Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Jennifer Hudson will be featured on a new episode of VH1’s Behind the Music tonight at 10.

And if you want a sneak peek at the episode, head here. VH1 has posted three snippets from the show on its Web site.

The episode covers how Jennifer grew up on Chicago’s south side, performing in a gospel choir alongside her grandmother — the real singer in the family.

That’s how she decided to wanted to sing for a career. From there, she went on to perform anywhere and everywhere she could, from a gay club to her highest-paying gig to that point, as a chorus girl on a Disney cruise in 2003 at age 21.

Of course, then came American Idol.

Jennifer placed seventh that year, behind the likes of George Huff, John Stevens and Jasmine Trias. And Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.

But she’s since become a prime example of how one doesn’t need to win Idol to enjoy a successful post-Idol career.

In Jennifer’s case, that’s included an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Dreamgirls” and a Grammy for best R&B album for her self-titled debut CD.

The snippets posted on the VH1 site don’t cover what I’m sure will be a focus of tonight’s show — the 2008 slaying of her mother, brother and nephew that caused Jennifer to retreat from the public spotlight for a while.

After all, these Behind the Music specials are all about overcoming obstacles.

Here’s the promised snippet from the show.

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