Jennifer Hudson’s life is a modern day Cinderella story. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Hudson lived your typical life. That is, until she was cast in her first play in college. That small role got her uber successful career on track and took Jennifer from “girl with awesome voice” to Academy Award winning actress and recording artist. Jennifer Hudson is at the tippy top of her game, but no matter who she has worked with (Um…SJP? Ne-Yo? Beyonce?), she is still a hometown girl at heart.

CollegeCandy got to speak to Jennifer about her fame, her fashion and her future (her debut album drops on September 30th!). It is nothing short of inspiring.

CC: (Internal Dialogue: I can’t believe I am talking to Jennifer Hudson. Ohmygod. Ok, let me start this.)Everyone is always talking about your style; you always look flawless. What are your secrets?
JH: I refuse to leave the house unless I am comfortable in what I’m wearing. If I’m not comfortable, I’m not wearing it.

CC: Yeah. I agree, but my comfort clothes – sweats – won’t get me on any best dressed lists.
JH: I have to love what I’m in. To me, what I wear is an expression. I’m just expressing myself through my clothes. It’s how I feel that day.

CC: Being a movie and music star must keep you quite busy. How are you spending your summer?
JH: One day I’m doing music the next day I’m doing film. I’m preparing for my next film that is coming out, which is The Secret Life of Bees. I’m also starting to prepare for my album that is getting ready to drop, so I’m doing the promotions for that, as well. And when I can, I just hang out at home. Read More »

Let’s face it, American Idol might have had a few suspect contestants (Sanjaya) and a few unsuccessful winners (Taylor) but, this seventh season, the show absolutely got it RIGHT. I have been following the season from remote Colombia and even from South America I know real talent when I see it. David Cook is it.

That said, this season has seen the best talent I have ever seen. Brooke, Jason, and Carly would have been just as deserving of the title. I am so pumped about this season’s show that, as a girl from Hawaii, I am very tempted to fly over to California this summer to check out the American Idol Top 10 Tour.

I can’t wait for Cook’s album and hope that the producers give him space to be just as original as he’s been all season. (Who would have thought this rocker could pull off Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” within six weeks?) Don’t get me wrong, Archuleta is an extremely gifted 17 year old, but America should usher in this summer with a major celebration for getting it right this year!

David Cook, congratulations!!! You rock!

We all have them. Those celebrities we can’t help liking, even though we can’t quite figure out why. They may not be traditionally attractive, but whether they have a fabulous talent or just make you happy, you find yourself swooning over them. I call them embarrassing celebrity crushes and I’ve been known to have many of them. No need to make fun of me; trust me, my friends do it more than enough.

My Top 5 Embarrassing Celebrity Crushes:

1) Donny Osmond

You know it’s bad when your friend texts you “over 100 Osmonds on Oprah,” and 5 minutes later your mom calls and says, “Donny is on Oprah!!” And my response? “Duh. It’s a rerun; I’ve seen it already.” Seriously though, how can you not think this man is adorable? His smile makes me melt and when he sings “Puppy Love,” I want to jump him. I saw him in concert, and yes, I was the only person under 45. And I am OK with that…men like younger women, right? Read More »

Yup. The juggernaut known as American Idol started up again last night, crash landing into the state of Philadelphia and finding more than enough weirdoes to go with the splashes of talent.

The 7th season will undoubtedly bring a whole new crop of talented-yet-strangely-un-marketable contestants (Remember Ruben? Taylor Hicks? Katharine McPhee? All dropped from their label), snide remarks from Simon, and a crapload of unnecessary tears.

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it all before, but I could be tempted to watch agan…if someone Sanjaya-esque pops up. He may not have been able to sing or dress himself, but he sure knew how to make those 12-year-olds cry.

Speaking of crying, what about the dude who wrote that creepy stalker song for Paula?! Eesh. Someone get him a hobby

Heidi from The Hills wants to be a singer…or a mediocre popstar who lip-syncs in concerts while wearing tiny outfits.

She’s on her way to the mediocre part. Medicore with a side of lame, thanks to her big-headed boyfriend Spencer Pratt.

“Body Language”, a song recently leaked to Ryan Seacrest (and subsequently the whole world) is apparently not the first single from Montag, but is obviously on her record, so I am going to judge it.

The tune itself isn’t horrible. It’s not fantastic, but since it samples a catchy, retro beat, it may just have a life in the clubs.

The major problem with “Body Language” is the rap stuck in the middle—the rap that is rapped by Spencer.

Camp Montag and Pratt claim the rap was “just a joke”, but I’m sure it was totally serious until radio listeners everywhere deemed it the weakest attempt at bad-assness since Avril Lavigne. Read More »

I was really hoping we’d all forget about Paris Hilton.

Really. After her trail / jail fiasco was recorded on every news station in America (even CNN covered it…although every time they did the anchors looked uncomfortable), I honestly thought the overexposure was going to be enough to make us finally not care about what Paris Hilton does, says, or cries about.

But just like the time I bought those designer jeans that didn’t quite fit and convinced myself I’d lose the weight—I was wrong.

Not only has Paris been interviewed via telephone by E! (Right. She’s not getting special treatment. Just conducting a major interview with a major television channel while she sits in jail…) she’s also in talks to appear on a primetime NBC show as soon as she’s released. And how much will the boring blond get for the trying ordeal of appearing on a nationally syndicated TV show? $1 million dollars.

“You know my gratitude has gone up so much and I just realize that the media used me to make fun of and be mean about it” Paris whined to Ryan Seacrest on his E! show on Thursday. “Frankly [I’m] sick of it and I want to use my fame in a good way.” Read More »