Jennifer Hudson, Nephew’s Murder: Singer Breaks Down in Tears at Charity Event

Jennifer Hudson may finally be able to move forward now that her estranged brother-in-law is serving three life sentences for the murder of her mother, brother and young nephew -- but of course, the pain remains. The singer broke down in tears, sobbing through a charity event in her native Chicago, Ill. yesterday (Aug. 14), marking what would have been her slain nephew Julian King's eleventh birthday.

After the child was shot and killed by his estranged stepfather, William Balfour, back in 2008 at just 7-years-old, Jennifer and her sister Julia, Julian's mother, founded the Julian D. King Gift Foundation to benefit underprivileged Chicago youth. Yesterday, the sisters distributed school supplies to low-income students while hosting the second annual Hatch Day event, named for a phrase coined by Julian.

"To be able to turn such a negative around and make it a positive thing ... seeing this is like, 'Wow,' the Grammy winner said, becoming very emotional during an interview with WGNtv.com. "What's the point of being who you are if you can't make a difference? If you can't help someone else?" Jennifer asked.

Watch Jennifer's interview in the video below.