Oscars Flashback: Jennifer Hudson ‘Wasn’t Too Familiar’ with the Awards Show BeforeDreamgirlsWin

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Hudson at the 2007 Oscars.Photo:PA Images via Getty

PA Images via Getty

Ahead of Sunday’s 2025 Oscars,PEOPLEis looking back at past ceremonies and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood’s most prestigious event.

Jennifer Hudsonwon the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her film debut in 2006’sDreamgirls,but theAmerican Idolalum didn’t know too much about the Academy Awards before her big night in 2007.

“It sounds so harsh, but I wasn’t too familiar with the Oscars because my dream was to be a singer and win Grammys,” she revealed inDave Karger’s 202450 Oscar Nightsbook.

“So even down to the night of being there, I remember [costar]Jamie Foxxsaying, ‘The craziest thing is she has no clue to what is going on.’ I was experiencing it as I went along.”

Jennifer Hudson at the Oscars in 2007.Vince Bucci/Getty

Vince Bucci/Getty

Admittedly, Hudson didn’t know much aboutDreamgirlseither, a story loosely based on The Supremes. After her stint onAmerican Idolin 2004, “it was kind of like starting over,” Hudson told Karger. “I had a production deal and I was just recording music. As long as I was singing, I was happy, you know?”

“People would say, ‘Jennifer Hudson for Effie White.’ And I’m like, ‘Who is Effie White?’ I knew ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ and ‘I Am Changing,’ but I didn’t know who the character was,” she continued.

Jennifer Hudson in ‘Dreamgirls.'.Dreamworks/REX/Shutterstock

Dreamworks/REX/Shutterstock

At the 79th Academy Awards,Dreamgirlswas up for eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress. Hudson shared the category withCate Blanchett(Notes on a Scandal), Adriana Barraza (Babel), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), andAbigail Breslin(Little Miss Sunshine).

Hudson, of course, prevailed. And as for that Grammy she hoped to win one day when she was younger? She has since won two: Best R&B Album in 2009 and Best Musical Theater Album forThe Color Purpleeight years later.

In 2021, she also won a Daytime Emmy for the animated shortBaba Yaga, which she co-produced and voiced. The following year, she won a Tony Award whenA Strange Loop, on which she was a producer, won best musical —making her an EGOT winner at age 40.

source: people.com