Jennifer Hudson, the multi-hyphenated artist, has added a new job title to her lengthy resume: talk show host.
Hudson appears to have a big year in 2022, as she recently received her EGOT status and has completed one of her life-long dreams of hosting her show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
Hudson invited former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell to the pilot episode of her talk show, and he gave the singer some insight into her time on “American Idol.”
Hudson finished seventh in 2007 after performing Barry Manilow’s 1976 hit “Weekend in New England.” Cowell blamed Hudson’s elimination on the song choice. He said:
“That night, I will never forget. […] “I remember thinking, ‘This is not a great song.’ Wasn’t your fault. And then, of course, what happened, happened.”
The 41-year-old singer, on the other hand, stated that she had no regrets about the song choice, as it reportedly helped her land Effie White’s role in “Dreamgirls” (2006), for which she won an Oscar.
She said:
“It was a few songs in the beginning that I’m like, ‘I don’t feel like that represents my artistry.
By the time I was eliminated, I felt like I got an opportunity to display who I was as an artist, so I was okay with being eliminated.”
Viola Davis and Earvin “Magic” Johnson also appeared in the pilot episode.
Hudson revealed some interesting details about her preparation for “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” her first talk show.
Hudson revealed in an interview with USA Today that she first struggled with cue cards:
“Cue cards are a little unnatural to me. And when we did practice shows, I like to look people in the face and talk to them.”
She also revealed that she had been told to face the camera and to “shut up:”
“[…] And then I get the note, ‘You talk too much; shut up.’ But I want to connect with every single person. They’re like, ‘She’s still going!'”
The “Spotlight” singer was excited to begin “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” as it was a new direction for her after 20 years of acting and singing.
She stated:
“At this point, I simply want to be me, the person. And I want to get to know everybody’s person and their stories. I’m ready to talk.”
Hudson followed in the footsteps of fellow “American Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson into the world of talk shows. In 2019, Clarkson debuted “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
Hudson stated there is no rivalry between the two, only love and support.
She said:
“[Kelly Clarkson] reached out to me to ask if I needed any help or advice. It feels good because she knows the ropes.”
The set wherein “The Jennifer Hudson Show” is being filmed used to be the set of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which ended May 2022.
When asked how she transformed the set into her own, she said
“It’s been Jennifer-ized. I want you to feel a sense of my person when you come into it.”
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