Jennifer Hudson Breaks Silence To Oprah

CHICAGO — Jennifer Hudson says she's found getting back to work to be a healing force in her life.

"I'm just glad to be back and be back to work again. Just doing what I love to do is like therapy," Hudson said on a live episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" broadcast Friday. "I'm in a very good place."

In a brief interview, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning performer made no direct reference to the October slayings in Chicago of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

She performed her latest single, "If This Isn't Love," and promoted an upcoming tour with Robin Thicke, beginning March 31.

Hudson said Whitney Houston awarding her the Grammy for best R&B album for her self-titled debut CD "almost surpassed winning."

"As soon as she stepped out on the stage, I lost it. That's when I got emotional," Hudson said of Houston. Hudson said she used to create duets with Houston's records and dream about winning a Grammy.

Hudson, 27, said her fiance, David Otunga, is "working and making plans for us," and she showed a snapshot of her three dogs, named Oscar, Grammy and Dreamgirl. The former "American Idol" finalist's Oscar came for her role in the movie "Dreamgirls."

Was she nervous about singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? Not Hudson, who said there "was too much going on for me to take it in" or to get nervous about her first public performance after the slayings.

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Even the difficult final phrases of the national anthem didn't throw her.

"To me, the biggest notes and the longest notes are the easiest notes," she said. "It's just like I'm glad that I made it to the end of the song. That's how I am. OK, I got this now, I'm home. I'm going home now."

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, is accused in the triple homicide of Hudson's relatives. Balfour has pleaded not guilty.

The bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered Oct. 24 at their South Side home. Seven-year-old Julian King's body was found days later. All three had been shot to death.

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On the Net:

http://www.oprah.com

Comments

[carnelld]

Hudson is a talent and we all wish her well. If you followed the narrative of the tragic events that took
members of her family , it was obvious there was dysfunction in the family.

There was reports her brother had previous law enforcement issues with drugs. Her brother-in-law had issues with drugs, violence, and had served time for crimes. Hudson's sister was entangled with the alleged killer.

For those who know about a certain level of criminal behavior, drug sales, ex-convicts, bad relationships, etc. have seen situations like that play out. Most of the time not to the level that happened in her family, thankfully. Usually there is a lot of abuse and drug activity.

All across America , there are abusive relationships fueled by women who make poor choices and either have no desire to get out or don't understand how to get out of the circumstances.

Hudson is fortunate that her talents pulled her out of the situation.

It is not bad to look at the circumstances in a realistic manner . To do otherwise is to turn our heads and wait for the next horiffic event

[DogTown]

I hope that she continues to heal!

[Biolante]

Is it me or .... . She's in a good place? Her family was just murdered 4 months ago. That just seems a weird thing to say.

[dengal]

its a defense mechanism...she just didnt want to talk about it. I did the same thing after losing 2 family members. Its easier than exposing your raw emotions.

She is putting on a good face, but she is hurting

[madatnewsmedia]

It may be weird, but who are we to tell her what to feel! Maybe getting back to work helps her to deal wth those deaths!

[JRsNana]

So, what day is it, in the "how to be perfect and do everything right and heal in the Biolante way" that she's supposed to be in a good place? What's weird is that you would find someone else's healing process weird.

[phinney]

She looked and sounded wonderful. It is good that she is getting on with her career. But, did anyone notice that she was out of breath when she first came out and seemed out of breath the entire time? Maybe she was just nervous.

[lippy33]

Loved the song Jennifer sang today and I thought she looked great!!!

[bazokbros]

What happened to her family is extremely tragic and devasting. I guess my question is what needs to be said by Jennifer Hudson that needs to be heard by the public on a grand stage such as Oprah's show? Many people are affected by tragedy and go on with their lives so I'm just wondering why her being famous lends to her story needing to be told to a national audience beyond macabre curiosity.

[lippy33]

well you should be happy to know that she didn't tell her story at all on oprah. she was on for 5 minutes basically and said she's doing fine. she didn't go into any detail about anything. Get this--she sang, which is what she makes a living doing. Feel better now?

[JRsNana]

Didn't see the show did you? She sang. The words family, mother, nephew and murder did not come up. She had a very brief exchange with Oprah. That was it. Nothing "grand" about it. She didn't tell her story to anyone. She's going on with her life. Just the way you seem to want her to do.

[brooklyncitizen]

well she's awesome....glad she's singing and carrying on.

[VinceroVinceroVincero]

Dear Jennifer,

Nothing anyone can say will really help and since you'll likely never read this, it like won't either.

All any of us really know for sure is that seeing you with a microphone in your hands and a song on your lips, touched all our hearts.

I don't know that I will be lucky enough to hear the voice of an angel, but I know that hearing you sing again made a lot of people in heaven and on earth stand up and cheer.

Keep moving onward and keep looking upward,

(your signature here)

[ohioan73]

I wish J'Hud the best. Such a horrible tragedy.

[Lerrin]

Throughout the entire program, Oprah handled her with kid gloves- the elephant in the room (the family) was not mentioned directly, and only oblique references to her well-being even came close.

Fine - there is no reason that each and every thing must be discussed each and every time.
When the time is right, I'm sure she'll talk, and if never: fine.

[madatnewsmedia]

Why would she need to mention it? Everyone knows what happened and I'm glad Oprah didn't ask her! When she's ready to talk, she will, and if she never want to talk about it, that's her business.

[MizK]

I've liked J'Hud from her Idol days. Good for her and I wish her much happiness!

[berrycooda]

What a sad event for J. Hudson and her sister.

Too many of these things happening across the country, but it
seems like Chicago has had more than it's share of killing's.

[LemonFreshScent]

i like her.

[macbabe]

me too, more than Beyonce!

[mltmama]

Jennifer is wonderful. Beyonce is a wonderful young lady, not a drama queen with mess going on all the time. She has a killer body and it sells...but she's not selling her body.

[RachelMc]

so wtf does bey have to do with this stooooooopid?

[SuperBucky]

O THANK GOD! Fianally, she breaks her silence!!!! I have put my life on hold until now! Fianlly, finally! I can go outside and begin to live a normal life. Sweet Jesus, thank you..thank you thank you!!!

[sweetwhine]

And you wonder why.

[valkyrie607]

LOL

[Deekang]

Obviously you did put your "life" on hold if went out of your way to read the article AND post a comment, with GOD and all. Go ahead, admit you liked the article and you can't be happier to see human triumph over adversity. We'll still be your friend.

[MizK]

What a bitter, hateful life indeed. Maybe you need to talk to Jesus a little more....

[Biolante]

lol

[leftoflennon]

One day at a time Jennifer.

God Bless You!