said by on November 1, 2009 Filed Under: Uncategorized» Home l Information
Hudson auditioned for the third season of American Idol, in Atlanta, Georgia. In her audition she commented that she had been singing on Disney Cruise Lines for the past few months (as one of the Muses from Hercules); and contestant judge Randy Jackson said, “We’re expecting more than a cruise ship performance from you.” Jennifer delivered and all the judges agreed it was the best voice they had heard so far in the competition. She was a member of the first group of semifinalists in the Semifinals. She was not voted through to the final round, although she was brought back on the wild card round and put through as a “Top 12″ finalist by Jackson.
Hudson struggled to gain popularity in the early stages of Idol’s live shows, receiving the second-lowest number of votes in two of the first three shows. However, after a change in song choices, she soon became a favorite to win, receiving the highest number of votes in the “Top 9″ after her performance of Elton John’s “Circle of Life,” on April 6, 2004. Among Hudson’s worthy performances on the show was her rendition of Whitney Houston’s, “I Have Nothing”. Judge Simon Cowell commented that Hudson, “finally proved why she was among the ‘Top 12,’” and referred to the performance a week later as, “sensational.” During the “Top 7″ show, Hudson performed Barry Manilow’s, “Weekend in New England,” which garnered praise from all three judges.
Jackson called the song Hudson’s best performance to date; and Simon Cowell noted that Hudson’s presence made the third season a, “Battle of the Divas,” referencing other powerful vocalists Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London. Despite this praise, Hudson was eliminated during this week, which some blamed in part on a power outage in Hudson’s hometown of Chicago due to storms and tornadoes in the area. This also led to controversy since the “Battling Divas” were all in the Bottom 3. On April 21, 2004, Hudson became the sixth of the 12 finalists to be voted off the show, finishing the competition in seventh place.
American Idol performances
Theme week Song sung Artist Date sung Status
Audition Share Your Love With Me Aretha Franklin - Advanced
Hollywood [N/A] [N/A] - Advanced
Semifinals Imagine John Lennon February 10, 2004 Eliminated
Wild Card I Believe in You and Me Four Tops
Whitney Houston March 9, 2004 Selected
Top 12
Soul Music Week Baby, I Love You Aretha Franklin March 16, 2004 Bottom 2
Top 11
Country Week No One Else on Earth Wynonna Judd March 23, 2004 Safe
Top 10
Motown Week (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave Martha and the Vandellas March 30, 2004 Bottom 2
Top 9
Songs of Elton John Circle of Life Elton John April 6, 2004 Highest Number of Votes
Top 8
Songs of the Cinema I Have Nothing from The Bodyguard Whitney Houston April 14, 2004 Safe
Top 7
Songs of Barry Manilow Weekend in New England Barry Manilow April 20, 2004 Eliminated
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