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Article about Boomie from a news outlet in Hershey,PA...


'American Idol' veteran discusses her career, experiences on the show

By Jade Kelly Solovey , Special to the Chronicle 09/02/2004

She finished in the top 10 out of 70,000 who auditioned, was last season's biggest controversy, and is currently half way through a 49-city tour - hitting Hershey this Sunday at Giant Center. But for Jennifer Hudson of American Idol, it still hasn't sunken in.
"I was sitting next to Tamyra the other day and I was thinking, 'I can't believe Tamyra Gray's sitting next to me,'" she said.
It's been a year since her audition, but the way she talks about it, the last thing Hudson knew she was sitting at home watching American Idol and voting like the rest of the country.
"It's so weird - do you know how many people want to be here?" she said.
Hudson was encouraged by her mother to audition for the first season of American Idol, but thought she'd rather stay employed as a Disney cruise ship performer where she was guaranteed a paycheck.
It was ultimately her fellow shipmates who pushed her to audition for the show, where she made it to the final group of 12 as Randy Jackson's Wild Card pick, putting Hudson in front of an audience of millions rather than the average 900 she was used to.
To recap, when Hudson and her booming voice were sent home, fans including none other than Sir Elton John, were upset with the voting. John even claimed the contest was fixed and cried racism. Hudson, in interviews following the decision, said she believes the votes were split among the three "divas" of the season - Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London and herself. Idol 3 winner, Barrino dedicated her performance the following week to Hudson.
Looking back, Hudson is flattered by all the attention and the ripples caused when she exited the show.
"The whole reaction - [the] response from everybody was just the best," she said. "People were saying 'Everybody is talking about you.'
"I didn't even know people knew I was on the show until I was off it."
John, along with Barry Manilow, were among the fans who noticed her while she was there.
"What can I say? I would rather get a compliment out of those two than all the votes in the world," she said.
And what bigger compliments could she receive than John saying he'd sign her in a heart beat, and an invitation from Manilow to sing with him during an appearance on On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
The AI3 finalists' tour has been met with predominantly good reviews, with Hudson's and Barrino's performances particularly well-received. They break out some samples of Aretha and Prince, along with the Temptations,and Barrino's now-signature "Summertime."
"It should be illegal to have this much fun," Hudson said. "The live show is so much different from the TV show. [It includes] a great variety of music from the '60s to the '90s to 2004 - from Frank Sinatra to Lauren Hill to Beyoncé."
And, according to Hudson, fan support has been so much more than they expected.
While John Peter Lewis and George Huff receive the largest amount of gifts, fans are very generous to all of the Idols.
"One person collected fan mail, somebody gave me a shawl," she said, adding that they have also received pajamas, flowers, and even costly designer outfits from one Atlanta fan.
When it's time to walk away from her Idol experience, Hudson hopes to record her album. It will include material she has written - sounding like Beyoncé - as well as Jennifer Holiday, not limiting her to one style of music.
She also hopes to do a film and possibly pursue one of the many offers that has come her way since the show, including a few from Broadway.
While she wants to try it all, Hudson admits nothing will be like the reality show that got her noticed.
"I have learned a lot," she said. "It's been the biggest experience of my life.
"It's just a blessing from God [to] just be able to use my talent to make my living - to be on American Idol and be on stage."
Meet Hudson at Hersheypark's Midway American Tent from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Hudson will appear with fellow formerAmerican Idol contestant George Huff.