Actress Jennifer Hudson to pen weight-loss book

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson will write a "weight-loss memoir" that is due to be released in January, Penguin Group's Dutton imprint said on Monday.

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But Dutton declined to comment on whether Hudson would write about the 2008 shooting murders of her mother, brother and nephew in the as yet untitled book. The estranged husband of Hudson's sister has been charged with the killings.

Hudson, a Grammy Award winning singer who rose to fame as a contestant on American Idol in 2004, became the spokeswoman for Weight Watchers in April last year and has shed 80 pounds (36 kilograms). She won an Oscar for the 2006 film "Dreamgirls."

Dutton said the book will "chronicle Hudson's experience growing up in an environment where healthy living was not a priority, to dealing with talk of her weight as she competed on American Idol and won her first Oscar, to her eventual decision to get healthy after the birth of her son, and her success losing weight with the help of Weight Watchers."

The publisher declined to comment on local media reports that Hudson was being paid $1 million for the book.

"Hudson wants to inspire anyone coping with weight issues, share some of her own best tips for losing and maintaining weight loss, fitting in exercise and keeping it fun," Dutton said.