Hudson rise to fame came the old-fashioned way . Jennifer Hudson 's 's mother , brother , nephew found dead in Illinois , Chicago . Singer beat out 101 other women for role in `` Dreamgirls '' Hudson 's first national recognition came on `` American Idol ''
Jennifer Hudson 's rise to fame came the old-fashioned way . Hudson 's mother , brother , nephew found dead in Chicago , Illinois . Singer beat out more than 800 other women for role in `` Dreamgirls '' Hudson 's first national recognition came on `` American Idol ''