Jennifer Hudson News

Fox has now made last night's much anticipated AMERICAN IDOL season 12 premiere available on demand. The episode will be available for one week for customers of AT&T U-verse, Cox, Mediacom, Optimum TV, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, Xbox, Xfinity and many more.

Below, check out a recap of last night's New York City Auditions on the premiere episode of FOX's AMERICAN IDOL Season 12.

According to preliminary rating's reports, the premiere of the 12th season of FOX's AMERICAN IDOL earned a 6.0, down 19% from last year's 7.4 among adults 18-49. The premiere rating is the lowest since the first season which aired in the summer.

NBC will offer viewers a sneak peek at the first hour of the two-hour season premiere of the Golden Globe-nominated drama 'Smash' on Monday, January 14 across multiple platforms -- three weeks before the second-season debut on February 5 (9-11 p.m. ET).

Internationally acclaimed Grammy Award-winning conductor Helmuth Rilling, recipient of the 2011 Herbert von Karajan Music Prize, makes his 13th appearance with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to guest conduct two performances of Mozart's sublime Requiem in D minor, K. 626, featuring soprano Stacey Tappan, alto Callista Hoffman, tenor Nicholas Phan, bass Michael Dean and the acclaimed USC Thornton Chamber Singers, under the direction of Jo Michael Scheibe, on Saturday, January 26, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, and Sunday, January 27, 2013, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. The all-Mozart program, which celebrates the legendary composer's 257th birthday, opens with his majestic Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K. 543.

BET HONORS 2013 is set to ignite Warner Theater with a series of soul stirring performances from Erykah Badu , Wayne Brady , Brandy, Mint Condition, Jimmy Jam, Alicia Keys , Ledisi, the SOS Band and Terry Lewis .

EW has an exclusive sneak peek of Jennifer Hudson's guest starring appearance on the upcoming season of SMASH. In the clip from Season 2's fourth episode, Hudson's character Veronica Moore sings a new original song, 'I Can't Let Go,' written by the show's composers and executive producers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Check it out below!

Today, in honor of the release of the complete Season One of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH on DVD, we are revisiting some of the most memorable and truly tremendous musical numbers from the show so far - all available on the four-disc box set, available now - as we anticipate the grand return of the show on February 5. A look at Season Two, too!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, West End star Julian Ovenden will guest star in the second season of SMASH, and according to TVLine, he will play another one of Marilyn's love interests. Ovenden's character 'Simon' will play JFK to Karen's Marilyn Monroe.

Vulture.com reports that the much maligned character 'Ellis', played by actor Jamie Cepero, may still be featured on the upcoming second season of NBC's SMASH. At this weekend's Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, executive producer Neil Meron told reporters, 'Ellis is still alive.'

At this weekend's Television Critics Association Tour, new SMASH show runner Joshua Safran spoke about the highly-anticipated second season of the hit NBC musical drama. 'It's bigger, with more music, younger in some regards,' commented Safran, 'but I hope the people who watched it still see the same show they loved.' Check out an all-new sneak peek of SMASH's second season below!

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

David Sisco (Founder/Creator) and Lorene Phillips (Contributing Editor) will officially launch their now acclaimed DIRECTORY OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE WRITERS website with a musical event of remarkable proportions, on Monday, January 21 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43 Street - between Eighth & Ninth Avenues).

Entertainment Weekly has just posted the upcoming cover for their Jan. 11 'Winter TV Preview' issue, featuring the ladies of SMASH. Check it out below, featuring Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, and Katherine McPhee!

Superstars Jennifer Hudson and Jessica Simpson will team up for a new ad capmpaign promoting the Weight Watchers diet plan. The new commercial will begin airing nationally tomorrow, January 3. Get a first look below!

In an interview published in today's Entertainment Weekly, Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson revealed that she considers her upcoming guest spot on NBC's SMASH as training for her Broadway debut.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. This week: Our TOP TEN HOT TOPIX for the second half of 2012!!

Digitalspy.com reports that AMERICAN IDOL contestant Hollie Cavanagh plans to release her first album in 2013. The fourth runner up, who has been working with Idol's Nathan Porter, is currently searching for a record label.

Jennifer Hudson, Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee and Christian Borle speak about what's in store for Season 2 of SMASH in an all-new behind-the-scenes video released by NBC. Check it out below!

TVGuide reports that more original music and lyrics from the award-winning team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman is on the way for the upcoming second season of NBC's SMASH. The site confirms that the duo has 'composed tunes for other faux Broadway shows that will compete with Bombshell for ticket sales as the Marilyn Monroe-themed production nears its premiere.'