A Private funeral held for Singer Jennifer Hudson relatives

Hudson's mother, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, and brother, 29-year-old Jason Hudson were found shot dead in their Chicago home on 24 October. Her nephew seven-year-old Julian King's body was found in a vehicle in the city three days later.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Chicago for a private funeral service for the slain relatives of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. The Dreamgirls star paused before her relatives' caskets and gave her mother a parting kiss. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and talk show host Oprah Winfrey were also among the mourners.

A suspect was taken into custody on Friday night in the shooting deaths of the mother and brother of the Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, the authorities said.

Singer Jennifer Hudson's big screen debut was in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. It made her a star and earned her the year's Academy Award as best supporting actress. Hudson grew up in Chicago and got her start singing gospel songs in a Baptist church. Shortly after making her professional debut in regional theater, she signed with Disney Wonder tours and spent 2002 performing on cruise ships. Rather than extend her contract, she auditioned for the televised talent show American Idol in 2003, and was selected to compete in the show's third season (2004). Her soulful singing and multi-octave range brought early success and a devoted fan base, but Hudson was eliminated after making it to the top seven. Her fans cried foul, but Hudson bounced back by winning the role of Effie in the film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. A newcomer in a cast that included Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Beyoncé Knowles", Hudson stole the show with her emotional rendition of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."