Jennifer Hudson
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When it comes to post-American Idol careers, a certain movie title comes to mind: From Justin to Kelly not only stands as the worst after-Idol decision ever, but the title perfectly sums up the divide between what can happen if things go terribly wrong or terrifically right.

MTV.com recently reported on the direction careers can take once FOX cameras top rolling.

Justin Guarani has had the most disastrous career of any former winner or runner-up since Idol began. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson has arguably had the greatest, with her third album one of the most anticipated releases of 2007.

So what did Kelly do right and Justin do wrong? It's not easy to pinpoint, but it's safe to say translating American Idol fame into legitimate stardom is no easy task. Fortunately — with Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and other Idol alumni attempting to launch careers this fall — those who have been there were willing to share some lessons learned.

American Idol advice
"Really stick to what got you to the finals," Guarini offered. "That's the most important thing. I think that at times with my first album, it was a little bit of 'throw it at the wall and see what sticks,' whereas I hope with these guys, they're going to stick with the sound that got them there."

Since parting ways with the management and record label associated with Idol, Guarini has juggled managers (including Jennifer Lopez mastermind Benny Medina) and publicists, something season-three finalist Jennifer Hudson cautioned against."You wanna have everything in place, make sure you've got your whole team together, because you're gonna need that support behind you," said Hudson, who is garnering Oscar buzz for her role in Dreamgirls after a slow start. "Just be ready, because it's gonna be crazy. You're gonna be thrown back out into the world, but you're not gonna be that same Jennifer that nobody knew."

Like Hudson, fellow season-three finalist Jon Peter Lewis failed to get a major-label contract right out of the gate (although Hudson just inked a deal with Clive Davis' Arista Records), but he's since self-released an album and is touring regularly.

"I would say that anybody from Idol, winner or loser, has to learn to take good advice," JPL said. "There's a lot of people who are gonna tell you a lot of things, and you gotta look past the B.S. and listen to people when they have a good thing to say."

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Nobody wanted her first time around, after she finished a respectable seventh in Season 3 of American Idol, but now that she's starring in Dreamgirls and generating some serious Oscar buzz, Jennifer Hudson is a desirable commodity for record labels.

We've learned that she's just been inked by Arista, Clive Davis' original branch of the BMG realm he now commands.

Said Davis in a statement:

"Jennifer Hudson (right) is a vocal wonder, a tremendously gifted artist. Her extraordinary voice gives her a signature sound and distinguishes her from every singer on the horizon today."

Said Jennifer Hudson in a statement:

"Clive Davis is a legend, and I feel more than honored to be associated with him. Because of his vision and hands on approach, Arista already feels like home. I can't wait for us all to make beautiful music together."

We're looking forward to it, of course!

Dreamgirls, the Bill Condon film based on the Broadway play and starring Beyonce Knowles and former Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson, was previewed last night in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and elsewhere. Overall, the film and Jennifer (pictured below) are garnering rave reviews.

According to Roger Freidman from Fox News:

"Last night, at the very first screening of the film, the invited audience cheered, laughed and applauded throughout the show. It’s not a leap to say that Dreamgirls will be a huge hit, an Oscar nominee and the de facto winner of the Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical."

And, here's what he had to say about American Idol's Hudson, who plays the role of Effie, played famously by Jennifer Holliday on Broadway:

"And the movie introduces a megawatt talent in the form of Jennifer Hudson, a singer who lost out to Fantasia on American Idol and now will likely be giving acceptance speeches for months to come... But the highlight of the endeavor is Hudson, playing the part of Effie White, which Jennifer Holliday made famous on Broadway. That’s not just because Effie gets to sing the two best songs in the show.

But you can’t change the fact that when Hudson launches into 'And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,' all hope is lost for any actor who wants to come close to her in this movie or any other this year. The song is sensational, the presentation is dynamic, but the performer is simply stellar, bar none."

Here's the opinion of Tom Derby from The Los Angeles Times:

"... Nothing tops Jennifer Hudson. She not only owns this movie, she rides it like a rocket to instant superstardom. For months, Dreamgirls fans have been beset with worry, wondering: Can Jennifer really nail "And I Am Telling You"? If she doesn't, the whole show falls apart.

The result is so good that DreamWorks now facess a strange problem: Should they bump Hudson up to the lead actress race or keep her in supporting? Frankly, this movie belongs to her. She should be in lead, but let's be realistic. If the former American Idol star goes up against Helen Mirren at the Oscars, she'll get clobbered. However, if only she'll just stay put in supporting, we can declare that race won, wrapped up and ready for the history books. No other divas need apply."

The first two games of the World Series have been a virtual Idol-fest.

First, finalist Jennifer Hudson was the designated celebrity singer of God Bless America in the middle of the seventh inning of Game One in Detroit Saturday night. Yesterday, another American Idol finalist, Josh Gracin, was tapped to perform the song.

Since we spend an inordinate amount of time watching postseason baseball, much to the delight of my wife, we were able to catch both renditions. Suffice it to say, these American Idol stars were probably helped by the fact that Fox is carrying the games (and beginning to promote Season 6), but still, they handled it well.

In typical fashion, Jennifer, the Dreamgirls star, went all-out, going for it on every spectacular high note she could aim for, and pretty much hitting them -- even in weather that is bordering on freezing.

Gracin, meanwhile, kept it low-key, with no glory notes, and turned in one of the more tolerable versions of this "classic" (personally, we think it could be more fun if they mixed in some other seventh-inning stretch songs from time to time).

Former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson talked to The Envelope about her upcoming movie Dreamgirls, in particular the filming of the scene in which she sings "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" -- the classic tune that Jennifer Holliday sang in the original Broadway stage version that ran in the early '80s, and which helped win the actress a Tony Award. Can the former Idol fill those shoes? It looks like it.
Tom O'Neill, The Envelope's scribe, is calling Hudson's scene the most anticipated in one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year. Director Bill Condon apparently fretted so much over shooting it that he saved it for last and shut down the set so no one could spy on it. Something about the scene clicked, though -- Hudson is already drawing rave reviews.

"All early buzz indicates that Dreamgirls is about to transform Hudson into a superstar," O"Neill writes. "[And] she's already the frontrunner for the Supporting Actress Oscar."

Dreamgirls, which is scheduled for release this winter and also stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Anika Noni Rose, really showcases the American Idol contestant's voice. Hudson belts out three tunes like a champ, critics say, portraying her character, Effie White, with punch and heartache. More than a few are calling her the favorite for an Oscar.

Hudson (right, along with co-stars Rose, left, and Knowles) beat out hundreds of professional singers and actresses for the part, including Fantasia Barrino, who went on to win the third season of American Idol -- the season in which Hudson finished 7th among the 12 finalists. Fantasia is, however, playing herself in a biopic airing this weekend on Lifetime.