( CNN ) -- Jennifer Hudson 's rise to fame happened the old - fashioned way . Hudson 's mother , sister , father are dead in Chicago , Illinois . Singer beat out more than 100 other actresses for role in ` ` Dreamgirls '' Hudson 's first national recognition came on ` ` American Idol ''
Jennifer Hudson 's rise to fame happened the old - fashioned way . Hudson 's mother , sister , father are dead in Chicago , Illinois . Singer beat out more than 100 other actresses for role in ` ` Dreamgirls '' Hudson 's first national recognition came on ` ` American Idol ''