JENNIFER HUDSON - RAY STAR HUDSON DUMPS BOYFRIEND FOR SPORTS STAR?

Oscar winner JENNIFER HUDSON has reportedly dumped the childhood sweetheart who supported her through her stint on AMERICAN IDOL and movie debut RAY after falling for a sports stud. The singer has ended her long romance with James Peyton, a Chicago, Illinois maintenance engineer, and is now dating New York Jets football star Kerry Rhodes, according to U.S. reports. A pal tells the National Enquirer, "It's bittersweet for Jennifer because the last thing she wanted to do is break up with James. They dated since they were teenagers. "Then she got her big break (and) all of a sudden she was gone a lot, their interests changed... James liked their life the way it was before. "Reluctantly, Jennifer and James decided to go their separate ways, but they have remained close friends."