One of the most infamous moments in American Idol history is the early exit of Jennifer Hudson in season 3, and, as she achieves EGOT status, it is time to revisit her highlights from the singing competition show. American Idol season 3 premiered on January 19, 2004, and featured a 22-year-old Jennifer, affectionately called "JHud" by her fans, who auditioned in Atlanta with Aretha Franklin's "Share Your Love With Me." The American Idol judges (Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell) all voted "yes," and she earned her ticket to Hollywood. Jennifer would go on to earn rave reviews for playing Aretha in the 2021 film Respect, which she also executive produced.
Jennifer placed seventh on American Idol, but went on to be one of the most successful artists from the show. However, at the time of the competition, Simon did not see Jennifer as a star at first. At one point, he even went so far as to tell her that she was out of her depth in the competition, and did not have a chance of winning. However, Jennifer changed his mind later in the season. After she won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for portraying Effie White in the film Dreamgirls, Simon admitted that he was wrong about her. Jennifer has since earned EGOT status, earning two Grammy Awards (one in 2009 for Best R&B Album, for her self-titled album, and the other in 2017, for Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple). She also won the 2021 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program Award, for Baba Yaga, which she executive produced. She also voiced the character of the enchanted Forest. She completed her EGOT at the 2022 Tony Awards, after her win as a producer of the Broadway musical, A Strange Loop.
Throughout her short time on American Idol, Jennifer delivered some of the most stunning and memorable performances in the history of the competition. Her gorgeous vocals soared to new heights with every song she sang. Here are a few of her very best American Idol performances:
"Share Your Love With Me" by Aretha Franklin
Before Jennifer began singing for the American Idol judges, she told them that she had just finished work as a singer on a Disney cruise ship. Randy told her that they expected something better than a cruise ship performance, and Jennifer answered "yes" when he asked her if she was the next American Idol, and the best that they could find in America. She delivered on her assertion. As per the David Healy YouTube channel, Randy told her that she was "brilliant," and the best singer that he had heard so far. Paula said that she had an "excellent voice," and Simon said that she was "very, very good." When she left the audition room, she came out singing, "I'm going to Hollywood!" and hugged her loved ones, who were waiting for her. It was America's first taste of Jennifer's smooth vocals, and it left everyone hungry for more.
"Circle of Life" by Elton John
Every so often on American Idol, there is a performance that transcends the competition. Jennifer's breathtaking rendition of "Circle of Life" during Elton John Week is one of those performances. She brought so much emotion to the song, taking its rousing choruses to new heights. It was a triumphant performance that stunned the judges and proved what an exceptional artist Jennifer truly is. Randy said that it was not only the best performance of the night, but Jennifer's best ever on American Idol. Paula told her that she was on the right path and found who she was. Simon commented that this was the first time that she proved why she was in the final 12 and said that the performance was great.
"I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston
For American Idol Movie Soundtracks Week, Jennifer chose to sing "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston, from the film, The Bodyguard. With this performance, Jennifer proved that she could sing a song originally performed by one of the greatest singers ever. Randy said that it was a good performance overall. Paula told her that nothing pleased her more than to see her shine and that she was really coming into her own. She said that she wanted to hear her sing even more of the song. As per the Aloha57 YouTube channel, Guest judge Quentin Tarantino cheered, "Hudson takes on Houston and wins!" Simon declared that this performance made her a frontrunner to win the competition.
Jennifer was an incredible American Idol performer during season 3, who has become one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation. She has now achieved EGOT status at just 40 years old, thanks to her singing, acting, and producing talent. Jennifer's American Idol legacy lives on, as she has helped to set the standard for singers on the show. To be compared to "JHud" is to have one's name mentioned among the greats. Jennifer Hudson is one of the most gifted singers to ever appear on American Idol.
Sources: David Healy/YouTube, aloha057/YouTube