T.I. took the top spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart with his latest release Paper Trail. T.I. moved 568,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, which is also the third-biggest sales frame of the year.

T.I. also has a big week over on the Hot 100, where he breaks the record for largest climb to No. 1. "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, the second single from the album leaps 80-1, replacing the album's first single "Whatever You Like" at No. 1!

Jennifer Hudson claims the No. 2 spot with her eponymous debut album on this week’s Billboard Top 200 Albums. With a total of 217,720 units sold, the entry of Jennifer Hudson is the biggest first week for a debut R&B female since Fantasia’s November 2004 debut album Free Yourself.

Plus, Robin Thicke scores his best sales week and highest charting album on The Billboard 200 with Something Else which enters at No. 3 with 137,000.

All three are great albums that you need in your collection!

Labels: Jennifer Hudson, Robin Thicke, T.I.

Jennifer Hudson made an appearance on "The View" today to promote her self titled album that debuts today, and she gushed over he wedding and that Neil Lane gigantor engagement ring! Funny how they just skimmed over his former gig as a New York loving punk, named "Punk!" I like how she threw out his Harvard education... LOL.

Click through to hear how Punk [sorry he'll always be Punk] proposed to her on her 27th birthday!

[via MySpace]

“I had no clue at all… We went to the beach during the day and he blindfolded me… and he gave me a purple shovel, because purple’s my favourite colour… and I had to dig.

“I ended up digging through all this sand. When I found it, it was like a bunch of beautiful cards… one related to the other, and the last one said, ‘Look around, take the moment in, turn around and I have a gift for you.’”

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson and Fanstasia on one song...that's pretty awesome especially since the American Idol alums have battled rumors of high competition, namely the role of Effie in Dreamgirls. Howeverm, both have powerful voices and they both bring it on this new track from Jennifer's upcoming album called "I'm His Only Woman!"

The song is like "The Boy is Mine" meets Barbara Mandrell's "Woman to Woman." First they were fighting for the title of American Idol, now they are fighting for a man... *dead* @ "If this was 10 years ago, I would be at your front door ready to beat your ass!"

Labels: Check It, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson

I am not feeling this little unexpected, long rumored couple. Damn the stereotypical "get famous, drop long time fiance." Punk is such a... punk and he is so oogey. I mean he went on a reality show to date New York. RED FLAG, RED FLAG! Maybe that's why they've been sneaking and dodging the camera...

But hey, whatever floats your boat and finds your lost remote. Who knows, maybe James couldn't handle it. Either way Jennifer and Punk are now reportedly engaged. [Insert SEOD Here]

According to People.com, "I can confirm that Jennifer got engaged to her boyfriend David on Friday night in L.A." says the rep.

Otunga, who is known as "Punk" from the reality show I Love New York 2, popped the question with a Neil Lane diamond ring on the Dreamgirls Oscar winner's 27th birthday.

The couple, who have been dating less than a year, both hail from Chicago.

In other Jennifer Hudson news, she just dropped another song from her upcoming album, called "Pocketbook" featuring Ludacris. Produced by Timbaland and Beanz, it's a uptempo sassy song with a more hip hop feel. I guess it's a new thing and that's not bad. Definitely a different sound than we've heard so far from the album.

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Barack Obama spoke to an audience of 84,000 at Mile High Stadium


Here are all the video highlights of the final and most historic night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver!

Under the cut: Jennifer Hudson, Will.I.Am, John Legend and Agape Choir, MLK III, and Stevie Wonder...

Jennifer Hudson Performs the National Anthem


Will.I.Am, John Legend and Agape Choir - "Yes We Can"


Rev. Bernice King & Martin Luther King III


Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"

Labels: Barack Obama, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Will.I.Am

Jennifer Hudson recently previewed her album with the L.A. Times and given up some of the goods on her upcoming release due out Sept. 30th. According to writer Ann Powers, "the best cuts include the super-sassy Timbaland production "Pocketbook," which features a lascivious rap from Ludacris, and the smooth heartbreaker "Invisible," helmed by the Underdogs, the production team behind the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack."

Here some of the Q&A from their conversation:

On the occasion of your upcoming recording debut, Jennifer, all I can say is -- finally!

Ha ha! There was a lot of material. I recorded over 40 songs. There was a rumor going around that the original album was scrapped, but that was never the case. Some songs on there are among the first we recorded, like "We Gon' Fight."

That one is a gospel-flavored number, but with a futuristic beat.

It was produced by Tank [a.k.a. Durrell Babbs]. I'm a huge fan of his, and I thought the song was a great idea. I love the feeling of it. It's very modern, but it has the elements of R&B.

Several other cuts I heard are classic ballads, and then "Pocketbook" is a high-energy throwdown.

I like the variety and flexibility of my voice [on the album]. I don't mind stepping outside what I'm used to doing. I grew up in the church, and was always into ballads, but I'm very open to contemporary music. I consider my voice a tree with many branches.'

Continue reading for more on Whitney, Clive, and her tour plans!


Expressing vulnerability is one of your great gifts as a singer, and it's highlighted here on ballads like "Giving Myself to You," which reminds me of a classic mid-1980s torch song.

Everybody has a soft side, no matter how tough you may appear. I want to let my listeners in on that side of me. It's all about emotion. To me, that comes from learning what you're singing about. You can sing at a song, or you can sing the song. If you know what it's about, you can really sing the song. Otherwise, you're just making a noise. That I learned from being in church.

I hear a Whitney Houston influence on that song.

I definitely take that as a huge compliment. Of course, again, it adds more pressure! But I don't mind it at all.

Well, Clive Davis is Whitney's mentor too. What was his involvement in your recording sessions?

I have been discovered by the world's greatest talent expert, but actually, he's never been in the studio with me. He would send me a song, or I'd go see him at the office. That's when he gives his input. He's definitely a hands-on kind of guy.

It can't have been easy, balancing this intense recording experience with your acting career.

It's just a love for the art that's driving me to do them both. I didn't expect an acting career before a singing career. I've never trained as an actor. I never even thought about it. I always wanted to sing.

What are your touring plans?

We'll start maybe in October. Or January. I'm really looking forward to it -- that's my favorite thing, performing live. My fans want an intimate setting, and it's all about my fans. So I'm going to make it that way.

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

The official trailer for the star studded The Secret Life of Bees is here...This story seems deep and intriguing. For more on the novel and plot, check out my previous post. The ensemble cast includes Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Nate Parker and Jennifer Hudson.

I am determined to read the book before the movie premieres October 17th, 'cause reading is fundamental! The director and screenwriter, Gina Prince-Bythewood [Love & Basketball], says she read the book in one sitting, so I am looking forward to it. Has anyone read it?

Labels: Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah

Check out new photos of Jennifer Hudson, shot by FAB celebrity photographer Derek Blanks, which are more like scene from a movie. D. Blanks is great at creating characters with his photography and did J. Hud good! Gorgeous dawlin'...

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

The buzz around The Secret Life of Bees has been growing slowly over the past year and it is finally set to be release October 17th. Featuring an all-star line up with Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, plus newcomers Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys, I am sure it will be on of the most anticipated movies of the fall.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film [based on the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd] is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.

Labels: Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah

These morning news shows are just too early for me, good thing there's YouTube! Jennifer Hudson stopped by Good Morning America last week and I totally missed it. I've been wanting hear her perform "Spotlight" live and as usually she work it out! The purple dress is FAB, sans the green pumps. I love 'em, just not with this ensemble, I haven't really got with the miss-match trend. A little random color is good, I just didn't feel this one.

I most definitely love her blunt bob as well...

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Kelly Rowland is about to be like Tina Turner and chick the U.S. the deuce! Kelly spends more time across the on in the UK than she does in the U.S. But that is where chick is making money and I can’t find fault with that.

She looks absolutely chic in this black and white ensemble at the Giuseppe Zonotti Design Boutique Launch Party.


Alicia Keys also in London took her charity work to Smith Square for the Keep a Child Alive: The Black Ball UK . Jennifer Hudson was also there to support the charity. Both ladies looks stunning I might add.

Labels: Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

The cast and fans of Sex and the City came out to the New York premiere at the Hard Rock Cafe last night, all dressed in their best City threads as our favorite fashionistas make their way to the big screen.

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is on a roll lately with a role in one of this year's biggest films, Sex and the City and her debut album finally scheduled to be released this September. Her first single, "Spotlight" is a mid tempo track that's pretty catchy, I really like the chorus. It didn't blow me away at first listen the way "Stand Up" did, though. I still want more, I want to hear what her sound became...

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

Labels: Jennifer Hudson

The 80th Academy Awards were a complete snore...Seriously, there really wasn't anything spectacular. The August Rush choir was good though...cute little girl!

So check out red carpet looks, where Jennifer Hudson upgraded from the Jetson bolero and Ruby Dee was well ruby in red. Plus Elton John's and other Oscar parties...


Continue reading for more!

The 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party was held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood

Billboard Magazine Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel

Labels: Jennifer Hudson