
With the announcement late Monday afternoon (October 27) that the body of a young boy found dead in an SUV was in fact Jennifer Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, the Hudson family was dealt another heavy blow.
Before Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and her 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their South Side Chicago home on Friday afternoon, those who knew the Hudsons described them as a close-knit family. And the singer/actress herself often said her family is what keeps her grounded.
Donerson was a shy, quiet woman who supported her daughter’s success but didn’t need to bask in it like a typical stage mother. She even declined to attend a recent taping of Oprah Winfrey’s show, in which Hudson would be promoting her latest film, “The Secret Life of Bees.”
“She doesn’t want the attention,” Hudson recently told Australia’s Sunday Telegraph, “while at the same time, she’s extremely proud and happy for me.”
Hudson’s father died when she was a teenager, and Hudson and her mother had a close relationship. Donerson encouraged her daughter to perform, and often enjoyed singing songs by the Temptations at home. “She would always sing that to us,” Hudson told ABC News when she was promoting “Dreamgirls.”
When Hudson first found out she was up for an Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” the first thing she did was call her mom, she told the New York Post at the time. “She was so excited,” Hudson said. “It was like, ‘Wow!’ She was just getting set to take my nephew to school. I always call my mom first.”
And when Hudson went to the ceremony, she brought her mother along as her date and, of course, thanked her in her acceptance speech when she won Best Supporting Actress.
“I’m so grateful to have my mother here celebrating with me,” she told the crowd.
Hudson often returned home to Chicago to visit her family, because that’s where “my life is normal,” she told The Associated Press. “When I go home to my mom, I’m just Jennifer. And I love that. I don’t like when people tell you everything you want to hear. I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean?”
Jason Hudson had also been living with their mother ever since being shot two years ago during a home invasion. “We nearly lost him,” Donerson’s cousin John Buckner told the Chicago Sun-Times. “He was more or less a happy individual, trying to get his life straightened out.”
Jason had been working as a mechanic, and friends described him to reporters as a fun guy who liked barbecue, sports and video games. “He was a real nice guy,” his neighbor Hiriam Hill told ABC News. “Nobody ever had any bad blood against this man.”
On Jason’s MySpace page, he jokingly listed his occupation as “player.” Already, a huge outpouring of his friends are commenting on the page about how much they miss him. His quote on the top of the page reads, “Life’s too short for bulls—, keep it gangster.”
At a press conference Saturday, Hudson’s older sister, Julia, pleaded for the safe return of her son Julian, whom she described as an “easygoing” kid who went by the nicknames “Juice Box” and “Dr. King” and preferred staying home with his grandmother than going outside. Buckner told the Sun-Times that Julian was doted on, and that he was a “happy-go-lucky kid, a spoiled little kid.”
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Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Jennifer Hudson’s friends and colleagues have showered her with condolences and messages of support in the wake of the tragic deaths of her mother, brother and nephew on Friday. In a testament to the wide net the singer/actress has cast across the entertainment world in the four years since she first appeared on “American Idol,” personalities from the worlds of music, film and television wished Hudson and her family her strength and love.
“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell told “Extra,” “I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer and her family.”
Fellow “Idol” judge Paula Abdul told the show, “This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family. The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on ‘Idol’ was very special to me, and I personally can’t imagine a greater loss for any family.”
Hudson’s “Dreamgirls” co-star Sharon Leal told MTV News, “I got a bunch of texts about what happened, and I was hoping it wasn’t true. I reached out to her, and my thoughts and prayers are with her. It’s unimaginable what’s she’s going through. It’s devastating news. I’m sending good vibes out to her, and I hope she gets through everything.”
Hudson’s “Life of Bees” co-star Queen Latifah told “Access Hollywood,” “When we heard the news of Jennifer losing her mother and her brother, our hearts broke for her, and we immediately began to pray for her strength and comfort and that of her family, as well as for the safe return of her nephew.” She added, “I know the family is devastated and heartbroken and I hope that friends and fans and those who care about her just pray for her and give her all the support that she needs at this moment and for quite a long time to come.”
In a statement to “Access Hollywood,” Hudson’s “Sex and the City” co-star Sarah Jessica Parker said, “My heart goes out to her and her family in their time of anguish and grief.”
Over the weekend, Democratic presidential nominee and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama said, “Michelle and I were absolutely heartbroken to learn about this unimaginable tragedy. We want Jennifer to know that she is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.”
Hudson’s fellow “Idol” contestants sent their support as well. “My heart, my prayers and love go out to Jennifer and her family,” LaToya London told “Access Hollywood.” “I will constantly keep them in my prayers. Jennifer, stay strong.”
Camile Velasco knew Hudson’s mother and told “Access Hollywood,” “She was a great lady, real sweet and a great supporter of Jennifer’s who was happy and glad for her daughter’s success,” she said. “Jennifer has great faith in God and is loved by so many so I hope that will get her through this ordeal. She has my love and support and I am here for her if she needs me.”
“I was completely shocked and stunned when I heard about this tragedy,” Diana DeGarmo told “Access Hollywood.” “I know how important Jennifer’s mother and brother were to her, especially because her father was never in the picture. They were so nice and so pleasant. Jennifer always spoke about her mom, how close they were and how much of a ‘big sister’ role her mom played in her life.”
Reps for Beyoncé, who starred with Hudson in “Dreamgirls,” and fellow “Idol” vet Fantasia told MTV News that they have chosen not to comment publicly on the tragedy in order to respect Hudson’s privacy.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008
OK, DUDE IS FEELIN’ IT, DANCING TO BEYONCE’S “SINGLE LADIES”.
THIS HALLOWEEN, I’M DRESSING UP AS THIS GUY!
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Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CRAZY RUMORS THAT GO AROUND.
JUST BECAUSE CHRIS BROWN WEARS A LOT OF RED IN THE VIDEOS, DOESN’T MAKE HIM AN AFFILIATE OF THE “BLOODS” GANG.
I HOPE NOBODY IS SPREADING THIS AROUND AND END UP GETTING CHRIS BREEZY HURT.

I MEAN….YOU TELL ME, DROP ME A NOTE AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT IT!
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