Jennifer Hudson attends a movie premiere in Beverly Hills (AP photo by Chris Pizzello)

Carrie Underwood accepting her award at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman)

–Season three contestant Jennifer Hudson’s Christmas concert special titled “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” will air on ABC in December.

–Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood will receive the Harmony Award on Dec. 12 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  The award is given to individuals demonstrate a continued interest in Nashville music.

–Season 8 contestant Allison Iraheta’s debut album will be in stores Dec. 1.  The first single is “Friday I’ll Be Over U.”

–After a one-year hiatus the “Idol Gives Back” episode will return to American Idol. The episode will air April 21.

–Season 7 contestant Jason Castro’s album release has been delayed until early 2010.  The album was originally scheduled for Nov. 17

–Season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis released a new music video titled “Sad Song” from his CD “Heartbreak on Vinyl.  The music video is posted below.

The show featured appearances by Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Melissa Etheridge, Jordin Sparks, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Adele, India Arie, Kathy Griffin Liza Mineli, and Stevie Wonder. (Stevie was the only male. He was the honorary diva).

Video clips of some of the performances are posted below.

Jennifer Hudson

Kelly Clarkson

Martina McBride and Jordin Sparks

Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson

Melissa Etheridge and Kelly Clarkson

Paula Abdul and Kathy Griffin

Paula Abdul and Liza Mineli

This was the first time Hudson granted an interview since the slaying of her mother, nephew and mother. 

During the brief interview, she didn’t go into specifics about the murders. 

She said “I’m just glad to be back and be back to work again. Just doing what I love to do is like therapy.”

She also said she became emotional during the grammy’s when her idol Whitney Houston presented the best R&B album award to her. 

Hudson performed her latest single “If This Isn’t Love” on the Oprah Show.

Click here to watch to the Celebrity Minute.

Jennifer Hudson rocked the house at the Grammy’s along with the Star Spangled Banner during the Super Bowl

Now, she is taking her show on the road during a six-week tour and fellow R&B singer Robin Thicke will be the opening act.

The tour dates are posted below.

Mar 31: Albany, New York Palace Theater

Apr 2: Newark, NJ NJPAC

Apr 3: Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre

Apr 4: Baltimore, MD Lyric Theatre

Apr 5:  Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall

Apr 9:  Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand at Foxwoods

Apr 10: New York, NY WaMu Theatre at MSG

Apr 12:  Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall

Apr 15:  Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

Apr 17: Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium

Apr 18:  Greensboro, NC Special Events Center

Apr 19:  Richmond, VA Landmark Theater

Apr 23:  St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre

Apr 24:  Detroit, MI Opera House

Apr 25:  Chicago, IL Arie Crown

May 2:  Los Angeles, CA NOKIA Theatre

May 3:  Oakland, CA Paramount Theater

May 7:  Dallas, TX NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie

May 8:  Houston, TX Verizon Theatre

Bruce Springsteen gave an energetic performance during the Super Bowl halftime show, and he proved that he still deserves the nickname The Boss.

However, the most electrifying performance of the night belonged to Jennifer Hudson when she performed “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Hudson is back on the scene after losing her mother, brother and nephew during a killing spree.

Her performance proved that she is back on top of her game.  It was on the same level of Whitney Houston’s national anthem performance back in 1991.

Hudson’s performance clip is posted below.

Tim Henley

Jennifer Hudson Star Spangled Banner Super Bowl XLIII – Watch more amazing videos here

R&B singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson will perform at the Super Bowl football game Feb. 1.  An NFL spokesman said she will be singing the national anthem. 

This will be Hudson’s first public appearance since her mother, brother and nephew were brutally killed in October. 

Her brother-in-law William Balfour was charged in connection with the incident.

– Jennifer Hudson will perform at concert Feb. 6 to honor Neil Diamond. It will be her first public appearance since her mother, brother and nephew were brutally killed.

– Lance Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna Hansen are expecting their first baby together.

– Hugh Hefner’s recent ex-girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson will marry NFL player Hank Baskett at the Playboy Mansion next summer.

“Mad Men” actress Anne Dudek and her husband Matthew Heller welcomed a son named Akiva Heller.

Bruce Springsteen’s greatest hits albums will be released Jan. 13 at Wal-Mart stores only.

Jennifer Hudson has canceled a video shoot for her new single “If It Isn’t Love.”

The singer/actress was scheduled to return to work next week to film scenes for the music video, but she realized that she’s not ready to go back to work, according to US Weekly magazine.

Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew were killed in October, and I think Jennifer just needs a little more time to grieve, and she deserves that time.

Singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson is slowly beginning to put the pieces of her life back together.

Hudson will start filming the music video for her second single next week “If It Isn’t Love” from her self-titled debut album.

It will be the first time she has been at work since her mother, brother and nephew were killed in October.

Good luck Jennifer. You are in everyone’s prayers.

Tim Henley

William Balfour was officially arrested Dec. 1 in connection with the murders of actress/singer Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew.

Balfour was currently in the Illinois state prison serving time for a parole violation, but he was transferred this week back to Chicago to be arrested for the killings.

Charges were officially filed against him Tuesday morning.

Don’t let the bad comb-over fool you. Donald Trump is really a nice guy.

Since the homicide of her mother, brother and nephew, Jennifer Hudson and her relatives have been staying at Donald’s Trump’s hotel for free.

Donald Trump told People magazine, that they are protecting the Hudson family during this difficult.

Jennifer has been staying at his hotel since her family members were killed.

This is nice of The Donald to provide Jennifer and family with a home that is protected from the public, the media and the paparazzi.

Looks like Donald isn’t such a bad guy after all.

Tim Henley

A public memorial service will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today (Nov. 2) in Chicago for Jennifer Hudson’s three relatives who were killed last week.

The public can attend and mourn the deaths of Jennifer’s mother, brother and nephew who were gunned down.

Jennifer’s brother-in-law in police custody, but no charges have been filed.

It’s bad enough to lose one relative in homicide, but losing three is unbearable. My thoughts go out to her and the other members of the Hudson family.

Tim Henley

Oscar winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson’s mother was shot and killed Friday, and police said they found the missing body of her 7-year-old nephew.

Authorities discovered her mother and brother’s dead bodies in a Chicago home Oct. 24.

Authorities have taken into custody a man named William Balfour. At time of the killings, Balfour was on parole for attempted murder and hijacking a vehicle.

The body of the 7-year-old was found in an SUV.

Tiffay Pollard, better known as New York from the reality shows “I Love New York” and “Flavor of Love” has been talking trash about Jennifer Hudson’s relationship with her

finance.

In an interview with the latest issue of In Touch Weekly magazine, New York suggested that Hudson and David Otunga’s relationship won’t last.

David was a contestant on New York’s dating reality show “I Love New Show” and his nickname on the show was “Punk.” New York ended up eliminating “Punk” from the show, and “Punk” later fell in love with singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, and they became engaged.

In the interview, New York said, “He’s really loving being Mr. Jennifer Hudson. I think he’s loving the lavish things she brings to his life. He’s seeing the world due to Jennifer’s success. “But can you love this person if they lose all of this tomorrow? She needs to find out. I just hope people are marrying each other for the right reasons.”

New York also said, “It’s a mixed match, it won’t work. He’ll be in her shadow like Al Reynolds was to Star Jones, like Stedman Graham is to Oprah.”

Ouch!! New York is too harsh. I think she’s a little jealous of the fact that she rejected “Punk,” and he rebounded and is now engaged to a woman who is more successful and more famous than she is.

I just have two words for New York…. Stop Hatin’

Tim Henley