First it was Oprah Winfrey. Then it was Halle Berry. Now, it's Jennifer Hudson. By Marc Malkin

My gal Jennifer has landed herself a cover of Vogue. Winfrey and Berry are the only other African-American actresses to grace the cover of the magazine.

Hudson will appear on the cover of the mag's annual Power Issue. It's one of the biggest issues of the year because it includes a spring fashion preview. "March is to spring what the September issue is to fall," a magazine insider says.

Hudson was shot for the magazine by über-celeb shutterbug Annie Leibovitz at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater. In addition to the cover (first reported by WWD), I'm told there are three more portrait pics of her inside the magazine to go along with her seven-page story. Vogue will probably begin releasing images of the Hudson spread sometime next week, a source reports.

Unfortunately, most magazine editors are still too scared to put African-American celebrities on their covers because they fear they won't sell. Brava to Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour!

Next up for Ms. Hudson is Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. No doubt, she'll perform a song or two. But as Mr. Davis does every year, expected guests and the night's performers are kept hush-hush so as not to ruin any surprises.

For now, you can bid on a piece of Hudson at the Clothes Off Her Back online auction. Turns out that a Mychael Knight-designed Starbucks T-shirt that Hudson autographed at the Golden Globes is one of the auction's most popular items. Bidding for the cotton tee has already exceeded $300.

Grossing Out with Justin Timberlake By Marc Malkin

It's not every day I get to write about burping and sliming. So, when I can, I will.

As you have heard, Justin Timberlake is going to host Nickelodeon's 20th annual Kids' Choice Awards on March 31.

Timberlake says he deserves the top slot because he's a two-time Best Burp winner. "That automatically gets you a hosting gig," he says.

As for the awards show's infamously funny sliming time, J.T. says he wouldn't mind being slimed again. "Someone told me it was apple sauce or like apple sauce," he says. "I think I was too scared to eat it."

He's been talking to producers about some new slime targets. He says, "There are a couple of people who deserve some slimage."

Wanna relive Justin's burping, head over to Justin's KCA.

Self-Promotion Thursday By Marc Malkin

Check out my new segment on the Vine just click on the clip on the Planet Gossip index page. This week, we talk and take questions about Tori's baby shower, Lindsay's return to work, Jessica and John's Grammy plans and Brangelina's life in their new hometown of New Orleans.

Remember, Planet Gossip wants to hear more from you! Send a video email by clicking on World of Questions. You can also send a good old-fashioned text email to [email protected].

And make sure to check out some of my recent posts. Lemme know what you think and if you have any questions.

By Marc Malkin

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