After providing viewers with a sneak peek into the recording process on her hit VH1 reality show Fantasia For Real, Grammy-nominated songstress Fantasia will release her highly-anticipated third studio album Back to Me on July 27th on J Records. Back to Me will be available for pre-order on June 22ND at iTunes and Amazon.

Leading the way with the official first single “Bittersweet,” which is currently #9 on the Urban Adult Airplay chart, Back To Me is an emotionally charged album which features a sole guest appearance by Cee-Lo Green and songs written and/or produced by Ne-Yo, Claude Kelly, Chuck Harmony Rico Love, Jim Jonsin, KP & Malay. Also available for the first time as a bonus track is “I’m Here,” Fantasia’s signature song from her acting role as “Celie” in the Broadway play The Color Purple.

Comedian, actor and radio personality Steve Harvey also became involved in the album process by coming up with the album title after a recent radio interview with the songstress. “Steve Harvey suggested the album title and it describes perfectly where I am in my life right now,” states Fantasia. “I’ve willingly let the world into my life through my book, the Lifetime television movie and now the VH1 reality show. Now, it’s time to go back to how things used to be when America first laid their eyes on me on American Idol. I want to focus everyone’s attention back to me and back to music that everyone can relate to and enjoy.”

In 2004, the High Point, North Carolina native became the season three winner of Fox’s American Idol. Later that year, Fantasia released her platinum-selling debut album Free Yourself on J Records and became the first artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to debut at #1 with her first single, “I Believe.” Fantasia’s second single, “Truth Is,” spent 14 weeks at #1, thus making her the first singer to simultaneously have two of the top three songs on the Billboard chart. Fantasia’s 2006 eponymous second album featured the #1 R&B single, “When I See U,” and reached gold status.

In addition to being an eight-time Grammy-nominated singer, in 2005 Fantasia authored her first memoir, Life is Not a Fairytale and made her acting debut starring as herself in the Lifetime television movie based on the book. In 2007, Fantasia continued her acting career and received rave reviews for her portrayal of “Celie” in the Broadway play The Color Purple.

Academy Award winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson claims the No. 2 spot with her eponymous debut album on this week’s Billboard Top 200 Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, according to Nielsen SoundScan. With a total of 217,720 units sold, the chart-topping entry of Jennifer Hudson is the biggest first week for a debut R&B female since Fantasia’s November 2004 debut album Free Yourself. The release of Jennifer Hudson also marks the largest selling debut album for RCA Music Group this year.

“Jennifer’s album debut is amazing! I never take this for granted,” comments Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer of Sony BMG Worldwide and Producer of the album. “It’s a genuine thrill to be a part of a truly spectacular start of a major new star.”

Ushered into the “Spotlight” by the hit single of the same name, the September 30th release of Jennifer’s debut album is the realization of her childhood dream of becoming a bona fide recording star – and the critics agree. The New York Times states: “Whether cooing her way through the midtempo ‘Spotlight,’ or singing a self-esteem anthem like ‘Invisible,’ she always builds to a wailing climax – the moment when she ceases being merely a skilled vocalist and becomes Jennifer Hudson, star.” Billboard adds that Jennifer’s “self-titled debut showcases a voice so big, with an interpretive talent so natural, that it seems to burst beyond the confines of the recording. All hail the new diva.”

In the weeks leading into the release, Jennifer was virtually inescapable as her single “Spotlight” saturated the airwaves and was complemented by television appearances/performances on Good Morning America, Oprah, The View, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Dancing With The Stars, half-hour performance special on BET, as well as the nationally televised performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. On October 13, Yahoo will launch a special Pepsi Smash performance of “Spotlight” while Jennifer continues to travel the world for various promotional events in support of the album.

In 2004, television viewers got the chance to witness Hudson’s musical journey as a contestant on the third season of American Idol. Two years later, she told the world that she wasn’t going during her unforgettable portrayal as “Effie White” in Dreamgirls, and subsequently won 29 awards including the coveted Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Jennifer’s performance of “Love You I Do” for the Dreamgirls soundtrack yielded a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Hudson continued her acting career in this past summer’s hit film Sex and the City and will follow up with another role in the October 17th release of The Secret Life of Bees. Now with the chart-topping release of her stellar debut album, the multi-talented Jennifer Hudson has established that she’s here to stay as she conquers the worlds of film and music.

Corporate line:
The 2008 self-titled debut album of Jennifer Kate Hudson reflects her high-powered soulful style voice which is transcendent and timeless. Guests features on the album include Fantasia on “I’m His Only Woman”, Ludacris on “Pocketbook”, plus the highlights version of “And I am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls. Jennifer first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol. She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 motion picture adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for which she won numerous awards including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA and a SAG Award.

The good:
“If This Isn’t Love” – A beautiful ballad that showcases Hudson’s strength.

“Giving Myself” – Again, Hudson breezes through another epic ballad that sounds ready for the finale of American Idol.

“I’m His Only Woman” f/ Fantasia – Two women singing their hearts out–what else is there to say.

“Can’t Stop The Rain” – The slowest and most laid back ballad. It’s getting cliche to say Hudson can sing any ballad, good or bad, and make it sound great.

“Jesus Promised Me A Home Over There” – The album ends on a high note as Hudson drops a beautiful bit of gospel on us.

The rest:
“Spotlight” – Reaches back into the soul of the ’70s but never hits the big booming epic sound of Donna Summers.

“Pocketbook” – Light on lyrics and melody. It’s a shame becuase the verses are hot. The hook is almost nonexistent as Hudson sings over and over “hit you with my pocketbook.”

“Whats Wrong (Go Away)” f/T-Pain – Again, the overuse of digital effects–in this case every vocal part by T-Pain is digitized. It destroys the song.

Finally:
Jennifer Hudson has the voice to dominate R&B and pop. The songs, for the most part, are good. But there aren’t any songs that are truly great. With a voice like hers you are always waiting for a song to give you goosebumps.