Jennifer Hudson

From Church to Disney

South Side of Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, 7, gets her start singing in the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church choir. As a teen, she works at her local Burger King before starring as the muse Calliope in Hercules – A Muse-ical Comedy aboard the Disney Wonder cruise. She considers her six months on the cruise her test for American Idol. "I said, 'If I can get through the ship, that means I'm cut out for Idol,'"she tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

April 21

Robbed by Idol

With LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino (who later wins the title), Hudson lands in the week's bottom three spots (left). A media firestorm ensues as Elton John calls the results racist because all three are black and widely considered the show's most powerful vocalists. In the end, Hudson is sent home. "Whatever it is, it was meant to be," Hudson says. "If it was based on talent, I know I was robbed."

Meowing with Beyoncé?

Critics begin buzzing about Hudson's upcoming debut and tabloids report a rivalry between Hudson and costar Beyoncé. But the women don't feed into the alleged catfight. "If Beyoncé had not taken a part in this movie, it would not be as big as it is," Hudson tells the San Francisco Chronicle. Beyoncé, who says "I'm Jennifer's biggest fan," adds, "They're not starting a rivalry between [costars] Eddie [Murphy] and Jamie [Foxx]. They're starting it about the women." At the Oscar ceremony (left), they perform a medley of the three nominated songs from the film.

February 25

Becoming an Oscar Winner

After winning the Golden Globe and the SAG Award for her role in Dreamgirls, Hudson, 25, wearing Oscar de la Renta, wins the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. In addition to thanking Tony winner Jennifer Holliday, who created the Effie White role on Broadway, in her acceptance speech, she credits her grandmother: "I have to just take this moment in. I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. I didn't think I was going to win. If my grandmother was here to see me now – she was my biggest inspiration. She had the passion for it, but she never had the chance."

September

Sex and the City: Beyond Dreamgirls

Hudson begins filming the long-awaited big screen version of Sex and the City. The Oscar winner, who plays Sarah Jessica Parker's assistant, will also appear in the crime drama Winged Creatures with Forest Whitaker and Kate Beckinsale. "I don't want to just do musicals. I want to experiment and do different things and exercise that acting muscle," she tells Variety.