Among the perks of beingArista founder Clive Davis: Awards luncheons are held in your honor; you get to show up looking dashing with a royal blue handkerchief and uber-cool shades (indoors might I add); and you get to arrive with such arm candy as the lovely Jennifer Hudson (pictured), who sings two ballads at the luncheon as your thank-you.
More interesting than a local awards ceremony would have been dish about Hudson’s upcoming album, due this fall. Details about the album have remained under wraps, and it seems like her people want to keep it that way. Publicists whisked J-Hud away when they got within earshot of the word "album," and we reporters were told to stick to questions about Thursday morning’s event. Right. (For the record, the occasion saw Davis named this year’s Music Visionary at a ceremonyhosted by the UJA-Federation of New York, which benefits impoverishedpeoples in New York’s Jewish communities.)
What we did gather about Hudson’s CD was that "it’s quite universal, it has something for everyone, it has a lot of soul, it definitely comes from the heart." Uh, okay, that explains everything.
But I can’t get down on someone with such an amazing voice. Shecertainly brought down the house with Barry Manilow’s "Weekend in NewEngland" (just as she did when she was on American Idol) and Whitney Houston’s"One Moment in Time." Speaking of Whitney, if you’re curious aboutwhere the "crack-is-wack" chanteuse has gone, Davis said he’s back inthe studio with Houston. He didn’t divulge any details, but imagine thenumber of go-to-hell-Bobby ballads. Oh, the possibilities!
Others in attendance included Lyor Cohen (chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group), Today‘sTiki Barber, Oprah gal pal Gayle King and Fall Out Boy lead singerPatrick Stump. It may seem like a random assortment of attendees, butperhaps they all found their way there as Stump did. "I was in theneighborhood," he explained.
What, no Kelly Clarkson?
She hasn’t lost weight, has she? Please, lets not lose another lovely, curvy woman and gain a toothpick with boobs.
With Clive handling her recording career….and Will Smith managing her film career…she can’t lose can she?
I can’t hardly wait for JHuds CD!!!!
I’m semi-excited. For some odd reason, I can’t shake the evil premonition of over-exposure off this lovely girl.
CANNOT WAIT for the CD. i’ve been craving a CD from j-hud since she did “imagine” on Idol, which was a LONG time ago, and that’s a VERY long time to wait. if it’s worth it, no problem.
Very sweet lady. I love her voice.
I do think she needs to lose some pounds though. Other than that, great girl.
Something tells me that winning that Oscar, though well-deserved, may spell doom for her. An Oscar is a career-long goal for an actor and she won one early on. Let’s hope her voice isn’t exploited as the few good singers’ are with non-sensical lyrics and uber-sexuality. FYI: She does need to drop one pound. She has more talent than most of the rail-bodied waifs on the scene.
I am looking forward to her CD. I agree, I hope that the Oscar was not doom for her. But she has talent, so I think that she is going to be alright.
I pray that God blesses her album effort, and that she’s uses her voice to serve Him.
I think people like to build folks up to watch them fail, but whatever Jennifer does, she’s already a winner. The rest is icing.
Let’s hear it for Jennifer Hudson. The woman can sang, she’s a star for sure. Just waiting for the new songs she’ll be releasing, with her gift, it’s destined to be a winner. So let’s hear it for JenHud all the positive reviews for our own Chicago diva!!! Jennifer all the way!
I THINK JENNIFER IS AWESOME AND I PRAY THAT SHE IS SUCESSFUL THROUGHOUT WHAT SEEMS TO BE A LONG CAREER TO COME, SHE HAS UNDENIABLE TALENT.
I agree with Stacey. Girlfriend is too chunky and needs to drop a few. Now Nicole Richie on the other hand. MMMMMMM. Thos eribs are razor sharp man, just thinking about that collar bone, uhhhh, and the spinal cord, I just hfghjergfilhdfgiulaerfvalieruhverliuvlervulieqrgv.
Jennifer Hudson? Why oh why did she ever make it? She’s a nice girl though I have to give her that.
FOR KRIPES SAKES PEOPLE GET OVER YOURSELVES. her wieght has absolutley nothing to do with her talent. You’d rather have more anorixic girls and girls like jamie spears and elder sister. HAVE PEOPLE FORGOTTEN INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER?