Jennifer Hudson: The Nice Diva

Jennifer Hudson’s life is a modern day Cinderella story. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Hudson lived your typical life. That is, until she was cast in her first play in college. That small role got her uber successful career on track and took Jennifer from “girl with awesome voice” to Academy Award winning actress and recording artist. Jennifer Hudson is at the tippy top of her game, but no matter who she has worked with (Um…SJP? Ne-Yo? Beyonce?), she is still a hometown girl at heart.

CollegeCandy got to speak to Jennifer about her fame, her fashion and her future (her debut album drops on September 30th!). It is nothing short of inspiring.

CC: (Internal Dialogue: I can’t believe I am talking to Jennifer Hudson. Ohmygod. Ok, let me start this.)Everyone is always talking about your style; you always look flawless. What are your secrets?

JH: I refuse to leave the house unless I am comfortable in what I’m wearing. If I’m not comfortable, I’m not wearing it.

CC: Yeah. I agree, but my comfort clothes – sweats – won’t get me on any best dressed lists.

JH: I have to love what I’m in. To me, what I wear is an expression. I’m just expressing myself through my clothes. It’s how I feel that day.

CC: Being a movie and music star must keep you quite busy. How are you spending your summer?

JH: One day I’m doing music the next day I’m doing film. I’m preparing for my next film that is coming out, which is The Secret Life of Bees. I’m also starting to prepare for my album that is getting ready to drop, so I’m doing the promotions for that, as well. And when I can, I just hang out at home.

CC: Wow; a huge album and a huge movie. Do you prefer working on one more than the other?

JH: I love them both and I hope I never, ever have to choose. I mean, music is what I started out doing and it is my first love, but I hope I never have to choose.

CC: So, as the entire world knows, you were just in the Sex and the City Movie. What was that like?

JH: It definitely is life changing. It was a film and a project that’s already well established and they allowed me to be a part of it. I felt like one of the ladies of Sex and the City.

CC: Did you get to take anything with you from the set? Like, I don’t know, that gorgeous Louis Vuitton bag?

JH: I did not! (Laughs) I’m still waiting for my Louis Vuitton bag. Maybe they’ll send it to me.

CC: How did you discover your awesome talent as a singer?

JH: After I graduated from high school I went away to Langston University and I spent one semester out there. And I came back home and I attended Kennedy King College where I met my music teacher, Mr. Hill and he had me sing for a lady. I sang for her and she put me into a play. That was my first big professional job and from there, that’s when things started to happen. After I started getting into music I was like, “Wow, this is what I want to do.”

CC: Well, college is awesome, but I think you probably made the right choice.

JH: One of my goals to go back and finish school. That’s something I always wanted to do, and I plan on doing that later on.

CC: I think that is such an awesome goal, but why is that so important to you? You are pretty much on top of the world right now.

JH: I always admired and looked up to people who finished school. My mother has three children and none of her children have ever graduated from college. I always wanted to be the one to do that. So, that’s why it’s like a personal goal for me. And there’s always so much more to learn and to be able to say, “I graduated from college.” That’s a huge accomplishment.

CC: It is nice to hear someone really respect and honor a college degree. I think a lot of us take it for granted. There have been rumors that you are being discussed to play Aretha Franklin in the movie of her life; how does that feel?

JH: That is so amazing to me. If I get that film, that will be my new ideal life dream film ever in life. And just to be considered is amazing. I am at a loss for words. But if I get to do it I will be honored to get that chance to show Aretha how we see her, and that, to me, is the treat of it all. Like, this is our tribute to you.

CC: Let’s talk about your new single, Spotlight for a minute. What is the story behind this song?

JH: The song was written by Ne-Yo. He pretty much came up with the concept, but I chose to do it because I love that it speaks of a subject that might be quite common, but people might not realize that we’re going through this. And we hear this song and it makes you spotlight your relationship and say, “Hold on, this sounds familiar…am I going through this? Let me look at MY relationship.” And I think it’s an issue that nobody addresses.

CC: Well, how is this song different from other “relationship” songs on the radio?

JH: In music you hear about relationships, but it’s only certain things in relationships that you hear about constantly, over and over again. And I think this puts the spotlight (Laughs) on something new and different – something else to talk about and think about in relationships.

CC: Was it important for you to feel a personal connection to all the songs on this album?

JH: When people hear my album I want to feel like they are walking away with a piece of me. And the only way to do that is to try to make the music as close to home as possible. I feel like to get my album is to get to know me, you know; where I’ve been, where I am and where I’m going.

CC: I can’t wait to hear the whole thing. Who else did you work with on this album? I mean, not that Ne-Yo isn’t impressive enough.

JH: I worked with Timbaland, Pharrell, Salaam Remi, Diane Warren, the Underdogs, Missy…I can’t think of them all, but I’ve done a lot of material. Oh! I worked with Pink as well, and Robin Thicke. It’s all coming back to me now.

CC: Oh, that’s it? Psssh.

JH: (Laughs) It was amazing. I got to work with the best of the best in the industry and to be able to sit with them and carve out something just for me and so closely. It’s exciting.

CC: A lot of people refer to you as a Diva. Do you like being thought of that way?

JH: I don’t really care for the word, diva, to be honest. But I always say I’m a good diva. Everyone in this field comes to you and think you have all of these demands and I’m like, “I’m fine and content as I am.” And they are like, “You’re so easy to work with.” So I call myself a good diva. I’m not as complicated as divas. (Laughs)

CC: Speaking of divas, who is a bigger one: Beyonce or Ryan Seacrest?

JH: (Laughs) Actually, neither one of them. They’re both really, really sweet, sweet people. I loooove Ryan Seacrest; he’s probably my favorite personality on American Idol. And Beyonce is so sweet, so shy and so quiet.

CC: Do you keep in touch with either of them? Or anyone you have worked with?

JH: Well, you don’t get as much time to see people and sit down and chit chat, but you work really closely with people for a long period of time and then once its done its like, “Oh well, whats next?” So its not too hard not to get attached to someone, but by the time it comes around again and you do come back together it’s like you never parted.

CC: What is the hardest thing about this business?

JH: Just getting adjusted to a new life. People have so many expectations and they want you to do this and do that, and expect you to be this and that way. That can get frustrating from time to time, because I’m me, and what you see is what you get.

CC: If you hadn’t gotten your big break on Idol, what do you think you’d be doing now?

JH: Well, maybe I’d be back in college (Laughs). I always said I wanted to be using my gifts and talents to make my living. I draw as well as sing, so I would be a tattoo artist. That’s what I always said.

Check out Jennifer’s music video for Spotlight:

Love it? Download the song on iTunes.