I remember very well April 24, 2004 – the day the world stop turning and my viewing pleasure of American Idol (AI) has NEVER been the same. The night before, April 23rd, Jennifer Hudson (in my opinion) sang one of the best performances to ever grace the AI stage. “Weekend in New England” original by Barry Manilow, had never sounded better. Jennifer KILLED the performance and solidified what I already knew the premiere of Season 3 AI. Jennifer Hudson is one of the best voices of our time, easily one of the best voices to grace the American Idol stage.
At the time, a crew of 10-15 of my friends would host American Idol parties. Each week, the AI party would be at a different home on Tuesdays (the performance show day). On Wednesdays (the results show), the crew would call each other to see if our predictions unfolded. Everyone had a favorite Idol and my Idol was Jennifer Hudson. I voted as did many of my friends (Season 3 – the only season I voted) and when the drama thickened with all three divas in the bottom three (Fantasia, Latoya London & JHUD) – I WAS SICK, literally. AND I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING DOWN. My phone blew up with calls and I refused to answer. This has to be mentioned because although we didn’t “bet” on AI predictions. there were 10-15 others ready to remind you of what you said would happen. And if it didn’t go down the way you predicted, TRUST – you would hear about it.
I use to always say that American Idol was rigged. Come on. Fantasia had never been in the bottom three and what perfect drama for television than all three divas being in the bottom three. Don't get me wrong, I love all three divas. But an excellent singer’s dream must be sacrificed on America’s biggest reality singing competition. That's a way to secure ratings and ratings are how a television show makes money. There you have it! The three divas in the bottom – it increases ratings! Cut Jennifer Hudson – increase ratings. That’s my belief and I’m sticking to it.
How in the world was Jennifer Hudson cut?! I don’t think I answered my phone for three days – thankfully, texting wasn’t as popular then. I stopped going to the American Idol parties. I took days off work. I went into what I jokingly refer to as The Great Depression of 2004. I know. Is it that serious? YES! I promise, the first time I heard Jennifer Hudson’s voice, it sent chills through my body. Few artists can move me in the way Jennifer Hudson’s voice can. And not only that, (and call me crazy or whatever) but it was a spiritual chill that Jennifer’s voice communicated to me. It was hard to sit through a Simon Cowell critique of Jennifer because every time he spoke, I was sure he didn’t understand who and what was singing before him. Everything that has happened to Jennifer Hudson since Idol, I promise, I could see and more importantly "feel" whenever she would sing. It was spiritual.
So, naturally, I had to go to the American Idol 2004 Tour. I took my then 13 year old daughter Vogue with me to the show. Everyone thought that I was there for Vogue to have a concert experience, and I was. But when Jennifer Hudson hit the stage, I lost it (thankfully I didn’t lose my child LOL). There were those chills all over again and being in the 5th row (1st row when Jennifer hit the stage), Jennifer sang much of the songs directly to me.
The concert was amazing (not just Jennifer). Fantasia and Latoya joined Jennifer for Beyonce’s “Dangerously in Love,” George Huff and Jennifer sang Prince’s “Nothing Compares to You” – and even John Peter Lewis singing Outkast’s “Hey Ya” with the three divas singing back-up. I was floored by an American Idol concert. I was so caught off guard by how much I enjoyed the concert. On the way home, I called my brother in D.C. and told him that I was flying there BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY to see the show again in the following weeks. My brother and I didn’t have tickets but I HAD to go again. I posted on American Idol’s website that EVERYONE needs to see the AI show – especially to witness Jennifer Hudson who ruled the concert. I also posted on the AI site that I was the crazy fan that cut a fool whenever Jennifer hit the stage. I noted that I would do the same thing in D.C. – not ever hoping the A.I. posting would land me a meeting with Jennifer Hudson.
Cut a fool again in D.C. is what I did. My brother and I had horrible floor seats but we moved to perfectly empty unsold seats at the side of the stage during the concert. Yet again, Jennifer caught my energy and sang much of the songs directly to me during the show. Every time she sang, Jennifer found her way to our side of the stage. I was floored. I was in love. I was feeling those spiritual chills to the tenth. SOLD! Jennifer Hudson is the best of the new school singers. She’s the truth! What was American Idol thinking? What was the music industry thinking? All this and more, I posted on American Idol’s website.
Condensing the story, I received a message from Jennifer’s cousin Jay J. (as it was explained by email), an email that read, "Jennifer read the American Idol website and loved your posts. She thanks you for all the energy during the concert and when Jenny gets off tour, she will call you." YEAH RIGHT!!! Getting the email – I was sure I was being “PUNK’D” by one of my friends from the American Idol parties.
But one random day in winter 2004, Jennifer Hudson called me. WHAT!!??!!
From my MySpace Blog post about the movie Dreamgirls on November 16, 2006:In the fall of 2004, I received a phone call from someone in Chicago. Still faded from a nap, I checked my messages and heard her voice. "I was just calling to say thank you for the support. I read your messages on the A.I. site and I wanted to let you know that I appreciate it," or something to that affect. I don't remember the exact words but I remember clearly jumping around the house because Jennifer Hudson called me. Anyone who knows me knows that I remain a kid at heart and when I'm excited, I act a fool. Also, anyone who knows me knows about my "Great Depression of 2004" – the days after Jennifer Hudson was voted off American Idol: Season 3.
Skip to January 2005, I was planning to meet Jennifer for the first time. How? Well, before it was the chic thing to do for the U.S. black gay clubs, I INSISTED that my friends in the popular Atlanta promoter company Xtreme Entertainment book Jennifer (did I mention my insisting) for their MLK weekend here in Atlanta. The men in Xtreme were also a part of the crew that hosted the American Idol house parties. Let's just say that Fantasia was the Idol for all four members of Xtreme Entertanment. They have all tried to rewrite this part of the story since Jennifer's success I must add. In preparation for the show, Jennifer and I were talking by email about the songs she should sing. Naturally, I asked her to sing the song I was anxiously hoping she would sing had she not been strategically voted off of A.I. "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" in my mind is the perfect song for the perfect voice. "If anyone can sing this song, THE SONG and finally do it justice again, Jennifer Hudson can." Although we talked a few more times by email, Jennifer never told me that she was planning to do just that, sing "And I'm Telling You…" during the Xtreme Entertainment MLK show, honoring my request and sending me into a frenzy. (January 16, 2005 – the day we met) I got to hear her sing THE SONG a few times as I was at sound check (the first time we met) and later at the actually show (MLK Weekend 2005). NOTE: January 2005 – there was NO mention of a Dreamgirls movie to the general public, AND CERTAINLY AT THIS TIME there wasn’t even a thought for Jennifer Hudson to be Effie. UH – HELLO!!! Have you caught up? *wink* LAST – I will say too, Jennifer mentioned NOT having performed that song EVER live and specifically wanted to sing the song for me as a surprise since I requested it by email. HELLO AGAIN!!! Have you caught up? *wink*
Since our first meeting January 2005, Jennifer has been more than kind to call and text me along the way, allowing me to connect even if briefly about her transition to superstar Jennifer Hudson. Every time I have been around her, she’s been generous with her spirit and talent, never missing a beat with being warm, sexy and charming – surely one of the best celebrity experiences (and I’ve met too many to count). Jennifer Hudson is as kind as you imagine her to be and hasn’t changed a bit since her fame has sky-rocketed.
Two memories of Jennifer that I will never forget:
First one is the day that Jennifer Hudson got the call that she would be Effie in the movie Dreamgirls. In true kind Jennifer Hudson spirit, Jennifer called me to allow me to share in the excitement. As surely one of her biggest fans, the one who asked her to sing “And I’m Telling You…” for Xtreme Entertainment MLK show, she wanted me to share in her dream of becoming a Dreamgirl. Dereck Wallace from WINC – then Xtreme Entertainment was with me the day I got that call. We were so happy for her because we knew - finally, the world would catch up. Jennifer Hudson will be a superstar. She was already one in my world. I was so convinced that Dreamgirls would do it for her.
Second unforgettable experience occurred in March 2007, a week after the Oscar win, Jennifer allowed me to come with her to the Dallas Austin Foundation Event in Atlanta. This night, apart from the event being great and Jennifer performing, Jennifer asked me if I would rather stay at the event or go back to the hotel with a group of friends and chill. UH HELLO!! DUH! Let me think about this one! Come on. Yes, I went back to the hotel pinching myself the entire time. We talked about everything and nothing and she played me some new tracks and even allowed me to spend a minute on her computer/iTunes where she had loaded tons more of Jennifer Hudson songs that the world still doesn’t know.
“What Hearts Do,” “Pillows,” “Cry In a Minute” and even a rehearsal taping of “Never Loved a Man” and a few more songs were sent to me by email from Jennifer. I will never forget this night. Who gets to chill and talk with their favorite singer (recent Oscar winner) but me? As promised, I have never shared these rare recordings but if you’re ever around me and one of my iPods, I rock this music regularly. And although Jennifer and I don’t talk as much, surely every time Jennifer sees me, she’s just as kind as the first time I met her. Jennifer Hudson has love for the fan that cut a fool during the American Idol 2004 concert, the fan that finds a way to every ATL stage she performs on, the man’s name she often speaks from the stage, the kid-like grown man who had to fight with 10-15 other grown men about AI and why AI, the music industry and the world would eventually catch up to the undeniable talent of Jennifer Hudson. I’m still the crazy fan who believed in Jennifer Hudson before the world knew better to believe. Before the Oscar, the Grammy and so much more still to come, Jennifer had a fan (now loosely used “friend”) in me.
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