BARBARA WALTERS TALKS TO THREE OF THIS YEAR�S ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES -- EDDIE MURPHY, JENNIFER HUDSON AND HELEN MIRREN -- AS WELL AS OSCAR HOST ELLEN DEGENERES, FOR THE 26TH ANNUAL OSCAR EDITION OF �THE BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL�

�American Idol� finalist and Academy Award nominee Jennifer Hudson, Academy Award nominee Dame Helen Mirren, Academy Award nominee and comedian Eddie Murphy, plus Oscar host and Emmy Award winner Ellen DeGeneres sit down with Barbara Walters for a fascinating hour on the 26th Edition of �The Barbara Walters Special,� airing on Sunday, February 25 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) -- and immediately following the Academy Awards on the west coast -- on the ABC Television Network.

�American Idol� finalist Jennifer Hudson, who was voted off the hit television show, speaks candidly about the show today. She tells Ms. Walters that if she had won �America Idol,� she probably would not have gotten the role of Effie in �Dreamgirls.�

Dame Helen Mirren has received critical praise and several acting awards this year for her extraordinary portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in �The Queen.� The former sex symbol who is often known for disrobing on camera tells Ms. Walters the risks she took by portraying the Queen.

In a rare and hilarious interview, Eddie Murphy discusses the risks he took in acting, singing and dancing in �Dreamgirls� and what winning an Academy Award would mean to him.

Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who will be hosting the Oscars for the first time, sits down with Ms. Walters and discusses the risks in hosting and how she will differ from past hosts.

These superstars share their thoughts and perspectives on their success with Barbara Walters. �The Barbara Walters Special� is a Barwall Production and is produced and directed by Bill Geddie.