said by on November 1, 2009 Filed Under: Uncategorized» Home l Information
In September 2006, Hudson performed the song, “Over It,” live on Fox Chicago Morning News. In the interview she stated the song would be included on her debut album, to be released in early 2007 however this was before she signed with Arista. On The Oprah Winfrey Show, Hudson announced plans to enter the studio in March 2007. Hudson said on The Tyra Banks Show, on February 23, 2007, that she just finished the first song for the album. Hudson also recorded a song called, “Stand Up”, which was available for preview on her fan website which was produced by Chicago natives Earl Powell and Herman Little III, who arranged the song. The power-ballad is available on the deluxe edition Hudson’s self-titled album as a bonus track.
In November 2006, Hudson signed a record deal with Arista Records. She released her debut album and has recently finished recording one song entitled, “Depreciate”.
In January 2008 Hudson returned to the studio to record new material for her debut album. Her label was reportedly unhappy with the direction they were sending Hudson musically and decided it would be best to scrap the older songs and instead focus on new ones. Hudson worked with Ryan Tedder and Timbaland on a number of songs.
Her debut single, “Spotlight” was released on June 10, 2008 and became Hudson’s first top 40 hit peaking at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top 20 hit in the UK and Turkey. The second single, “If This Isn’t Love” followed it. The second single was to be released in October 2008 and was supposed to be “My Heart”.
After three of her family members were murdered brutally be her estranged brother-in-law, the single was rescheduled for a January, 2009 release. In January her label decided that the second single would not be “My Heart” and therefore decided the second single would be released in February 2009. After much discussion, her label chose “If This Isn’t Love” as the second single.
The single eventually peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #37 on the UK Singles Chart. The third single was announced as “Pocketbook” featuring Ludacris in April, 2009, for a June, 2009 release, despite speculation that the third single would be “My Heart” after it was canceled as the second single. In May, 2009, “Pocketbook” was canceled as the third single due to negative reception from fans and critics alike. The third single was then rescheduled as “Giving Myself” and was released on June 2, 2009 to the US.
Her eponymous debut album, Jennifer Hudson was released on September 30, 2008 on Arista Records and was written by Ne-Yo, who co-produced along with Stargate. Additional contributors on the album include Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke, Harvey Mason, Jr., Diane Warren, Earl Powell, and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, among others.
The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 217,000 copies in the US and opened to positive reviews. As of August 2009, the album has sold 739,000 copies in the US, receiving a Gold certificiation for surpassing sales of 500,000. She has performed the song, “All Dressed in Love” for the Sex and the City soundtrack, which was released on May 27, 2008. Hudson performed the national anthem at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Her debut album garnered Hudson three nominations at the 2008 Grammy Awards; Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Spotlight”, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “I’m His Only Woman” with Fantasia Barrino, and Best R&B Album for Jennifer Hudson. She won the last of these and performed at the awards.
Hudson sang The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XLIII. She toured the United States with Robin Thicke in 2009. Recently, Hudson has suffered through a “throat fatigue” and has had to reschedule her May 16 – 19, 2009 tour dates. She also sang “Will You Be There” at the memorial of Michael Jackson on July 7, 2009.
Hudson has also recorded “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye),” originally by Gladys Knight & the Pips, for American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics—the official American Idol album for the third season. She is featured in a duet, “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be,” on Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose. She also performed the song “Easy to be Hard” on the Actors’ Fund benefit recording of the musical Hair; and she is featured on Ne-Yo’s second album, Because of You, on the track, “Leaving Tonight”. Hudson sang “Dancing a Catchy Rhythm” with Brooke White.
In September 2009 Ne-Yo told E! Online that Hudson was ready to get personel on her second studio album. When probed for details he said that he might be executively producing the album. He also said “I’m pretty good at writing personal records…It starts with her idea and her thoughts.” She’s gone through a lot over the last year, so she has a lot to talk about,” he continues. “She’s definitely gotten stronger. The things that she’s gone through and for her to still be upbeat and happy, it’s amazing.”
Jennifer will be doing a Christmas special on ABC in December 2009 called Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas. She will relive her childhood Christmases with musical performances filmed at her favorite locations in her native Chicago. Hudson will also visit family members, friends and other childhood influences during the broadcast, ABC announced.
Discography
Jennifer Hudson (2008)
Tracklisting
1. “Spotlight” (Shaffer Smith, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen) — 4:50
2. “If This Isn’t Love” (Theron Thomas, Terry Thomas, Brian Kennedy) — 3:36
3. “Pocketbook” (featuring Ludacris) (Candice Nelson, Hannon Lane, James Washington, Timothy Mosley, Christopher Bridges) — 3:18
4. “Giving Myself” (Robin Thicke) — 4:15
5. “What’s Wrong (Go Away)” (featuring T-Pain) (Faheem Najm) — 3:47
6. “My Heart” (Jason Perry, B. Kennedy, Johnta Austin, Polow da Don) — 3:33
7. “You Pulled Me Through” (Diane Warren) — 3:40
8. “I’m His Only Woman” (featuring Fantasia) (Missy Elliott, Jazmine Sullivan, Jack Splash) — 4:18
9. “Can’t Stop the Rain” (Amund Bjorklund, Mikkel Hermansen, Tor Eriksen, Espen Lind, Shaffer Smith) — 4:44
10. “We Gon’ Fight” (Durrell Babbs, Antonio Dixon) — 4:02
11. “Invisible” (Tiffany Fred, Steven Russell, The Underdogs) — 3:43
12. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” (Tom Eyen, Henry Krieger) — 4:43
13. “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There” (Warryn Campbell) — 4:24
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