Jennifer Hudson - Effie White

Beyoncé Knowles - Deena Jones

Jamie Foxx - Curtis Taylor Jr.

Danny Glover - Marty Madison

Anika Noni Rose - Lorrell Robinson

Keith Robinson - C.C. White

Sharon Leal - Michelle Morris

Hinton Battle - Wayne

Mariah I. Wilson - Magic

Yvette Cason - May

Ralph Louis Harris - M.C.

Michael-Leon Wooley - Tiny Joe Dixon

Loretta Devine - Jazz Singer

Jocko Sims - Elvis Kelly

Ken Page - Max Washington

John Lithgow - Jerry Harris

John Krasinski - Sam Walsh

Alexander Folk - Ronald White

Esther Scott - Aunt Ethel

Laura Bell Bundy - Sweetheart

Yvette Nicole Brown - Curtis' Secretary

Damion Poitier - Man in D.C. Bar (uncredited)

Gregg Berger - Chicago Deejay