Though she's more recently known as the Oscar-winning breakout star of "Dreamgirls" and the first black woman to burst the all-white bubble of "Sex and the City," Jennifer Hudson is about to bring the focus back to why we fell in love with her in the first place -- her voice.

It seems impossible that Hudson, who first rose to fame on season three of "American Idol" in 2004, hasn't released a full album yet, but "Dreamgirls" success had Hollywood immediately calling. Meanwhile, Hudson appeared in three more movies (including "Sex," one of the summer's biggest hits), and took a break from an album that was several years in the making.

That's all about to change Sept. 30, when Hudson releases her self-titled album featuring the summer jam "Spotlight" and the movie soundtrack hits "And I Am Telling You" ("Dreamgirls") and "All Dressed Up In Love" ("Sex and the City"). It also contains several new tracks penned and produced by industry veterans like Timbaland, Robin Thicke, Diane Warren and Missy Elliot.

"Everyone assumes I am just gonna do ballads," Hudson says. "I consider voice a tree with many branches, and that's what this album reflects."

Since winning her best supporting actress Oscar in 2007, Hudson has filmed two more movies --"Winged Creatures" (2008), co-starring Forest Whitaker, Dakota Fanning and Kate Beckinsale, and "The Secret Life of Bees," the film adaptation of the best-selling Sue Monk novel, with Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Fanning (due out Oct. 17).

"It was powerful," Hudson said of "Bees." "It was an honor to work with those people. Alicia and Queen are powerful women, and I got to be one of the women standing beside them."

Still, Hudson hasn't forgotten where she came from. The Chicago native started her career and spent much of her transition time between "Idol" and "Dreamgirls" performing in gay clubs.

"The gay community supported me from the beginning -- they trained me, that's what I would say," Hudson said with an audible snap for emphasis. "The gay community is the most kind and creative. I love them just the same as they love me."

As far as the future goes, Hudson wants to tour with the album -- "I gotta get out and meet the people and sing some songs" -- make more movies and do a fashion line. She also isn't ruling out reprising Effie if she's offered the chance to play her on stage.

"I want to add more credits to my name," Hudson said. "I'm a baby Oprah. I want to expand and do everything I came to do. I want to be here 20 to 30 years from now."

Fast facts

• Did the "Dreamgirl" find her dream dude? Hudson recently became engaged to David Otunga, best known as "Punk" from VH1's "I Love New York 2."

• She idolizes Whitney Houston. "I remember, when I met her, I couldn't even move out of my seat." Hudson's new album is even being produced by the man who discovered Houston -- the legendary Clive Davis.

• She's happy she didn't win "American Idol." "I'm in a much better place, and I'm glad it turned out the way it did."

• Hudson appeared on the March 2007 cover of Vogue, making her only the third black American in history (and the first singer) to do so. "It wasn't supposed to be a cover, but to make history is something else," she said.

- By Patrick Roland / Indy.com correspondent