Jennifer Hudson exploded into the pop culture zeitgeist twenty years ago as a contestant on the singing competition series “American Idol.” And although she was eliminated from the Top 7 early on in the third season, she would quickly outgrow her reality show roots and become one of Hollywood’s most prolific multi-hyphenates.
In 2009, Hudson had won an Oscar for her role as Effie White in ‘Dreamgirls’ and a Grammy for her debut album of the same name. She won a Daytime Emmy in 2021 (as executive producer of “Baba Yaga”) and the following year she received the Tony for Best Musical for “A Strange Loop” (she was a producer). Along the way, Hudson lent her voice to some of the most important events in American culture, with performances at the Academy Awards, the Emmys, two Super Bowls, Michael Jackson’s memorial service and Pope Francis’ first visit to America.
To date, Hudson’s talk show “The Jennifer Hudson Show” has racked up 10 Daytime Emmy nominations since its launch in 2022. Ahead of the talk show’s third season, which kicks off on September 16, Hudson spoke with Variety to discuss her upcoming holiday season . album, her dream guests and what to expect from season 3.
September 12 is not only your birthday, but also the anniversary of the premiere of “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” What comes to your mind as we circle the date?
That’s so funny that you said that. You made me realize that I made my debut on my birthday. We’re busy preparing for the show and I forgot my birthday was coming up. I feel like I’m home now, and I like that feeling. I am gradually learning more and more. I feel like I have everything under control. And now, with that being said, I feel like I can relax and enjoy my birthday. Looking back, I can’t believe I’m in season 3 now. [Season 1] was three years ago, because I was turning 40 then, and now I’m turning 43 in two days.
Do you have any special plans to celebrate your 43rd? Are you taking a day off this time?
I will, which is rare. But I don’t mind working on my birthday. Why? Because if I wasn’t doing what I love, I would be wishing on those birthday candles, wishing I did this. So I don’t mind working on the birthday, but this birthday is 43. It’s not like it’s a big birthday, like turning 40 or 50 or 25. So I just want to go out to dinner and be with the family. And then I like animals, so I want to ride horses or something.
Another milestone you’re celebrating is the 20th anniversary of your appearance on “American Idol.” In your book you said that when you were in the bottom three, you hoped to be eliminated. Why was that?
While we were doing the show, you had to think about the possibility of being eliminated. You’ve come to terms with that. I remember thinking that if I go, I want to be seventh because that’s my favorite number, God’s full number. But you also want to go out where you feel like you’ve represented your artistry in the best way possible. When I got eliminated this weekend in New England, I thought, “This is who I am as an artist and if that means I have to go, then that’s fine with me.” You know what I mean? I like to do things for the experience, and I said I was going to do ‘American Idol’ for the experience. So take a look at all the things I have experienced since then.
When you first announced “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” there was a lot of skepticism considering how crowded the talk show space was at the time. How are you thinking about that now, as you prepare for your third season?
Well, I’m always willing to try. No one can blame you for that. I like having the opportunity, and I’m going to focus on that and let the work speak for me. There’s a saying my grandmother used to say: ‘You’ll understand it better over time,’ you know? If I based what I could do on the thoughts, concerns and comments of others, I wouldn’t be here. What I like to say is: “No one knows your potential as well as you do.” So that is noise from outside. That’s what I would call it. What does it have to do with me and how I think, and what are the norms? I’m going to create my own lane.
One of the most striking things about “The Jennifer Hudson Show” is how much fun everyone is having. You do a great job of engaging your audience and creating a space where everyone feels included in the production. What is the key to fostering that climate?
I don’t know any other way to be. I come from a large family and everything we did was within the family. So it doesn’t matter to me whether I meet a stranger on the street or someone’s uncle, mother, sister or brother. All I see is my family, and that’s how I see everyone. This experience on the show is for all of us. It’s not me, it’s the audience’s fault and then it’s the guests’ fault. No, we are all here together. That’s how I treat film sets, that’s how I treat my performing crew and now the show. Whatever environment I’m in, that’s how my mother raised me.
Some of the best moments of the show come from the kids you interview. Is working with young guys ever a challenge?
They’re kids, and if you let them be and still know that this is a baby, this is a kid, and they might be nervous, that’s okay. Notice that when they come on the show, I say, “No, put toys here. Don’t leave any glass there.” That’s a baby, you know? I allow that they are. As a parent, I’m sensitive to those things and I think the kids can feel that you’re hanging out with Mama Hud, we’re going to have some fun. My thing is that if you come to my party, or to my kids’ party, or if I have a party for the kids, you won’t leave unconscious, and we won’t have to carry you out by the time we get there. done, then I haven’t done my job. All the kids want to go back to my house, whether it’s the talk show or my real house.
Do you have dream guests that you have not yet managed to land? I’m surprised Elton John has never been on your show.
Thank you! We need to get Sir Elton John involved in this show. You know who else I want, Tom Jones. I would like Tom Jones. I love the legends and the icons and the game changers. Stevie Wonder, I want him on the show. One of my biggest dreams is to have Michael Jordan. I really want Michael Jordan. It’s a big dream, but I’m a dreamer. Oh, you know who else I want, I would love the Obamas too.
How do you plan the guests and segments for a season? Is there a theme for each that you try to follow?
What we have to realize is that life is happening while the show is happening, and I am very present in life. A lot of it is a response to what I’m feeling at the time. This season’s theme is ‘Choose Joy’. That is the space I am in. I feel like that’s why God allows so many things to happen to me, because I want to share it with someone, I want to inform someone, I want to help someone. So this just gives me a bigger platform and a tool to do that. That said, the show will be a reflection of wherever I am in life, and what I want to share, which is most things.
You recently signed to Interscope Records, what inspired your return to music after all this time?
I don’t feel like I ever left it. I go from industry to industry to industry and music is the basis of everything. Wherever I go, just because I said I was going to do a talk show didn’t mean I was going to stop singing. Or when I start acting, the music is still there. As a creative person you always feel the urge to create, and a Christmas album is something I’ve always wanted to do. I couldn’t think of a better time than now to do it and express my artistry. Now I have a talk show with families and a platform and an audience to share it with. Growing up, I used to remake “Oh Holy Night.” I remixed it and gave it out to my family every year as a Christmas gift. Now I can share that with the world.
Can we expect more music after the Christmas album?
At this moment, [I’m focusing on] this Christmas album, but after that there will be other music. I love starting with Christmas music because it gets my creative juices flowing. I love the holidays, and to me it’s like my Christmas present.
Your goal on American Idol was to hear Simon Cowell say you were the best singer he ever heard. As someone who seems to have done it all with your EGOT and your own show, what are some of your goals for the future?
Well, I want to have an impact in all these things and then I want to win my second EGOT. That’s a goal of mine. I’m just curious about what else is out there because I’m blessed to be able to do everything I love to do. I want to produce more and I have many productions under JHud Productions. So producing is a huge thing I’m interested in, and directing is probably last on my list, to be honest. But more music, more acting and more productions.
