✦Was going to sing "Over the Rainbow" during the Movie theme in American Idol, but was told to do Kimberley Locke's version and finally sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" instead.
✦Is the third African-American artist to appear in cover of Vogue after Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry.
✦Is the third African-American actress to win Academy Awards' Best Actress in Supporting Role since Hattie McDaniel and Whoopi Goldberg.
✦Won the role Effie White in "Dreamgirls" over 782 other contestants.
✦Beat Fantasia Barrino for the role as Effie White in "Dreamgirls" (2006) after she is defeated in American Idol cycle 3.