Maps of Music

Jennifer Hudson (2008)

Where the lyrics of Jennifer Hudson take you, and where it was really made.

Critics were split on the album, yet it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 217,000 copies sold in its first week.

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Jennifer Hudson: debut studio album by American singer and actress Jennifer Hudson
First released in Australia; physically released in North America on September 30, 2008 by Arista and J Records
Several producers and songwriters worked on the album, including R. City, Missy Elliott, Brian Kennedy, Ne-Yo, Salaam Remi, T-Pain, Tank, Timbaland and The Underdogs
Three singles were released, led by "Spotlight"
Debuted at number two on both the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with first-week sales of 217,000 copies
Later received gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
Deluxe edition released to iTunes on February 24, 2009

In January 2002, Hudson signed her first recording contract with Righteous Records, a Chicago-based independent record label
In 2004, she was released from her five-year contract so that she could audition for the third season of American Idol in Atlanta
Eliminated in seventh place after reaching the finals of American Idol
In November 2005, she was cast as Effie White in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls
The filmmakers insisted on casting a relative unknown in the role
Her performance earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award
In September 2006, she performed "Over It" live on Fox Chicago Morning News and said it would be on her first album
In November 2006, she signed with J Records, a label of the Sony BMG music conglomerate
March to May 2009: co-headlined a North American concert tour with Robin Thicke
Her doctor ordered vocal rest, which forced several dates to be rescheduled

1	Spotlight	4:10
2	If This Isn’t Love	3:36
3	Pocketbook	3:18
4	Giving Myself	4:15
5	What’s Wrong (Go Away)	3:47
6	My Heart	3:33
7	You Pulled Me Through	3:40
8	I’m His Only Woman	4:18
9	Can’t Stop the Rain	4:44
10	We Gon’ Fight	4:02
11	Invisible	3:43
12	And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going	4:47
13	Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There	4:24
14	All Dressed in Love	3:23
15	Stand Up	3:51

Born September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois; raised mainly by her mother in Englewood on the South Side.
Began performing at age seven, singing in the church choir and doing community theater.
Signed a first recording contract with Chicago-based Righteous Records in January 2002.

Finalist on the third season of American Idol in 2004, placing seventh.
Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2006), becoming the youngest African-American recipient of the award.
Her self-titled debut album (2008) peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and won Best R&B Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.
Later albums include I Remember Me (2011), JHUD (2014) and The Gift of Love (2024).
Became the youngest woman and third African-American recipient of all four major American entertainment awards (EGOT) in 2022.
Hosts The Jennifer Hudson Show, launched September 12, 2022.

Metacritic, which computes a weighted mean out of 100 from mainstream critics: average score 58, based on seven reviews
Mark Edward Nero of About.com called the album "generally well-sung and well-produced"
Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe found that the debut shows admirable self-assurance and real-girl sensuality despite its flaws
Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B− rating
Chris Willman wrote that none of the tracks are exceptional but all deliver the vocal chops well
Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune said the singer's ability was badly mismanaged by the material
Andy Kellman of AllMusic said few vocalists as young as Hudson have a voice this versatile and expressive
Billboard named Jennifer Hudson 2008's best R&B album

Billboard 200: debuted at number two with 217,000 copies sold in the United States; fell to number four in its second week with 63,000 copies
UK Albums Chart: peaked at number 21; had sold 172,720 copies as of April 2011
RIAA Gold certification on November 7, 2008; sales reached 826,000 copies by 2011
Four Grammy Award nominations at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, including Best R&B Album
Won Best R&B Album at the Grammys
Three NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Album and Outstanding Duo or Group

783 singing actresses auditioned for the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls before Hudson was chosen
Fantasia Barrino telephoned Hudson and jokingly complained that Hudson had taken her part
"My Heart" was first set as the second single for October 2008, but after the family murders the release moved to January 2009
"If This Isn't Love" spent a second consecutive week at number one on the Urban Adult Radio Charts, joining only five other women in urban adult history to reach this achievement
Her doctor ordered vocal rest during the Robin Thicke tour, which led to several dates being rescheduled