Entertainment Music Jennifer Hudson's 9 Greatest Songs Print Music Rhythm & Blues Top Picks Rock Music Pop Music Alternative Music Classical Music Country Music Folk Music Rap & Hip Hop World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Jazz Latin Music Oldies Learn More By Ken Simmons Ken Simmons Ken Simmons is a seasoned broadcast journalist with national visibility, who specializes in writing about rhythm and blues, and pop music. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 05/24/19 Jennifer Hudson is a true triple threat, excelling as a singer, film/TV actress, and also as a Broadway performer. Her career began in 2006, portraying Effie White in the film version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" co-starring Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. She earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and received a Screen Actors Guild Award and an NAACP Image Award for her debut role. Hudson sang lead on four songs on the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack: "Love You I Do," "And I Am Telling You," "I Am Changing," and "One Night Only." She has released three solo albums, beginning with her self-titled debut CD in 2008, which earned a Grammy for Best R&B Album. During her career, she has collaborated with several stars including Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Fantasia, Ludacris, Robin Thicke, and Missy Elliott. Hudson currently has a recurring role in "Empire" and made her Broadway debut on Dec. 10, 2015, as Shug Avery in the revival of "The Color Purple." She also stars with Kerry Washington in the television movie "Confirmation," which premiered on April 16, 2016, on HBO. Here is a list of Jennifer Hudson's greatest songs. 01 of 09 2006 - "Love You I Do" Cindy Ord / Getty Images From the 2006 "Dreamgirls" soundtrack, "Love You I Do" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and won a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. 02 of 09 2006 - "And I Am Telling You" FilmMagic / Getty Images "And I Am Telling You" is the signature song from "Dreamgirls," and Jennifer Hudson always delivers a show-stopping performance whenever she sings it live. It was released as Hudson's first solo single in 2006. The "Dreamgirls" soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. It also received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album. The album was certified platinum, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and R&B charts. 03 of 09 2008 - "Spotlight" Getty Images for EIF / Getty Images From Jennifer Hudson's 2008 self-titled debut album, "Spotlight" was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Ne-Yo wrote and produced the single which reached the top of the Billboard R&B chart. Hudson's CD won a Grammy for Best R&B Album, and she also received NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Album and Outstanding New Artist. The CD was certified gold, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and R&B charts. 04 of 09 2006 - "I Am Changing" Rich Polk / Getty Images From the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack, "I Am Changing" peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard R&B chart. Hudson's performance on the soundtrack earned her a BET Award in 2007 for Best New Artist 05 of 09 2006 - "One Night Only" Mike Coppola / Getty Images In "Dreamgirls," Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) performs "One Night Only" as a ballad, and her former group members Deena Jones & the Dreams (Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose, and Sharon Leal) sing a separate disco version. The two songs compete against each other on the radio and the Billboard charts. 06 of 09 2014 - "It's Your World" featuring R. Kelly FilmMagic / Getty Images "It's Your World" featuring R. Kelly was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. The song reached number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It is from the 2014 "JHUD" CD which received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Album. 07 of 09 2015 "Trouble" with Iggy Azalea Kevin Winter / Getty Images Jennifer Hudson is featured on "Trouble" from Iggy Azalea's 2014 "Reclassified" CD. The single was certified gold and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards. 08 of 09 2009 - "If This Isn't Love" Taylor Hill / Getty Images From Jennifer Hudson's 2008 self-titled debut album, "If This Isn't Love" reached No. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart, and No. 1 on the Urban Adult Radio Chart. 09 of 09 2011 - "Where You At?" Getty Images for Tiffany & Co. / Getty Images R. Kelly composed and produced "Where You At?" for Jennifer Hudson's 2011 "I Remember Me" CD. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Adult Songs chart and won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Video. "I Remember Me" also earned an Image Award for Outstanding Album. The CD was certified gold and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and R&B charts.