Lineup of Inaguration Won’t Include American Idol

2008 has been a bittersweet year for Jennifer Hudson.We already knew that of course. When Hudson released Spotlight (her first album) to high praise, not to mention her Oscar win, really shows us that she is on a great roll.  Then, her mother, brother and nephew were killed by her in-law in a murderous rampage, and everything suddenly looked bleak for the performer.She hasn’t been in the spotlight as much afterwards, rather preferring to grieve privately with family.

But there’s always the comeback, in the tradition of many who went through American Idol 8.In the history of American Idol a TON of past contestants have faded into near obscurity only to have a major comeback into the spotlight again.One of those great stories of success in Jennifer Hudson, and I have faith she’ll replicate that same success this year?

For a moment, we thought it wouldn’t have come any sooner.Back in 2008 there were reports in the New York Post that Jennifer was to perform the Star-Spangled Banner during the presidential inauguration of the President-Elect Barack Obama in Washington on January 20th, although she has not performed since the murders.C.  The bit, which was since picked up by many other media outlets, pointed out the possibility: Hudson, who sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August, hails from Chicago, the same city where Obama began his political career.Adding to that is the fact that she is a HUGE Obamamaniack the newspaper source told them.

Very rapidly after the rumor came out a rep put out the rumor when they officially stated that Hudson won’t perform at the inauguration.  “There is no truth to this,” a representative simply told Access Hollywood, maintaining that Hudson’s return performance will be at an event in Los Angeles in February, paying tribute to musician Neil Diamond.

With that, though, at least we can say that Hudson is indeed poised for a comeback.  Disregarding the debate on whether Obama’s team is sensitive enough to consider the murders, or whether Hudson is black and all—at least a comeback is bound to happen.  Here’s to resiliency, then. This season of the show starts on January 13th and features the addition of a new judge Kara DioGuardi.