performing”? It is her signature song, but every artist has that–what would a Tina Turner concert be without “Proud Mary”?
Many might feel as if, “Yeah, well Holliday didn’t match the success of ‘And I Am Telling You’,” while that is true it is ridiculous to say she didn’t pursue others things and limited herself. Holliday’s career fell victim to the music industry like several of the great soul R&B divas of the ’80′s such as Regina Belle, Phyllis Hyman and many others. Regina Belle’s biggest hit was “Baby Come To Me” but many people (at least in the black community) know her for classics like, “If I Could” and “Make It Like It Was.” Phyllis Hyman— an amazing singer who came from Broadway and was battered and abused by the music industry is probably best known for “Meet Me On the Moon”, but her catalogue in the black community is huge (“Old Friend”, “Living In Confusion”, “Don’t Wanna Change The World”, etc.) If you ask the average person (not rooted in urban) whose name they recognize outside of Hyman, Belle, and Holliday—I think most people would say Holliday. This is not to say Holliday has had a plush career, there are rumors of her attitude (I have know idea if they are true) when working with people, but one must keep in mind—the music industry for great black female singers of the 1980′s was incredibly tough, vicious and cut throat. Belle, Holliday, Hyman and so many others paved the way for artists like Jennifer Hudson. If Hudson could pay homage to Florence Ballard in her Golden Globes acceptance speech is to too much to pay homage to Jennifer Holliday? Most importantly, how can Hudson make such an assessment about Holliday when she hasn’t even released an album or had a hit single?
Many might think, well, this is pop culture fluff. It is pop culture, but homage is paramount. I do think there is something to be said about paying respect to those before you especially for a Broadway play like Dreamgirls that completely changed Broadway and black theater. Without Holliday the role of Effie White wouldn’t have been the main character. I am somewhat shocked how the creators of the film version of Dreamgirls have treated Holliday. Jennifer Holliday, Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson have all spoken out against the film because once again the Hollywood machine is profiting off the backs of people who have paved the way while they get no recognition, respect or royalties…I mean, honestly and truly, the way they robbed Diana Ross’ story was uncanny. Therefore, for Hudson to babble about Holliday is deeply disappointing. For all we know history might viciously repeat itself with Jennifer Hudson…it is already starting, the similarities with their names, winning awards and outshining the rest of the cast. The difference is, while Hudson can sing, she is not a mucus membrane of a singer or an actress as Jennifer Holliday. The music industry is even more cut-throat now so I am looking forward to seeing where Hudson’s “flexible and different” dreams will go—especially considering she STILL has not sung “And I Am Telling You” live!
TJ54Qm eeeerrrffddgggggggccccc
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