In 2004, Jennifer Hudson first became a household name as a contestant on American Idol. She rose to superstardom in 2006 when her performance as Effie in Dreamgirls won her an Academy Award. Her debut album followed in 2008. Tragically, just when her career was beginning to take off, her mother, brother, and nephew were murdered.
A few short months later Jennifer performed her single “You Pulled Me Through” at the 51st annual Grammy’s as a tribute to her family. (She also took home a Grammy that night.) Jennifer continues to celebrate the memory of her family through her music, her new role as a mother, and staying connected to her community. This past Christmas she hosted a toy drive to honor the giving spirit of her nephew.
“It’s a good way to keep his memory alive by blessing other children through the holiday season. For us, we never had a sad Christmas so we want to make other children’s Christmas be as enjoyable as ours were growing up.”
Would you like to share your story? Please get in touch with Kate's Club! KC has free grief support with grief resources, grief counseling resources, grief training, and volunteer work in Atlanta and surrounding places in Georgia. Kate's Club is a growing nonprofit in Atlanta with grief specialists for kids and young adults going through bereavement. Our goal is to make a world where it is okay to grieve.