LET ME GET MiNE NOW : JENNiFER'S COMiN TO THE A

After a week of rousing performances, including her knockout appearance at Sunday's Grammys, Jennifer Hudson is ready to take her show on the road. 

The Grammy winner, 27, will kick off her first solo tour on April 2 in Philadelphia alongside R&B singer Robin Thicke.

The duo will co-headline a five-week U.S. tour that will wrap up ends in Houston on May 8.

"I am so grateful – my first Grammy and my first tour. It doesn't get better than that," Hudson told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.

On the itinerary are concert stops in Baltimore, Washington, D.C, New York City, Detroit, Atlanta, Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Dallas, among other cities.

And a MAJOR congratulations to Jennifer!!! She won a Grammy for Best R&B Album. Now she can be called "The Oscar/Grammy Award-winning, Jennifer Hudosn!" :-) 
Here's Jennifer being presented with her Grammy for Best R&B Album award by Whitney Houston:

Whitney Houston at the 2009 Grammy Awards
by TheDlisted

And here's her emotional performance of "You Pulled Me Through", in case you missed it:

JENNiFER'S SUPRiSE DUET @ DAViS PARTY

The Associated Press reports that Jennifer Hudson 

Days after her triumphant return to the spotlight with her Super Bowl appearance, Jennifer Hudson is booked for Grammy-related events, including a party honoring music mogul Clive Davis.

The singer rehearsed for the Saturday party on Thursday night, singing her hit "Spotlight." Hudson and Davis embraced during the rehearsal.
Davis said Hudson specifically asked to be included in the evening, in which the Recording Academy is honoring the legendary music producer and executive.

"Very touchingly, she called me when she read of my lifetime achievement award, (and said) that she wanted to be part of it, that she wanted to come back with her musical life, so, of course, that is touching," he says. He added that Hudson will also be performing a surprise duet "that people won't see elsewhere."

Wow... I'm guessing Whitney Houston or Fantasia [considering their duet for the Grammy-nominated song "His Only Woman"]

JENNiFER HUDSON TO PERFORM @ GRAMMYS

Here's my Monday good news...

Jennifer Hudson will perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, where she's been nominated for four awards.

This is the second televised performance Hudson has announced since the October murders of her mother, brother and nephew. Last week, it was revealed that the Oscar winner will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, in Tampa, Florida, on February 1. That will be the singer's first public appearance since the tragedy.

Hudson is up for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song (for "Spotlight"), Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for her duet with Fantasia ("I'm His Only Woman"), and Best R&B Album. Days before the show, she will also perform on February 6 at the Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Neil Diamond.

The 27-year-old sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in August to a rapturous reception, but she is not expected to take part in any of the festivities for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

AHHH!!! YAY!!! I knew this would happen... Sigh... I wonder what she would sing? There's also talk that she will be performing at the exclusive Clive Davis party the night before the big show.  Rumors of a duet with Whitney Houston have been swirling.  We'll see! I can't wait tho. The first few weeks of Feb are gonna be on and poppin for the Hudson. I'm GEEKED! :-D

ViNTAGE GRAMMY

it wasn't that long ago that the civilians of the '80's were spoiled with GREAT music... 

Check out this clip from the 1983 Grammys. It's the best R&B vocal category. 

Jennifer Holliday, Patrice Rushen, Deniece Williams, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Diana Ross in ONE category!!! 

amazing... and the guys, Luther and Marvin... wow...

Let's see how this years category holds up: 

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance : 

Beyonce, Keyshia Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, & Jazmine Sullivan 

my vote - Jennifer Hudson

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance : 

Eric Benet, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Usher 

my vote - Ne-Yo

GRAMMY TiME

I wish I could explain the feeling that I have right now. I just told my brother, "that means it's closer." i'm referring to the day i can celebrate my Grammy nomination. Jazmine Sullivan, who has five nominations, just heard my congrats and Jennifer Hudson has four for Best R&B Female Vocalist, Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Fantasia! My brother is nominated with Jay Z for his Roc Boys song in which he, my brother, contributed. My girl Janelle Monae is also nominated in the Urban Alternative category. I remember the day, "Janelle, i can't wait for you to get your Grammy. I can see it now." [i said as we were walking to our performance].

I can feel it. I really can feel it. God is doing a GREAT thing! WOW!

Check out the ENTIRE list here!

GRAMMY NOMiNATiONS GO PRiMETiME!

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Grammys are turning a dry nominations announcement into an hourlong TV special.
"The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" will air Dec. 3, CBS announced Thursday. The Grammy Awards are scheduled for Feb. 8 on the network.
The show is a departure for the Grammys and other major awards. Top Academy Award and Emmy nominations, for instance, are announced in brief ceremonies that air as news stories — not as commercially supported programs.
The Grammy special will include nominations for at least six categories and feature performances by past winners at the Nokia Theatre, CBS said. It also will mark the opening of the Grammy Museum in the adjacent L.A. Live complex.
Presenters and performers will be announced later, CBS said.
Award shows in general have been struggling to attract audiences. This year's Grammy Awards drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys, while the Emmy ceremony in September had its smallest audience yet with 12.34 million viewers.

Pretty cool.  As I have previously stated, with 2008 being one of the biggest years in music, this will definitely be the most watched musical event of the year, for sure.  I can't wait to see who's nominated, and who's NOT nominated, for the Grammy.  Only time will tell. 

credit: Associated Press

ALiCiA & JENNiFER BEAT BEYONCE!

...as far as the potential 2009 Grammy Awards is concerned. Take a read at this clip from Fox News:

Oh, what a good Grammy fight there could have been for Best Song and Record: Alicia Keys’ “Superwoman," undoubtedly a nominee in both categories, almost had some real competition in many categories.

On Wednesday morning, our friends at Z100 in New York unveiled Beyonce’s new single. “If I Were a Boy.” And the news is: It’s Beyonce’s best record ever in her career, a total smash, an unexpected coup. You can hear it at http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/beyonce.

But "Boy" missed the Grammy deadline by eight days, and we can only wonder why. Certainly this single was ready to go on Sept. 30 in some form. It’s just Beyonce singing, very straightforward for once, no nonsense. It shows off her amazing vocal chops and establishes her as a singer.

Alicia, Jennifer, Leona — have albums vying for Best Album and Best R&B album, not to mention Best Female Pop (or R&B) Vocal Performance. And they’re all on Sony. Something’s gotta give. Of course, Keys' album, “As I Am,” is the most likely to make it all the way and could actually win the top honor next February.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Interesting.

GRAMMY ENTRY DEADLiNE : 9-30-08

Well isn't this interesting? Considering that 2008, by far, has been the best year for musical releases, its not wonder that everyone was pressed to get their album out by the beginning of Fall. Everyone from Madonna to Mariah Carey and Robin Thicke to Usher. It was an interestingly crazy year for music, period. With that being said, the deadline for any potential Grammy nominees ends on Tuesday, September 30th; the same day that some heavy hitters like Jennifer Hudson and T.I.'s albums drop. Does this mean Beyonce & Britney Spears' highly anticipated albums will have to wait until 2010?!?! It seems so. Here's to hopes that JENNIFER gets some nods!! [u know i had to throw that in there.] Anyways, all these albums and artists are gonna make for one hell of a show. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards airs on CBS in February. Of course i'll keep you updated on everything GRAMMY!

To read the article about the Grammy deadline, click here.

here's a video, in honor of BEYONCE and the GRAMMY's, of B steppin on Tina's foot. :-p

LoL.