Up until last week, 27-year-old Jennifer Hudson had enjoyed a Cinderella-like catapult into stardom that began in 2004 when she appeared on the third season of American Idol. While Hudson did not take the title, she placed seventh and then went on to earn an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role as Effie White in “Dreamgirls” in 2006. Since then, Hudson has released her self-titled CD and appeared in the 2008 “Sex and the City” movie and, most recently “The Secret Life of Bees.”
After growing up in a rough neighborhood where violence and the sound of gunshots were commonplace, Hudson left her jobs at Burger King and Disney Cruise Line determined to make it as a singer, like her idols Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.
Amid celebration for the Oct. 17 release of “The Secret Life of Bees,” the singer-actress received the horrifying news that her mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57, and brother Jason Hudson, 29, had been shot to death in the South Side Chicago house in which she had grown up. Her nephew, Julian King, 7, was reported missing in an Amber Alert the same day, Oct. 24.
Hudson identified Julian’s body three days later after he was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in and abandoned Suburban SUV belonging to Hudson’s brother. Hudson plead for assistance in finding the boy on her MySpace blog and offered a $100,000 reward for Julian King’s return.
Chicago police officials confirmed Friday that they had found the weapon – a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, alleged to have been previously owned by Jason Hudson – used in the slayings one block from where Julian King was found. The gun originally belonged to a Michigan man who had reported it missing. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister Julia, has been held in custody as a key suspect since Oct. 24. Police are investigating domestic violence as a motive in the murders.
Public funeral services for Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew took place yesterday, while a private service is planned for family today. Since the triple tragedy struck Hudson’s family just more than a week ago, she, her sister and other family members have established the Hudson-King Foundation to benefit families of slain victims.
“The specific purpose of the foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime,” the family said in a statement. “This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.”
Outside of the Hudsons’ property in the Englewood neighborhood of the Chicago area, fans have erected a shrine with enlarged photos, candles, stuffed animals, balloons and inscribed crosses.
What turn Hudson’s career will take after this devastating loss is unclear. Hudson is engaged to be married to David Otunga, who was with Hudson in Florida when she received the harrowing news from her family.
“The Secret Life of Bees” release comes with an edge of poignancy. The movie adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel grapples with domestic violence and a young girl’s haunting memories of accidentally killing her mother with a gun. In the film, Hudson plays Rosaleen, a “stand-in mother” to 14-year-old Lily Owens and housekeeper to Owen’s abusive father. Hudson serves as an emotional rock for the girl, an advocate and sense of hope.
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