entertainmentdissected

Shown at the Hollywood premiere of The Secret Life of Bees, Jennifer Hudson has lots to smile about- a hit debut album and a budding film career, to name just a couple. (picture courtesy of Associated Press/Chris Pizzello)

Is it possible for American Idol also-rans to go on to a successful career?

If you’re Jennifer Hudson, ain’t no doubt about it.

Hudson’s ejection from season three’s Idolwas nothing sort of preposterous, considering she arguably was the strongest vocalist of the final 12. In fact, in that particular week, she, LaToya London and eventual winner Fantasia Barrino were the bottom three votegetters, while- gasp-Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias and John Stevens scored higher (season three viewers will comprehend that horror).

Following her stint on Idol, Hudson landed a much-coveted role in 2006’s big screen adaptation of  the musical Dreamgirls. Portraying Effie White, the character made famous by Jennifer Holliday in the musical, Hudson snagged numerous industry accolades for her performance, including Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe and Academy awards for Best Supporting Actress. Like Holliday, the defining moment in Hudson’s career just may be her rousing rendition of the classic “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going,” which peaked at No. 60 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

Hudson’s second film role came in the form of this year’s Sex & the City, as Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant, Louise. That gives Hudson two consecutive $100 million-plus-grossing movies to her credit. She has two more movies in the pipeline: The Secret Life of Bees, due next week and co-starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning, and, awaiting a release date, Winged Creatures, again with Fanning, and co-starring Forest Whitaker and Kate Beckinsale.

If that’s not enough sizzle for Hudson’s professional endeavors, her just-released self-titled debut album enters the Billboard 200 this week at No. 2, selling more than 217,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. First single “Spotlight” continues ascending up the Hot 100, jumping to No. 29 this week.

So, the girl who unjustly got voted off FOX’s singing competition need not dwell on that particular ”disappointment.” Fact is, she should be grateful for that outcome. Sure, past winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood went on to multiplatinum albums success (though Clarkson’s last release didn’t even sell a million), but a lot of winners and runners-up have not been so fortunate. 

Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, DeGarmo, Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee, Blake Lewis. Exactly. On the other hand, how about Chris Daughtry? He finished third in season five and has emerged as the most successful- by far- from that season, selling four million copies of his band’s album, and scoring multiple radio hits in the process.

Jordin Sparks, 2007’s Idol winner, has done alright for herself- shes’ scored three top 20 hits from her debut album, which is on its way to 1 million sold. We’ll see how this year’s winner and runner-up- David Cook and David Archuleta- fare with their upcoming debut records.

In the meantime, Idol wannabes can look to Hudson’s success as an example of what could happen in a post-Idol world. Unlike past and future contestants, she likely won’t be reciting the lyrics of her current hit single to anybody any time soon:

Well, I don’t like
Living under your spotlight…

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