Jennifer Hudson Moves to 'Better Place'

By Stephen M. Silverman

Thursday March 11, 2004 10:56 AM EST

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Last week's ejected American Idol diva, Jennifer Hudson, continues to promote herself as a survivor, talking about her big broadcast loss last Wednesday.

While the 22-year-old Chicagoan told FOX's Good Day Live that she had been in the bottom three on the talent show before, last week's vote was especially shocking, as Hudson was joined by fellow "divas" Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London – prompting plenty of conspiracy theories.

Some even blamed a storm-related power outage in Chicago for Hudson's demise.

"It's a waste of thoughts to even think about what happened," Hudson said. "If there was a tornado in Chicago ... well, then, it wasn't fair for me to be leaving the show."

And while she believes there should be another vote (FOX has nixed that idea), she still admits, "I feel like I'm in a better place."

In news of another Idol diva, Simon Cowell, the sharp-tongued judge is planning to launch a new TV talent hunt, "The X Factor," set to air in Britain and display the talents of older singers – well, at least anybody older than 16, Britain's ITV1 announced.

"We're trying to create a different competition," Cowell, 44, said in a statement. The show is due to premiere in October, and former Spice Girl Mel B. has been mentioned as one of the judges. Adds Cowell: "Hopefully we're going to be able to appeal to somebody over the age of 35 who keeps saying to me there aren't any artists I like in the competition."