Jennifer Hudson: Recalls memories of her mother

Jennifer Hudson: Recalls memories of her mother

Jennifer Hudson has now started opening up about her relationship with her mother, Darnell Donerson. It has been seven months after her mother, brother and nephew were murdered in Chicago.

"I was always a mama's baby," Hudson tells Essence in the magazine's June cover story. "I'd go and sleep in her bed until I was fifteen years old."

The singer is promoting her debut album and touring with Robin Thicke. David Otunga, her fiancé tells the magazine that one of Hudson's biggest concerns after she decided to throw herself back into work-  was the thought of having to answer questions about the loss of her family.

Last September Otunga received Donerson's blessing before he proposed to Hudson on her 27th birthday. He says, "We don't talk about it." He continues- "In this time when things seem so uncertain for her, there is certainty in our bond. She doesn't have to worry about losing me. I'm always going to be right here."

Hudson recently re-proposed to Otunga with a Neil Lane ring to match her own engagement sparkler.She says her fiancé – a Harvard-educated-lawyer-turned-pro-wrestler – is family-oriented. "I love that. And he is such a gentlemen, like, I sit in the car waiting because I can't touch the door. I am not allowed!"

The singer also relies heavily on her faith. "The thing that keeps me going is knowing that God is in control," she says. "It's like, if He placed me here then I must be prepared."