Jennifer Hudson is a hit on the music charts as much as she is on the big screen.

The singer's self-titled debut album has debuted at number-two on this week's The Billboard 200 album sales chart, selling 217,000 units during its initial week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan data.

Way to go, Jennifer!

The CD represents the biggest first-week debut album sales for a former American Idol finalist since Taylor Hicks' self-titled debut sold 298,000 units during its first week of release in December 2006. 

It's been a difficult year for Kellie Pickler.

The former American Idol finalist says she's struggled with depression and suffered severe reactions to anti-depressant pills after dealing with family problems and a breakup from her boyfriend, hockey player Jordin Tootoo.

"Everything in my professional life seemed great," Pickler told People Magazine. "But in my personal life, I was just crumbling."

Now?

Picker's friendships with Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, along with a new love – Nashville songwriter Kyle Jacobs – and writing songs for her new album have helped her find happiness once more.

"He makes me feel so good about being me," she said of Jacobs.

We couldn't be happier to hear that.

David Cook is releasing his debut album on November 18.

But when will Taylor Hicks release his latest album? Follow this article's jump to find out...

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It's an exciting time in the personal lives of past American Idol finalists.

Clay Aiken has announced he's gay; LaKisha Jones has gotten married; and, most recently, Paris Bennet has given birth to a girl.

Egypt Bennett was born yesterday afternoon. She weighed in at 5 lbs., 15 oz.

"I'm so excited to finally see my little angel – and man, does she have lungs on her," the first-time mother said. "I guess she's gearing up to be the next American Idol."

Congrats, Paris!

Congatulations are in order for LaKisha Jones.

The singer, who finished fourth on season six's American Idol, got married to financial advisor Larry Davis yesterday afternoon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

American Idol alums such Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle, Gina Glocksen and Haley Scarnato were among the guests at the Old Hollywood black and white-themed ceremony.

David Archuleta may be nervous about the November 11 release of his debut album.

But there's a good chance this American Idol runner-up is even more afraid of an upcoming guest-starring stint on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly.

Archuleta will appear on an episode, which will air this spring, that depicts him as a contestant on a show called "America Sings." Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

According to show executive producer and creator Dan Schneider, the singer was an easy choice for the part:

"iCarly is all about super-talented teens so David Archuleta is an ideal fit."

Jennifer Hudson's debut album is available... now! It was released yesterday.

As part of this former American Idol finalist's promotional tour, she stopped by for a chat with the ladies of The View. They had to talk to her about her engagement to David Otunga, of course.

Watch the interview now:

With the debut album from David Archuleta set to hit stores next month, the former American Idol runner-up will be making the publicity rounds a lot over the next few weeks.

In the following video, fans get go behind the scenes of a recent photo shoot with the talented, adorable singer...

We weren't even gonna comment on Clay Aiken's recent announcement that we're gay.

What do we care which gender Aiken finds attractive? He's the same person either way, the same great singer.

But Simon Cowell came out with a classic, hilarious quote on the situation that we had to publish. When confronted with the official news, the American Idol judge said:

"Wow, that's a shock. It's like being told Santa Claus isn't real - unbelievable."

And people wonder why we love Simon so much!

With his album due out November 18, David Cook has just released his first single from it.

It's called “Light On” an here are the song's lyrics:

Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldn’t be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up
When there’s no point in grieving
Doesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I’m leaving

(Chorus)
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it’s late at night you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone

You know we’ve been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door and my eyes to the seasons
That roll out underneath my heels
And you don’t know how bad it feels
To leave the only one that I have ever believed in

[Chorus]

Sometimes it feels like we’ve run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breaking up
When the wires cross in my brain
You’ll start my heart again
When I come along