14 DAY TRIAL // Since October last year, when her former brother-in-law murdered her mother, brother and young nephew, acclaimed singer and actress Jennifer Hudson has refused to make any public appearances. Away from the eyes of the media, the former “American Idol” rejects mourns – but reports have it that she might yet break her silence in order to perform at Obama’s Inauguration.
It is yet unsure which is the exact source of the rumor, but reports both in the US and international media have it almost as a fact: Jennifer Hudson will most likely step out of hiding on January 20 to perform at Barack Obama’s Inauguration ceremony. The first time she sang the national anthem for the President-elect of the US was back in August at the party’s national convention, when Obama accepted the Democrat presidential nomination.
In October, the bodies of Jennifer’s mother, Darnell Donnerson (57) and brother Jason Hudson (29) were discovered in the apartment the two shared. The body of the 7-year-old nephew Julian King was recovered later, in an abandoned truck. William Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of Julia, Jennifer’s sister, was charged with all three murders and is awaiting trial.
Jennifer Hudson first came into the spotlight as an “American Idol” reject, despite her impressive talent and equally powerful voice. In a surprising turn of events, she was almost immediately picked for a part in the musical drama “Dreamgirls,” also starring R&B singer Beyonce and Hollywood’s favorite funnyman Eddie Murphy. For it, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a SAG Award, unlike her onscreen “rival” Beyonce, which ignited speculation of a feud between the two.
Following the success of “Dreamgirls” and up to the tragic moment of the three murders, Jennifer pursued a career both in acting (with more or less minor parts in “SATC,” “Winged Creatures” and “The Secret Life of Bees”) and in singing, her voice continuing to fascinate millions of fans all over the world. As for the rumored upcoming performance at the Inauguration, a representative for Miss Hudson has refused to make any comments so far.