A singer and actress who turned an American Idol exit into an Oscar and a string of soulful singles.
For the full sweep, start with 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' from Dreamgirls. Then try 'Spotlight' to hear her on her own terms.
Her version of 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' from Dreamgirls is the kind of performance that sticks with you, the one that got her cast in the film and won her an Academy Award. Songs like 'Spotlight' and 'If This Isn't Love' show she can carry that power into her own records. She's also used her platform to advocate for victims of domestic violence after a personal tragedy.
She first caught attention on American Idol in 2004, finishing seventh but landing the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls soon after. That film earned her an Oscar in 2007, and she released her debut album the next year. She's kept singing in projects like 'I Say a Little Prayer' and 'We Gon' Fight' since.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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