Jennifer Hudson loves defying the public's expectations by showing different sides of herself - and insists she is "a tree with many branches."

The multi-talented star has a highly successful acting career, scooping 29 awards for her appearance in 2007 movie Dreamgirls.

And she hopes her self-titled debut album will surprise fans - because it is such a change from her usual work.

She tells CNN.com, "I don't believe in limits so I wasn't allowing myself to be limited and I wanted to show other sides of me, and to say 'Well, if you like this side of Jennifer, let me introduce you to another side'.

"I used to consider my voice a tree with many branches and that's what to me this album displays, all these different sides of me."

But Hudson insists she has no plans to film a musical - because she doesn't want her movie career to clash with her singing.

She adds, "If I'm acting I'm acting, if I'm singing I'm singing. There's no doing both, because I don't wanna split my focus... so one had to give way for the other."

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(UPI) - "American Idol" Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks announced Tuesday he has partnered with the firm Artist to Market to release his next album.

The CD is slated to drop Feb. 10, 2009.

The platinum-selling singer-songwriter said he will be releasing the new title with complete control of direction and ownership of his masters on his solely owned and operated, Modern Whomp Records label.

Hicks is currently in the studio with producer Simon Climie.

"In this digital age, when artists can connect more directly with audiences, this is a partnership that makes a lot of sense," Hicks said in a statement. "I'm very much enjoying being in the studio with Simon working on the new album and look forward to releasing it through A2M early next year."

"We at A2M are very excited to be working with the team at Modern Whomp Records on this release," added Paul Ignasinski, general manager of A2M. "As the industry continues to evolve, it's exciting to see significant artists approach the marketplace in a new way, and truly take control over their own destiny. This is exactly why A2M was built in the first place -- to provide a service platform for these artists to prosper on their own terms."

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 American Idol runner-up David Archuleta will make his acting debut in a hit kids' show.

The "Crush" singer, who came second in the popular talent show earlier this year, will star in Nickelodeon's iCarly show.

But Archuleta won't have to reach too far to find inspiration for his new role - he is playing a talent show contestant in the one-off appearance.

The show focuses on high school students who start their own Internet show.

Executive producer Dan Schneider tells Usweekly.com, "iCarly is all about super-talented teens so David Archuleta is an ideal fit."

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