| Article re a telephone interview with Jennifer Hudson ... found on he net:
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An Interview with Jennifer Hudson
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Jennifer Hudson, ... has a mouth on her. She'll be the first to tell you that. She prefers to use it to sing in a huge, booming voice that speaks a truth that is almost otherworldly. It is a passion for her. She also knows that her utter frankness can rub people the wrong way. The criticism heaped on her: brashness, arrogance, and cockiness, none of which are new to her. Spend a few minutes with her and you learn none of them are correct.
Still, you'll never have to wonder what she is thinking.
A couple of years ago, it was Tamyra Gray who found herself slipping through the trap door without warning. Now, Jennifer Hudson, who gave three soul-stirring performances in a row after finally "finding the groove" and managing to make Simon Cowell eat the words: "you cannot win," finds herself unexpectedly falling through that same trap door. She still doesn't know quite what to make of it, yet she has found peace with it.
"I've heard a lot of theories, but who knows? I don't think we'll ever know. Whatever it was, it was meant to be."
Jenny candidly admits that the hours after hearing Ryan Seacrest say her name (before and after a mild tongue-lashing to American Idol viewers that continues to reverberate), are something of a blur. "I spent so much time consoling!" she laughs, "I was like, it's okay, why cry? I feel like I did what I was supposed to do on the show, whatever that is. I really don't remember what everyone said because everyone was so... outside of themselves."
She has a vague recollection of Simon grabbing her hand backstage, and Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul giving her supportive hugs. There was a lot of crying going on.
It was a dismissal that sent shockwaves literally around the world. American Idol is being shown in more countries than it ever has before. I've received emails from places as far away as China, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all astonished. I told Jenny that, and it took her a moment to process it,
"Really? Wow!"
All of the Idol contestants have spoken of the "bubble" they are in while on the show. They really have no idea what effect they are having on the public. The work schedule is grueling, and they barely have time to catch their breaths. Even after dismissal, there are still Idol requirements to be met.
For Hudson, that included an appearance with Barry Manilow on the Ryan Seacrest show. She still can't believe it, "First of all, to sing his songs in front of him, then to be asked to sing with him! It's such an honor!"
I also noted for her that Elton John, Barry Manilow, and former Idol guest judge and Motown legend Lamont Dozier have all publicly expressed disappointment (and, in Elton's case, anger) that she has been eliminated. To a young performer, what does that feel like? "I-I," she stammers, "There aren't any words! These guys are legends, I mean, they came from a time when singers were really singers, and for them to say that about me makes me feel like I belong in that time.
I am so honored!"
But, back to that night. It hadn't been 48 hours yet, and Jennifer was obviously still trying to grasp what actually happened. She was emphatic that she doesn't believe race had anything to do with it, "Talent has no color, I don't feel that way at all … right now, everybody is trying to make some sense of this. It's really up in the air what happened."
Could it be that she was being called a diva? "I've always had a problem being called a diva, because divas have a bad attitude! I always told people that if you're going to call me a diva, call me a good diva! I think that I'm a nice person!" She implied that it even rankled her on the show, while Fantasia and LaToya didn't seem to mind as much.
What about the show, though?
Does she think she was robbed?
She pauses a moment, and says,
"I don't think it was based on talent, it doesn't appear that it was based on talent, but if it was based on talent I was robbed." She adds, maybe looking to correct herself, "If what the vote really said was that people really don't like my singing, I should go. I should go!" It seemed pretty obvious that Jennifer doesn't believe that's what the vote said at all. She's not alone in that.
That begged the question of John Stevens, she makes it very clear how she feels about John, who is reported to have said to her, "It should have been me." "He says that every week! But he deserves to be there as much as anyone else. He has fans like we do, and obviously, they are voting! He is talented. Everybody here is talented, that's why we were the twelve!"
Does Idol need to change the voting system? "I think people really need to reconsider what this show is about. It's supposed to be about the talent, not what such and such is wearing and all that. I feel its more on the fans, the people, they need to change!"
What was it like standing there with the three best singers in the competition in the bottom three? "To me it was shocking, it was shocking that Fantasia and LaToya were standing next to me, it made no sense at all. Me leaving was not a surprise – I've, you know, I've been in the bottom three before, but, I mean, come on, it's Fantasia and LaToya!"
Fantasia Barrino, after a long hug, said to Jennifer that she is Fantasia's American Idol. Jennifer was genuinely surprised to hear that. "That was really touching. A lot of true emotions really showed that night, and in some cases, I didn't realize that some people felt the way they did! I was honored!"
Jennifer's choice for American Idol is very clear: George Huff.
If you are ready to comment on her shock at Fannie and Latoya in the Bottom 3 with her ... note who is NOT mentioned as her AI pick. 
Jennifer tries to explain her feelings for George, "He is someone everyone should know. I'll just say that!" Jennifer emphatically denies any romance between her and George, but if you saw the way they locked eyes, right after George stood in the safe group, you are probably as unsure as I am.
Ryan Seacrest reported on his radio show that George cried for 15 minutes backstage, totally inconsolable. If it ain't love now, it looks like it's just a matter of time!
Were she, LaToya, and Fantasia sharing the same voters?
"Possibly! We could possibly be, but I don't know."
Would things be different if it weren't for that storm over Chicago? "That storm was a sign from God! It was like he spoke and said it is time to remove you from this place! I think I did what I was meant to do, whatever that may be."
As Ryan likes to say, the "journey" doesn't end when you walk off the stage. One reporter asked if she feels pressure to say all of the right things since her dismissal has brought so much attention? "To be honest, I'm just telling the truth! I feel overall I can't complain, because I experienced everything I wanted to!"
A happier memory for Jennifer was being selected as a Wildcard by Randy, "That blew my mind, I just knew he was gonna pick someone else. But, Ryan was looking at me like okay, come on! I thought, oh, you heard what I heard too?"
Another moment of pride was changing Simon's mind. Weeks ago he told her point blank she could not win. She told me, "I feel like he challenged me!
Anybody who knows me knows not to tell me I can't do something, I had to prove him wrong!"
Obviously Simon was right.
In reality, it seems all of us are more upset than Jennifer is with the events as they happened, "I did what I set out to do. I wanted the experience.
I didn't come here to win American Idol, even though I almost did win American Idol, I came for the experience and I had the experience of a lifetime!"
Well that maybe one reason she couldn't win. Last week Simon asked her if she could win and she was evasive. Said something about "Jenny's world". Latoya asked the same question said "Yes, I can win".
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but I think, like Tamarya she will go places!