But no one came close to matching the power of Holliday who in 1982 won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls taking the stage midway through the ceremony as part of a tribute to the groundbreaking musicals 40th anniversary. Broadway actress and Grammy Award-winning singer who sang And I Am Telling You Im Not Going. She has appeared in shows like Dreamgirls. The YouTube video has been viewed more than 900,000 times as of December 2011. Also known as "boomers", are the result of the end of World War II, when birth rates across the world spiked. More recently, it became possible to see Holliday in a YouTube video, singing a duet with Hudson. With no formal musical training, her raw vocal power initially pleased the panel of Idol judges and she, Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London were initially promoted as the show's very own "Dreamgirls" and were expected to be the final three standing at the end of the competition. She has stated that she does not plan to return to the role again.[7]. In this video, Jennifer talks more about about how she is preparing for the show and check out a special sneak peek of 'I'm Changing' and 'River Deep, Mountain High'. Jennifer Holliday performs on stage during the 2021 Tony Awards Sunday night. On October 30, 1986, Paul Simon hosted a Ken Ehrlich-produced "Gospel Session" originally televised as part of a series of "Cinemax Sessions" featuring Holliday, Luther Vandross, The Oak Ridge Boys, Andrae Crouch, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (ne Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She sang a duet with Jennifer Hudson at the BET Awards in 2007. Performance & security by Cloudflare. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 19 October. Click to reveal By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. (Photo by Derrel Jazz Johnson for rolling out.) The Foundation exists to provide stability, support and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds so that they will become productive, confident and happy adults.Expanding her talents in the arts, Hudson added author to her list of accomplishments in January 2012 with the release her New York Times best-selling memoir, "I Got This: How I Changed My Ways, Found Myself and Lost Everything that Weighed Me Down. Jennifer Holliday singles chronology. In 2006, the concert became available on DVD under the title, Echeverria Jr., Steve (March 28, 2008). Written by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen, the song was performed by the character Effie White, originally portrayed on Broadway by . Surprisingly, all three were midway placed in the bottom group at one point, and Jennifer was cut from the pack. In March 1991, just two months after she met keyboardist Billy Meadows in a nightclub where she was singing, they married. The show began with Holliday singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". "I had been feeling bad for so long, I wanted to laugh." #TonyAwards. Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dreamgirls. 44.3K followers. Jennifer Yvette Holliday (born October 19, 1960) is an American actress and singer. Well, for Host & Creator Robert Bannon that is true. The song became successful, peaking at number one on the Billboard R&B chart, and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jennifer Holliday. Jennifer Hollidays height Unknown & weight Not Available right. She sang a duet with Jennifer Hudson at the BET Awards in 2007. 7,500 following. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 60 years old? Jennifer Hollidays birth sign is Libra and she has a ruling planet of Venus. Her husband is Andre Woods (m. 19931994), Billy Meadows (m. 19911991). Follow. Back in 2013, she was honored, at such a young stage, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.On TV, Jennifer has played the recurring roles of Veronica Moore in the musical series Smash (2012) and Michelle White in the dramatic series Empire (2015). It was considerably more difficult for her to cope with men because of her emotional outbursts. Her performance in that musical earned her a 1981 Drama Desk nomination. Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Dreamgirls , Jennifer Holliday performs in New York City. "[10], Holliday attended Texas Southern University. At age 17, she landed a part the same day she auditioned for the Broadway production of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God . On October 17, 2011 Holliday appeared on The Wendy Williams Show where, following a sit-down interview, Holliday performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and received a standing ovation from the studio audience. Childhood And Education Jennifer Holliday was born and brought up in Houston, Texas. She is a Broadway Legend in every sense of the Jennifer Holliday has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows. Celebrate 'Evidence', Photo Flash: Jennifer Holliday Sings With The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Photo Coverage: 12th Annual Nothing Like a Dame Benefit, Photo Coverage: Backstage at 'Nothing Like a Dame', BWW Nothing Like a Dame Special: Jennifer Holliday, Photo Coverage: Spring Awakening Arrivals, Photo Coverage: Standing Ovations 3 (Concert), Photo Coverage: Standing Ovations 3 (After-Party), Drama Desk Awards - 1982 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Theatre World Awards - 1982 - Performance, Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Jennifer Yvette Holliday, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God. At 62 years old, Jennifer Holliday height not available right now. Jennifer Holliday Adds Meet-And-Greets to Diamond Series Debut at 54 Below. Venus is the planet of love, harmony, money and possessions. Watch Jennifer Holliday Look Back on Her Career in This Extended, Hear From Jennifer Holliday, Sara Bareilles and More on, See New Photos of Emma Pittman, Jennifer Holliday & Lana Gordon in, Jennifer Holliday to Play Matron 'Mama' Morton in, Lea Salonga, Andrew Garfield & More Join Star-Studded Lineup for the 74th Annual Tony Awards, Odds & Ends: Kelli O'Hara, Jennifer Holliday & More Set for Feinstein's/54 Below. Holliday has received two awards out of four nominations.[20]. People born on a Wednesday are generally well-spoken and have an innate talent for improvisation. After a hilarious and moving introduction from her fellow Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph who starred alongside Holliday for years in the musical about the rise of an all-girl group modeled on the Supremes Holliday unleashed her tremendous talents on stage. [1] A number of her songs became hits on the US Dance charts as well. Can you imagine having so much talent and stage presence that you make the same song sound thrilling and new every time you sing it for 40 years? On October 17, 2011, Holliday appeared on The Wendy Williams Show where, following a sit-down interview, Holliday performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and received a standing ovation from the studio audience. In addition to appearances on Touched by an Angel and Hang Time, she had a half dozen appearances in a recurring guest star role on Ally McBeal, where she acted out the role of choir director Lisa Knowles, often singing popular ballads. In a March 2008 interview, she revealed that she was in the studio working on a new album, to be released later that year. Net Worth: $10 Million. Still, Holliday was devastated when, in 1994, that marriage, too, ended, just four months after her mother died of cancer. Photo Flash: Jennifer Holliday Performs Sold-Out Show at Bay Street Theater. "The grief was overwhelming. [14], Holliday suffers from clinical depression, and has spoken out about her struggle with the disorder. "[1], Among the acclaim was Holliday's sweep of awards in 1982, including the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a Grammy Award for her recorded version of the song,[1] and Drama Desk and Theater World awards for her acting performance. Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. Jennifer Holliday is back on stage this February and you're gonna love her. It's hard to know Jennifer Holliday birth time, but we do know her mother gave birth to her on a Wednesday. So let's check out Jennifer Holliday's personal and public life facts, Wikipedia, bio, spouse, net worth, and career details. Also know sportsperson, actors, Leader, Journalist, actress and singers biography. At the St. Louis Muny, Holliday reprised her role of Effie White in their production of Dreamgirls, running on July 1622, 2012. . [3] The music, however, is uniformly exciting, mesmerizing and sets the highest-of-high standard for gospel arrangements. On June 26, 2007, Holliday made a surprise appearance at the BET Awards, singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" in a duet with Jennifer Hudson, who had played Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls, and won an Oscar for her performance. Jennifer Holliday Net Worth Stats If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. (Another original Dreamgirls cast member, Loretta Devine, did have a cameo in the film. Jennifer Holliday keeps his personal and love life private. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. ". All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. She continued to appear on the charts throughout the 1990s, but never had the same level of success she had in the 1980s. She explained of Meadows: "We just didn't know each other well enough.". Primary Income source Stage Actress (profession). Verified. Her performance in the role was widely acclaimed, particularly in her iconic performance of the musical number that ends Act I, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". Photo Flash: First Look at Jennifer Holliday as THE COLOR PURPLE's Shug Avery! [1] [1] She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls (198183), Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (19801981) and later became a successful recording artist. She has also released a number of gospel and R&B albums. People who are born with Mars as the ruling planet have beauty, charm and sensuality. Her performance in the role was widely acclaimed, particularly in her iconic performance of the musical number that ends Act I, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.". Jennifer Holliday is an Actor, zodiac sign: Libra. She is best known for her debut single, the Dreamgirls number and rhythm-and-blues/pop hit, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", for which she won a Grammy in 1983. Photo c/o Boneau/Bryan-Brown) Jennifer Holliday most recently played the role of Shug Avery in the Tony-winning revival of The Color Purple. After the initial weight loss, she released an LP and video titled Im On Your Side. ". Latest News on Jennifer Holliday: Jennifer Holliday and Talia Suskauer to Play 54 Below Next Week (Feb 18, 2023) VIDEO: Watch a Musical Theatre Legend Be Un-Masked on THE MASKED SINGER (Feb 16,. Feb 23, 2023. Her follow-up song, "I Am Love", became another hit in 1983. Her performance in that musical earned her a 1981 Drama Desk nomination. Send the mother f***ing ambulance right now to save me.Jennifer. She is from United States. "A Woman's Got the Power" charted at #7 in summer of 1999. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. [6] [7] [8] Jennifer Holliday closes out season two of the Diamond Series with a stylish, honest, and musically impeccable evening. Biography, Net Worth, Gossips, Salary, News & Much More. In 2001, she sang America The Beautiful on the first WWE pay-per-view to be held after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. From her early days as a girl singing solos with the choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Houston,TX to her years on the Broadway stage and beyond, the inimitable voice of Jennifer Holliday has riveted the hearts of audiences from around the world. Full name, Jennifer Yvette Holliday; born October 19, 1960, in Houston, TX; daughter of Omie Lee (a minister) and Jennie (a schoolteacher; maiden name, Thomas) Eaton; married first husband (a keyboardist), 1991 (divorced, c. 1991);married Andre Woods (a clergyman), March 3, 1993 (divorced, 1994). Holliday originated the role of Effie and remained with the show for nearly four years after its December 20, 1981 opening. She was previously married to Rev. She explained of Meadows: "We just didn't know each other well enough. 89.252.178.79 Broadway actress and Grammy Award-winning singer who sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." She has appeared in shows like Dreamgirls. Broadway Stars Come ToTHE BROADWAY LECTURE SERIES In Pompton Lakes, MUSICAL MONDAYS New Season Announced In Chicago, Jim Caruso and Matt Baker To Begin Bemelmans Bar Residency At The Carlyle Hotel, Photos: Jennifer Holliday Shines During her Diamond Series Concerts at 54 Below, Photos: See Alex Newell, Jennifer Holliday & More at Broadway Dreams Foundation's 15th Anniversary Gala, Photos: First Look at Jennifer Holliday, Emma Pittman, and Lana Gordon in CHICAGO. But as the music industry in the 1980s became more preoccupied with video appeal . 54 Below continues its Diamond Series later this month when the Broadway icon takes the stage February 21-26. Jennifer Holliday, Emma Pittman, Lana Gordon, Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, Mary Wilson, Chris Isaacson & Jennifer Holliday, Richard Jay-Alexander, Jennifer Holliday & Jonny Beauchamp, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Holliday & Loretta Devine, Jacob Langfelder, Jennifer Holliday, Julie James and John Langfelder, Jill Bernard, Jennifer Holliday, Julie James and Rema Webb, Chad Kimball, Jennifer Holliday, Danny Gurwin and Erich Bergen, Jennifer Holliday with Chad Kimball, Rogelio Douglas, Jr., and Janet Dacal, Jennifer Holliday, producer Chris Isaacson and Loretta Devine, Jennifer Holliday at Broadway Under the Stars, Origi Loretta Devine, Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph, Original Dreamgirls and their current counterparts Loretta Devine, Adrienne Warren, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Syesha Mercado, Jennifer Holliday and Moya Angela, Original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday (L) poses with current Dreamgirl counterpart Moya Angela, Producer John Breglio, original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday and Director/Choreographer Robert Longbottom, GMCLA's Quartet NPYNK serenades Jennifer Holliday, Alison Arngrim, Jennifer Holliday and Gloria Allred, Producer and Co-Director, Chris Verdugo with Jennifer Holliday and Dee Wallace, Kate Linder, Bruce Vilanch, Jennifer Holliday and Mary Jo Catlett, Jennifer Holliday with dancers from GMCLA, Jennifer Holliday performs 'One Night Only', Jennifer Holliday with the Westchester Dance Academy, Jennifer Holliday, Rhonda Miller (Choreographer) and Joyce DiDonato, Jennifer Holliday and Christopher F. Davis of Dancers Responding to AIDS, Tshidi Manye, Brooke Tansley, Jennifer Holliday and Maureen McGovern, Brooke Tansley, Jennifer Holliday and Maureen McGovern, Paul Castree, Jennifer Holliday, Jose Llana and Jason Michael Snow, Jennifer Holliday with Westchester Academy of Dance troupe, Tika Sumpter, Jennifer Holliday and Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jennifer Holliday (Standing Ovations 3 surprise guest star) and Cheyenne Jackson, Frank Conway (Broadway Cares), Jennifer Holliday and Darren Ritchie, Assistant MD John Fischer and Jennifer Holliday, They say All The World Is A Stage. Well, for Host & Creator Robert Bannon that is true. Their names were Omie Lee and Jennie. But in December 1991, just nine months later, they divorced; the marriage, according to Holliday, "ran out of steam." Lets take a look at Jennifer Holliday past relationships, ex-girlfriends and previous hookups. She also grew up around two siblings named Charlotte Weaver and John Eaton. Heard on Tell Me More. Her next role was the role for which she is best known: the role of Effie Melody White in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. People born under this sign are clever and charming. Ms. Holliday's performance and Simon's long-term repertoire of gospel-influenced songbook ("Bridge", "Gone at Last", "Slip Slidin' Away", and "Loves Me Like A Rock" [not included here] is the glue that holds the show together. North Carolina Theatre, the regions premiere nonprofit professionalregional theatre, hasannounced their 2022-23 season sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shieldon stage at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh! You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Andre Woods was born and raised in Detroit. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work. Jennifer Holliday Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018. Theo Wargo via Getty Images Absolutely nothing says "Broadway is back" like the original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday, belting out "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" at the 2021 Tony Awards Sunday night. Jennifer Holliday has not appeared in the West End. Her 2008 debut, self-titled record debuted at #2 on the "Billboard Hot 100" and won a Grammy Award for "Best R & B Album, and her sophomore album, "I Remember Me," also debuted at #2 and went on to win three awards at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards including "Best Album." Birth Name: Jennifer-Yvette Holliday Occupation: Stage Actress Born In: Riverside, TX Birthdate: October 19, 1960 Age: 62 years old (as of 2022) Ethnicity: Multiracial Nationality: American Sexuality: Straight Jennifer Holliday was born on the 19th of October, 1960. A dance version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" peaked at number 6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2001. You can also find out who is Jennifer Holliday dating now and celebrity dating histories at CelebsCouples. In Mercy, a Kennedy Center co-commission (the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Carolina Performing Arts, UNC Chapel Hill, and The Joyce Theaters Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New York), Brown finds an ideal collaborator in visionary vocalist, composer, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello. Born on October 19, 1960, Jennifer Holliday hails from Texas, United States. "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". She has appeared in shows like Dreamgirls. Jennifer HollidayFeel My Soul A Geffen Records release; 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.Released on: 1983. She then played the concerned daughter of compulsive gambler Forest Whitaker in the drama Winged Creatures (2008); earned a NAACP Image Award nomination for her moving effort in the tender drama The Secret Life of Bees (2008); portrayed Winnie Mandela opposite Terrence Howard's Nelson in the biopic Winnie Mandela (2011); co-starred with Whitaker again and Angela Bassett in the family Christmas drama Black Nativity (2013); co-starred as an amateur singer taken in by talent agent Adam Sandler in the romantic comedy Sandy Wexler (2017); appeared as Grizabella in the film version of the hit musical Cats (2019); and was given the opportunity to play the "Queen of Soul" herself, Aretha Franklin, in the biopic Respect (2021). Her follow-up song, "I Am Love", became another hit in 1983. Initially, the weight loss was attained strictly by diet. [11] Though Woods was a charismatic Detroit preacher, she subsequently said that even so, he was a player who also ran through her money. Holliday's later R&B hits included "Hard Time For Lovers" (1985), "No Frills Love" (1985), "I'm On Your Side" (1991) and "A Woman's Got the Power" (2000). Jennifer Holliday (born Jennifer-Yvette Holliday on October 19, 1960 in Riverside, Texas) is an American singer and actress. Viewers watching the four-hour celebration, which aired in two parts across Paramount+ and CBS, also had raves for Holliday on Twitter. Jennifer Holliday is a Libra and her 63rd birthday is in, The 62-year-old American was born in the Baby Boomers Generation and the Year of the Rat. )[8] In 2001 she was presenter for the tap dance show 21 Below at the Town Hall in New York, and also appeared in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Nothing Like a Dame show at the St. James Theatre in 2002. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. As of late February 2011, Holliday was residing in Atlanta. Jennifer Holliday was born on October 19, 1960 in Riverside, United States (62 years old). The greatest overall compatibility with Libra is Aries and Sagittarius. The two actresses-singers performed their live duet at a concert Hudson gave on April 16, 2009. Please check back soon for updates. Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Your Arms Too Short to Box With God . Though Woods was a charismatic Detroit preacher, she subsequently said that even so, he was a player who also ran through her money. [citation needed], In the 1990s, Holliday lost a substantial amount of weight and talked about her health struggles with depression during promotional interviews. On June 26, 2007, Holliday made a surprise appearance at the BET Awards, singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" in a duet with Jennifer Hudson, who had played Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls, and won an Oscar for her performance. [5] The album reached No. [12] She later received a Doctor of Music honoris causa from Berklee College of Music, Boston in 2000. For Seth Rudetsky's latest residency at the Caf Carlyle, he invites Broadway singers to discuss and perform songs highlighting one show. Because of this, the Atlantic Entertainment Group's Director of Live Talent, Scott Sherman, produced and promoted many Jennifer Holliday events for several years, acting as both Holliday's de facto agent and as her road manager. (The Herald Tribune) ", Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, List of number-one dance hits (United States), List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart, "A dream shape for the 'Dreamgirl.' Okay Jennifer Holliday. Let's check, How Rich is Idina, Rachel Bay Jones estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Educational: Attended High School of Engineering Professionals. (1982) "I Am Love". On her 30th birthday, Jennifer Holliday tried to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills. Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Holliday still packs a . See photos from Broadway icon Jennifer Holliday's return to 54 Below as part of the venue's Diamond Series concerts! Andre Woods (m. 19931994), Billy Meadows (m. 19911991). [4], Holliday became popular with LGBT events and fundraisers, which she acknowledged on her gospel album On & On. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2efc22dbeb92cf Immediately ordered to gain weight for the role, the film was loosely based on the real-life pursuits of The Supremes, with the character of Effie taking on the tragic form of the group's ill-fated co-founder Florence Ballard (1943-1976), but with a far less tragic ending.Jennifer's performance became the most triumphant musical film debut since Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl (1968). Watch she performs a powerfultribute to the American icon- 'Only What You Do For Christ Will Last' by Raymond Rasberry. Jennifer Holliday was born on October 19, 1960. (Another original Dreamgirls cast member, Loretta Devine, did have a cameo in the film.) "He had a great sense of humor and he made me laugh all the time," Holliday says of her first husband. They are associated with a rejection of traditional values. A dazzling new trailer for the multi award-winning West End production Dreamgirls has been released today. The Broadway legend performed her signature song, "And I Am Telling You Im Not Going, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the musical. The 1960s were an era of protests. NW, #513, Atlanta, GA 30305-2918. [1] In 1998, Holliday was featured on the album, My Favorite Broadway Ladies as one of "The Queens of Broadway.". She sang a duet with Jennifer Hudson at the BET Awards in 2007. Jennifer Holliday Bio. Her career started on Broadway in musicals, but eventually she became a successful recording artist. Robert, a Jersey based performer, came up with The Broadway Lecture Series while watching an episode of Inside The Actor's Studio.. [1] In 1982, a pop version of the song was released as a single. by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 14, 2023. "I had been feeling bad for so long, I wanted to laugh." Get The official wiki and bio of trending Celebrity, Breaking News. Norm Lewis performedLift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson as part of Lincoln Center's Love From Lincoln Center. Winners went on to to thank Holliday in their own speeches long after she left the stage, with Mary-Louise Parker saying she was still crying from the performance some time later. Holliday also performed in the touring company of Sing, Mahalia, Sing in 1985. Jennifer Holliday is 1 of the famous people in our database with the age of 58 years old. Feel My Soul is the debut album by singer Jennifer Holliday, released in October 1983 on Geffen Records. On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Jennifer Holliday among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire. A post shared by JENNIFER HOLLIDAY (@jenniferhollidaydreamgirl) As a result, she gained weight and began to experience mood swings. Holliday has been married twice. 8:37 am. Lets check, How Rich is Jennifer Holliday in 2019-2020? Hudson grew up singing in gospel choirs, acting in community theater productions, singing on cruise ships and touring for in Disney's "Hercules: The Musical." He got married to Jennifer at his Church in Detroit. Texan Jennifer Holliday gained national recognition when she had the lead in the Broadway musical Your Arm's Too Short to Box with God.