Jennifer Hudson’s unshakeable spirit and confidence has certainly been tested by some of the events in her life, but she credits her new outlook on life to her 6-year-old son, David.
In an interview with Glamour magazine, she opened up about how David “saved her life,” following the 2008 murders of her mother, nephew and brother at the hands of her sister’s estranged husband, William Balfour.
Hudson says she’s extremely guarded when it comes to discussing those tragedies.
“It’s frustrating as hell to me to have somebody who ain’t lost nothing try to talk to me about it,” she said. “I want to say, ‘Don’t even bother, because you know nothing.’ But you never know how much you can go through until you’re going through it.”
A year after the murders, for which Balfour is serving three consecutive life sentences without parole, Hudson and fiancé David Otunga welcomed a baby boy into their lives.
“I went from being an aunt, having a mom, and being a child to not having a mom, becoming a mom and raising my own child,” she tells the mag.
Now, she’s navigating being a mom and a thriving career, while still dealing with the depth of the tragedies in her life. In an upcoming Spike Lee film she stars in, titled Chiraq, Hudson plays a woman who loses her daughter to a stray bullet. The character, Hudson says, has a deeply personal relationship to her.
“There’s a scene where we’re all holding up boards with [photos of] our slain children on them. I turned around, and it’s a sea of real women [as extras] holding pictures of children they actually lost,” she said. “I’m a character holding a picture of a little girl, but in real life I have the same story.”
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Being a mom is one of the most beautiful things you'll ever experience, it's also one of the toughest jobs in the world. Balancing a career while raising a family is no easy task, it takes a village of support from family and friends.
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2. Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland made pregnancy look effortlessly beautiful. Her happy and healthy baby boy, Titan Jewell Witherspoon was delivered on November 4th 2014. It’s been so amazing to watch Kelly grow into mommyhood both physically and emotionally. You can walk through Kelly’s baby bump evolution in this timeline: http://hellobeautiful.com/playlist/kelly-rowland-pregnancy-pics/item/2748745/
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3. Kerry Washington
It makes sense that the actress who plays "Olivia Pope" would try to keep her baby news top secret, but the news is out! The "Scandal" star and her husband, NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha, gave birth to a baby girl two weeks before the news broke to the masses. Click here to get the scoop: http://bit.ly/1joOhW7. Keep clicking for more of Hollywood's Hottest Moms!
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4. Eva Marcille
The former "America's Next Top Model" winner kept it au naturel and still looked flawless while holding her baby girl, Marley, in this picture that her beau Kevin McCall shared just moments after their newborn arrived (January 31). Her biggest beauty aid to her fuss-free braids and fresh face? The glow, of course. Read more: http://bit.ly/1iiGsiO!
Source:Getty
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5. Ciara
Ciara's baby Future is almost a year old now, being born May 20. The “Body Party” singer initially confirmed her pregnancy on “The View” but didn't let the little one stop her from performing and keeping it hot on the red carpet! See more: http://bit.ly/1lCREWD.
Source:Getty
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6. Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton plants a kiss on son Diezel. We can just tell from his face that he's feeling that young man embarrassment, but it's adorable!
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7. Evelyn Lozada
The "Basketball Wives" star always stays fabulous. To top it off, she's a mother of two to 20-year-old daughter Shaniece and an adorable baby boy she gave birth to on March 22. We're sure she'll be snatched again in no time!
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8. 'Lil Kim
The Queen Bee debuted a basketball-sized baby bump — in style! — at The Blonds New York Fashion Week show February 12. After hitting the front row for the show, Kim took to the runway to preform some of her hits with her new mommy-to-be glow illuminating her glitzy gown! Watch her performance here: http://bit.ly/1jaExwC.
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9. Beyonce
Bey unveiled her pregnancy with baby Blue Ivy at the 2011 MTV Awards in a Lanvin gown and Dolce & Gabbana suit and now that her and Jay Z's mini me is 1-years-old the singer's still taking care of home and staying fly!
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10. Tia Mowry-Hardrict
The "Instant Mom" star has kept her look fresh since having her 2-year-old son, Cree, by testing out new hair cuts, dye jobs and trying out splashy colors and prints.
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11. Tamera Mowry-Housley
How cute is baby Aden's little hat and matching shoes!? Tamera matched her little man with a business chic outfit.
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12. Solange
Solange's eclectic, global style has rubbed off on her son Julez Smith Jr., 9, who's a little hipster in the making!
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13. Tamar Braxton
The baby of the "Braxton Family Values" bunch is now a mom.com! Tamar welcomed her son Logan into the world, alongside her husband Vince Herbert, on June 6, 2013.
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14. Halle Berry
Can we be like Halle when we grow up? The mother of two little ones — Nahla, 5, (pictured) and newborn, Maceo — snapped back after giving birth October 6, 2013 and went back to set to shoot "X-Man: Days of Future Past" shortly after.
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15. Amber Rose
Rose showed off pictures of herself taking a dip with her 7-month-old son Sebastian and her edgy haircut got just as much attention as her and Wiz Khalifa's adorable baby.
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16. Monica
Miss Thing is now Mrs. Thing and with Romelo, Rodney, and now baby girl Laiyah Monica has motherhood down.
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17. Nia Long
"The Best Man Holiday" star has an 11-year-old, Massai, and welcomed her second son Kez to her family, Nov. 7 2012 and she's still as hot as ever! Let's just pause for the cause to admire how AMAZING she looked even while pregnant!
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18. Lisa Bonet
Bonet's 24-year-old daughter Zoe Kravitz is a dead ringer for the former "Cosby Show" star in her "Denise Huxtable" days! The actress has also passed on her good looks to younger kids Lola Iolani, 6, and Nakoa-Wolf, 4.
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19. Christina Milian
Christina's 3-year-old Violet, inherited mom's chic style but she's a dead ringer for dad, producer The-Dream.
Source:Getty
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20. Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner
Kim and Mama Kris have always been close, but we're sure Kim gained a new understanding of her "Momager's" protective and ambitious ways when she gave birth to daughter North West.
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21. La La Anthony
With La La as a mom and New York Knick's player Carmelo Anthony as a dad, little Kiyan, 6, is sure to grow up with a double dose of swag.
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22. Brandy
We've been down with this star since her teens and now she's a mom to pre-teen daughter Sy'rai.
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23. Mariah Carey
The ultimate girlie girl hasn't lost her love for all things pink and sparkly, even after having "Dem Babies," Roc & Roe, with husband Nick Cannon back in 2011.
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24. Jennifer Lopez
"Jenny From the Block" is passing on her divatude to twins Max and Emme, 5, who appeared with her in a Gucci campaign earlier this year.
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25. Lauren London
The new star of "The Game" keeps is trendy to play a former actress on the show, and in real life she's mom to a son with 'Lil Wayne: Cameron Carter, 4.
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26. Jennifer Hudson
J-Hud made headlines for losing over 80lbs. through Weight Watchers, after having her son David Jr. in 2009. At the time, the singer said her new shape allowed her to have more clothing options and she's since gone on to design her own clothing line for QVC.
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27. Lauryn Hill
The Grammy-award winning songstress has a brood of six including four sons: Zion (who she sung about on "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"), Joshua, John, and Micah, as well as two daughters: Selah and Sarah
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28. Jada Pinkett Smith
It's in the genes for this talent whose mom to equally talented Jaden and Willow.
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29. Taraji P. Henson
Forever young looking Taraji is mom to 18-year-old Marcel. You glow girl!
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30. Paula Patton
We love that Paula Patton can keep it sexy with her man Robin Thicke in music videos and then get comfy and still look cute when it's time to take care of their 3-year-old son, Julian.
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31. Gwen Stefani
Don't sleep, this musical mom to Kingston and Zuma has talent, style, and the coolest kids names ever.
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32. Erykah Badu
Seven, Puma, and Mars make up this singer creatively named brood.
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33. Vanessa Williams
Vanessa has four kids — Melanie, 26 ; Jillian, 24; Devin, 20; and Sasha, 13– and she STILL looks bad! Get it!
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34. Garcelle Beauvais
Garcelle has an older son Oliver Saunders, 22, but still keeps it mommy cute on play dates with her younger twins, Jax and Jaid, 5.
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35. Angela Bassett
Angela welcomed twins, Bronwyn (pictured) and Slater, with her husband Courtney B. Vance ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who was once her classmate at Yale Drama school. The kids are now 7 and Angela looks as good as ever!
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36. Kelis
Train up a child in the way that he shall go! Kelis is often spotted bringing her son Knight Jones on shopping trips with her.
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37. Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora is another "model mom" who hasn't lost her "fabulosity" while taking care of her full house that includes daughters Ming Lee, 13 , Aioki Lee, 11, and son Kenzo, 4.
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38. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys and her hubby Swizz Beatz have been swagging out their baby Egypt (now 3) in cool threads ever since he was old enough to walk!
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39. June Ambrose
If you follow her rock mom chronicles on Instagram then you know this stylist to the stars is a master at balancing motherhood and work.
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40. Iman
Even after two daughters — Alexandria Zahra, 12 (pictured) and Zulekha Haywood, 35 — doesn't Iman still look every bit a supermodel?
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41. Mel B.
The former Spice Girl has a house full of "girl power" with daughters Phoenix, 14, Angel, 6, and Madison, 2.
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42. Jill Scott
We live for Jilly from Philly. A 3-year-old Jett… well let's just say he is adorbs.
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