Jennifer Hudson is offering a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew, who has been missing since Friday. The 7-year-old is missing from the home where her mother and brother were found dead.

A spokeswoman for Hudson, a former contestant on American Idol and an Oscar-winning actress, confirmed the news of the reward.

“Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely,” Hudson said in a posting on her MySpace page Sunday. “If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately.”

Police issued an Amber Alert for Julian, the nephew, and asked people to be watching for a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859.

Police confirm they have taken a person into custody, but they still are not confirming the identity of that person.

Tragedy has struck one of American Idol’s most successful finalists. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were killed Friday, according to reports on CNN.

Jennifer’s mom, Darnell Donerson, and brother Jason Hudson were found in their home in South Chicago, according to reports. Also, her 7-year-old nephew Julian King is missing from the scene.

Police are questioning William Balfour, a 27-year-old taken into custody, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. A MySpace page for William Balfour says he is married to Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s sister.

The MySpace page, which last was logged into on June 22, has this written in the “About Me” section:

“I am a 26 year old, I reside on the South side of Chicago, I have a wife her name is Julia, and I also have a 6 yr old stepson, I don’t tolerate bullshit, so don’t come to me with it, I like to live life and experience everything thats why I’m here seeing what it’s about, I might as well let you all know that Jennifer Hudson is my wife’s sister I’m proud of her and wish her nothing but the best in what she do but don’t hit me up asking bout her, other than that it’s on!”

Julia and Jennifer are listed among Balfour’s top 8 friends on the site.

Reports from the Associated Press say Balfour spent almost seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Jennifer, who is most famous for her Oscar-winning role as Effie White in Dreamgirls, currently is starring in the big-screen film The Secret Life of Bees. She also starred in Sex and the City: The Movie.

According to imdb.com, Jennifer was scheduled to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! next week.

American Idol finalist Nikki McKibbin is confronting her demons.

The Season 1 third-place finisher was the first “resident rocker” on the series, and many were surprised to see her go as far as she did in the competition. She was only beat out by Justin Guarini and inaugural champion Kelly Clarkson.

But when McKibbin stood in front of the judges for her first audition, it was shortly after she took three shots of tequila. The 30-year-old now says that was the beginning of a long road that has led her to another reality series, Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.

“The worst time for me was when my mom died,” McKibbin told MTV News. “I didn’t have any control over myself at all, and I drank for nine months nonstop.”

The singer said her trip to Rehab marked the first time she tried to get clean. As a child, she says her father abused alcohol and drugs, and she was physically and sexually abused by a family member.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to talk about it to somebody who wasn’t family who wouldn’t get angry,” she told MTV News. “I’ve tried therapy and psychiatrists, but what’s different with [Celebrity Rehab] is that I needed to learn how to deal with this stuff. After I’d leave the psychiatrist’s office, I’d go drinking because it was too painful to keep thinking about. When you deal with trauma as a child … if you have an addict mentality and it’s hardwired from the beginning, you don’t know how to do anything else other than drink and take drugs to take the pain away.”

McKibbin’s appearance on the upcoming season of Celebrity Rehab marks the second time an Idol finalist has appeared on the show. Season 5’s Jessica Sierra made an unsuccessful attempt to get clean with Dr. Drew, but is back in an intensive treatment program after more police trouble last year.

For McKibbin, she says the show’s criticism led to her drinking even more heavily, especially when it came to the harsh criticisms of judge Simon Cowell.

“For me, I had never been told I wasn’t good,” she told MTV News. “I’m by no means blaming him. I’m an addict, and if you tell an addict they’re no good, it triggers you and makes you think you’re worthless and useless and no good at the only thing you ever wanted to do your whole life.”

McKibbin released her CD Unleashed last year, and is now working with a new band, Wicked Attraction, and working on a new album. Some of her music will be featured on Celebrity Rehab, which debuts Thursday on VH1.

Right about now, you can bet Paris Bennett is adjusting to motherhood.

The 19-year-old former American Idol finalist gave birth to her first child, a girl named Egypt, on Monday. The singer, who made a name for herself on Season 5 of Idol, told People.com, “I’m so excited to finally see my little angel, and man, does she have lungs on her. I guess she’s gearing up to be the next American Idol.”

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Happy One Week Anniversary greetings are in store for Flint, Mich., native LaKisha Jones. The American Idol finalist was married to financial adviser Larry Davis last Sunday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Jones, who is expected to release a CD later this month, finished as fourth runner-up during the 2007 season. In attendance at the wedding were several Idol alums, including Sanjaya Malakar, Haley Scarnato and Melinda Doolittle.

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He’s tackled the role of Tom Collins in the smash Broadway hit Rent, and now he’s on to playing Jesus.

Anwar Robinson, a finalist during American Idol’s fourth season, has joined the cast of Godspell. The special holiday performance will run Nov. 25 to Dec. 28 at Syracuse Stage. Find out more about the show, and get ticket information at www.syracusestage.org.

Robinson has been working on his debut CD, The Truth About Love, which he descrives as an eclectic mix of music that will draw influence from genres including R&B, soul, jazz and gospel.

American Idol finalists are ringing wedding bells everywhere. Next up, LaKisha Jones.

The Flint, Mich., native is reportedly getting married this weekend to boyfriend Larry Davis. The ceremony is expected to take place in Beverly Hills with an “old Hollywood” theme.

On the guest list are BeBe Winans, who is rumored to be performing, and one of LaKisha’s biggest influences, Chaka Khan. Also expected to appear are friends and fellow Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle and Gina Glocksen.

According to LaKisha’s MySpace page, her status is “ENGAGED.” She also is priming fans for her upcoming Oct. 28 album release.

Clay Aiken has confirmed what many long have suspected — he’s a gay man. In the same way N’Sync superstar Lance Bass outed himself, Aiken is on the latest issue of People magazine with the headline, “Yes, I’m Gay.”

On the cover, Aiken is holding his baby son, Parker Foster Aiken, and the headline continues, “The Idol star opens up about his emotional decision to come out: ‘I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.’”

People has an interview with Aiken, who was runner-up on Idol in 2003 and recently made a return to Broadway in The Monty Python’s Spamalot. He recently released his latest CD, On My Way Here, and soon after became a parent with the help of music friend and producer Jaymes Foster.

Since appearing on Idol, Aiken has been the punchline to many jokes — comedian Kathy Griffin often refers to him as “Gayken” — but he always has kept his sexuality off-limits for interviews. Until now.

DAVID COOK DEBUT RELEASE SET
He may be having The Time of His Life, but there’s no question David Cook is ready for his first full-length release. The latest singer to be crowned American Idol, Cook is set to release his debut album November 18 on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. The first single, Light On, will be available on iTunes beginning Sept. 30.

Light On was co-written by Chris Cornell, lead singer/songwriter for megabands Soundgarden and Audioslave, and Brian Howes, a well-known producer and songwriter. Keep up with the latest David Cook news at his now-live Web site, www.davidcookofficial.com.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY TURNS BACK TO TV
Season 5 American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry may be leaving his reality days in the past, but he’s certainly not done with television appearances. It recently was announced Daughtry would appear as a guest star on an upcoming episode of CSI: NY.

The 28-year-old is expected to first appear in the show’s 100th episode as a character named Machiavelli Taylor, according to reports. With Katharine McPhee taking on the big screen recently in House Bunny — not to mention an Oscar winner and dozens of Broadway gigs among other past finalists — Idol no longer can be seen only as a chance to become the next big pop star.

NEW ‘IDOL’ JUDGE IS ‘PRETTY HONEST’
Judge No. 4, Kara DioGuardi, has been spending some time in the judging chair at Season 8 auditions in New York, Jacksonville, Louisville and San Francisco. The newest judge to join the Idol panel talked to the New York Post about her new job and finding her spot on judges row.

“I just know I’m getting my groove, loosening up and forgetting about the big elephant in the room,” she told the Post. “The first few cities I was like, ‘Oh my God, the camera is on me’, it was a little strange. … But I’m starting to let my true self come out. You forget about the camera and start being you. And that’s been fun for me.”

In the end, DioGuardi said she has been trying to be “pretty honest” in her opinions and comments to Season 8 hopefuls.

It’s beginning to look like Jennifer Hudson may be taking over the world. One. Project. At. A. Time.

Today marks the DVD release of Sex and the City: The Movie, Hudson’s first major film role since her Oscar-winning performance as Effie White in Dreamgirls. One week from today, she gives her music fans — the ones who discovered her as a finalist on American Idol — the gift they’ve been waiting. Her debut CD, featuring the first single, Spotlight, hits stores Sept. 30.

In a few weeks, on Oct. 17, Hudson will star in her next major motion picture, The Secret Life of Bees. She stars as Rosaleen, a caregiver charged with watching after a 14-year-old girl who has lost her mother in a tragic accident.

On her debut CD, Hudson offers a variety of tracks — from pop and gospel, her standards, to a little bit of hip-hop. Early reports suggest the hip-hop tracks, featuring Ludacris and T-Pain, are misrepresentations of what J. Hud. really is all about as a musician. But there are a lot of other collaborative efforts to look forward to on the disc — Robin Thicke is among a list of contributing writers and, the biggest treat, perhaps, will be a duet featuring Idol winner Fantasia. The track, I’m His Only Woman, likely will be getting both artists much attention, based on their powerhouse voices.

All of this career success aside, it also recently was announced Hudson was taking herself off the dating market. After less than a year dating her current boyfriend, David Otunga (a contestant from the VH1 reality show I Love New York 2), the two are said to be engaged.

A booming movie career, a debut CD and wedding bells? I’m telling you … Jennifer Hudson’s not going.

Jordin Sparks wasn’t just going to sit there and take it. Oh, no. The American Idol winner had something to say during Sunday night’s 25th anniversary Video Music Awards on MTV.

Comedian and host of the 2008 VMAs, Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) was aiming joke after joke at the popular Jonas Brothers and their commitment to abstain from sex. The jokes started off when Brand suggested it was a mistake for the singers to not take advantage of their fame and the women who would be willing to take their virginity.

After a handful of running jokes, it was Jordin Sparks’ turn to present an award on stage. When she and singer John Legend stepped up to the mic, Jordin proclaimed abstinence is not a bad thing, especially for those who don’t want to be a “slut.”

A short time later, during another segment featuring the host, Brand made an attempt — in his own way — to apologize for his earlier comments. He said he hadn’t intended on offending anyone.

Jordin talked openly about her commitment to abstain from sex before marriage when she was questioned about a ring fans noticed her wearing during her run on American Idol. Her ring, said to be a gift from her father, is inscribed with the words “True Love Waits.”

“I haven’t been in love yet,” Jordin said at the time. “I’m saving myself for marriage.”

Megastars thanks to their success beginning on the Disney Channel, the Jonas Brothers have made similar comments about the rings they wear. They are open with their fans and the media about their purity and commitment to it.

He won American Idol’s second season, which likely was the happiest day of his life. Then, in late June of this year, Ruben Studdard got married … arguably the new happiest day of his life.

But it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster year for Studdard who, apparently, owes about $200,000 in back taxes. The singer now is facing property liens due to $21,730 owed in state income taxes and $171,920 in federal income taxes.

According to reports on BlackVoices.com and other sites, the lien was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Studdard married Surata Zuri McCants in late June, shortly after he lost his recording contract.

Studdard’s former official Web site, www.rubenstuddard.com, no longer seems to be working. A MySpace page set up at www.myspace.com/rubenstuddard shows someone has logged into the site on Sept. 2. The latest blog entry or any sign of updated content is in late July. But, because anyone theoretically could set up a MySpace count in the Velvet Teddy Bear’s name, there’s no guarantee it’s really Studdard checking in on his top friends.

Hopefully he’s checking into getting a new record deal and making good on his back taxes.