12:53 PM EDT 05/14/2012
Jennifer Hudson
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Jennifer Hudson's Ex-Brother-in-Law Convicted of Family Murders
Originally posted 05/11/2012 06:00PM
Jennifer Hudson's former brother-in-law was convicted Friday of three counts of murder in the shooting deaths of her mother, brother and nephew.
The jury in Chicago delivered its verdict against William Balfour, 31, after about 18 hours of deliberations. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Hudson and her sister Julia said in a statement: "It is our prayer that the Lord will forgive Mr. Balfour of these heinous acts and bring his heart into repentance someday."
Balfour was charged with the murders of Hudson's mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and 7-year-old nephew Julian King in 2008.
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Jennifer Hudson Family Murders 911 Call Released
Originally posted 05/01/2012 08:20AM
The graphic 911 call Jennifer Hudson's sister made when she discovered her mother's dead body was released to the public Monday by the judge overseeing the trial of William Balfour, who has pleaded not guilty of the brutal murder of the actress' mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.
"Somebody's killed my mother! Somebody's killed my mother! Please!" Julia Hudson can be heard screaming from her family's home on Chicago's South Side. "Please help me! Please … please send an ambulance, yes! Please!"
"I just got home from work and there's a bullet … there's a bullet hole in our front door," she also says, at times gasping for air. "She's on the floor, I see blood coming from her head … I didn't touch her, I just ran out of the house."
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Jennifer Hudson Leaves Courtroom to Avoid Seeing Bloody Photos
Originally posted 04/25/2012 01:40PM
Jennifer Hudson stepped out of a Chicago courtroom again Wednesday as another witness displayed grisly photos of one of her murdered relatives.
Her fiancé, David Ortuga, stayed behind and took extensive notes as a retired chief medical examiner identified pictures showing the gunshot wounds to the head of Hudson's 7-year-old nephew Julian King.
Julian, the son of Hudson's sister Julia, was found dead in an SUV three days after police discovered the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother in a South Side house in 2008.
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Jennifer Hudson Hears Grisly Testimony About Mother's Murder
Originally posted 04/24/2012 06:00PM
Jennifer Hudson listened with her head down and eyes closed as a police officer testified Tuesday about finding her mother's body in a pool of blood in the living room.
As prosecutors introduced evidence about the murder scene, Hudson sat next to her fiancé in the Chicago courtroom while Sgt. David Dowling also described finding the bloodied body of Hudson's brother in bed.
Later, Hudson left the courtroom with her sister, Julia, avoiding the testimony of a forensic investigator who identified crime-scene photos that showed the bodies.
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Jennifer Hudson Cries While Testifying at Murder Trial
Originally posted 04/23/2012 02:45PM
The first witness took the stand Monday and introduced herself to the jury: "My name is Jennifer Kate Hudson. I'm an actress and a singer."
With that, the Oscar-winner set the stage for the prosecution in its case against her former brother-in-law, William Balfour, charged with fatally shooting her mother, brother and nephew in 2008.
Her voice cracking with emotion, Hudson, 30, told the Chicago jury that she had warned her sister Julia against marrying Balfour.
"None of us, myself, my mother, or my brother, we did not like how he treated her, and I didn't like how he treated my nephew," Hudson said.
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Jennifer Hudson Could Testify at Former Brother-in-Law's Murder Trial
Originally posted 04/09/2012 08:15AM
Jennifer Hudson is expected to attend – and could testify at – the trial of a man accused of killing her mother, brother and nephew in 2008.
The singer and actress, 30, is on the witness list and, once testimony begins, is expected to appear regularly at the trial of William Balfour, her former brother-in-law, which begins Monday in Chicago with jury selection, CNN reports.
Balfour was estranged from wife Julia – Jennifer's sister – at the time of the killings. He is charged with fatally shooting Hudson's brother Jason, her mother Darnell Donerson, and Julia's 7-year-old son Julian King, allegedly in a jealous rage over what he thought was another man in Julia's life.
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American Idol: Top 12 Women Take the Stage
Originally posted 03/01/2012 12:00AM
It's been five years since the country crowned Jordin Sparks winner of American Idol, and she was the last female contestant to earn the title. Might the fellas' streak end this season? Judging by Wednesday's ladies' night showing, that may be the case.
"The stakes are going to be high," judge Randy Jackson said.
Of the 12 female contestants, the ones who have the most on the line pulled out the best performances. Skylar Laine, 18, could really benefit from the Idol prize: her family is struggling to keep their Brandon, Miss., business from closing. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Sanchez, meanwhile, has been battling swollen vocal cords. But despite their setbacks – or because of them – both delivered the night's standout performances.
Laine tossed her hair, shook violently and twirled in circles during her countrified version of the Faces's "Stay With Me." Jennifer Lopez compared her to a young Tina Turner, while Steven Tyler compared her to a firearm. "You are a pistol," he said. Randy was so overcome with excitement that he could muster little more than "Dude!" and "Yo!" He finally said, "I love your energy."
Glee: Amber Riley Sings Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'
Originally posted 02/15/2012 09:20AM
Jennifer Hudson nailed "I Will Always Love You" by the late Whitney Houston in an emotional musical tribute at Sunday's Grammy Awards. But on Tuesday, Glee's Amber Riley also had a turn singing the icon's biggest hit.
On the Valentine's Day episode of Fox's hit musical show, Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) gives the glee clubbers an assignment to sing romantic songs.
When Riley's character, Mercedes, has a realization in one of her God Squad meetings about her love life, she tells the football player she's been dating, Shane (LaMarcus Tinker), about cheating with Sam, played by Chord Overstreet. She also tells Sam she doesn't want to be in a relationship with him anymore.
Grammy Awards Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston, Etta James
Originally posted 02/13/2012 02:30PM
On a night intended to pay homage to the biggest names in music today, two of the Grammy
Awards's biggest honorees were the megastars no longer in the room: Etta James and Whitney Houston.
After host LL Cool J opened Sunday's ceremony with a prayer for Houston, announcing "a death in our family," the audience rose in a standing ovation.
"When a truly great artist leaves us, their legacy lives on," Alicia Keys later told the stars gathered at Los Angeles's Staples Center, before joining Bonnie Raitt in a graceful cover of James's "A Sunday Kind of Love."
But the most moving tribute came from Jennifer Hudson, whose elegant but understated rendition of Houston's "I Will Always Love You" brought audience members to their feet once again.
Jennifer Hudson, LL Cool J Honor Whitney Houston at Grammy Awards
Originally posted 02/12/2012 08:25PM
It was a fitting way to honor the memory of Whitney Houston.
On a darkened stage – where Houston had performed on many times before – in front of an audience of artists who call her an unforgettable influence, on music's biggest night, the late R&B superstar was remembered with one of her most memorable hits, sung by Jennifer Hudson.
Hudson's poised, powerful and understated reading of the song brought audience members gathered at Los Angeles's Staples Center for Sunday's 54th Annual Grammy Awards to their feet Sunday night.
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