'COLOR PURPLE's Jennifer Hudson to Perform on 'American Idol' Series Finale 4/7

Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, currently making her Broadway debut in THE COLOR PURPLE, returns to AMERICAN IDOL to perform on the series finale on Thursday, April 7, at 8/7c on FOX. According to a show representative, Hudson will be pre-taping her performance, and will be back in time for her Broadway performances next week.

On tonight's all-new episode, the top three finalists will be revealed! Each finalists will perform three songs - one a judges' pick, another Scott Borchetta's pick and the third is each contestant's pick as a tribute to his or her hometown.

Tune in tonight, Thursday, March 31 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to see the Top Four return to their hometowns for the iconic IDOL homecoming, as well as which three finalists make it to the finale. Also, IDOL judge Keith Urban will perform.

Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for her performance as Effie White in DREAMGIRLS. Her breakout film performance also garnered a Screen Actors Guild Award and an NAACP Image Award. Additional film credits include Sex and the City, Secret Life of Bees, Winnie Mandela, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, and Black Nativity.

Her highly acclaimed album, JHUD, dropped this past fall in the top 10 on Billboard's Top 200. Just prior, she released singles including the recently Grammy-nominated "It's Your World," featuring R. Kelly; "He Ain't Goin' Nowhere," featuring Iggy Azaelea; "I Can't Describe," produced by Pharrell and featuring TI; and "Walk It Out," featuring Timbaland. Most recently, Hudson was featured on Gorgon City's chart topping track, "Go All Night," off their new album, Sirens.

Hudson's 2008 debut album went Platinum and entered Billboard's Top 200 at No. 2 thus marking the biggest first week sales for an R&B female entry since 2004. The album was nominated for four Grammys and won for "Best R&B Album." In 2009, Hudson released her sophomore album, I Remember Me which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 and R&B Albums charts and has since been certified Gold in the U.S.

Image courtesy of FOX