Jennifer Hudson Is In A Happy Place – Essence

Author: Wiktoria Uwumarogie | Photos: Kanya Iwana

“My whole career has been an incredible experience,” says Jennifer Hudson. The star, 43, tells me as she sits comfortably in the middle of the set of her talk show, Warner Bros. Television Group Jennifer Hudson Showin Burbank, California, known as the “Happy Place.” I just reminded this Chicago native that she has come a long way from where she started in the industry, competing in American Idol with big curls, with even bigger personality and voice, 20 years ago this year.

“God always has a little more for you than you ask for. That’s why I remain in awe,” she says. “Every time I walk out those double doors that say ‘Jennifer Hudson,’ I think, IIs this real? Is this really happening? But that’s why I never sleep. Why sleep when you’re busy fulfilling your dreams?

What a dream it was. Hudson won an Oscar for her role as Effie White in Dream girls in 2007. Since then, she has joined the ranks of Black EGOT winners (do-
data, there were only nine) and has hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show since 2022. Being in her third season at a time when such productions can come and go quickly is no small feat. The show works because Hudson genuinely enjoys doing it.

“I love hearing about other people’s journeys and experiences,” she says. “Those are the things that inspire me, and they’re happening more and more. I can’t open a door without someone telling me their story, and I’m listening too! When people sit in that chair next to me, I feel like I’m on their journey, listening to them talk in interviews, and I’m so intrigued by that.”

Hudson’s shortlist of favorite guests included Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and Sheryl Lee Ralph.This is the original Dream girl I’m sitting here with!” she recalls thinking in the Emmy winner’s presence. “You get to see some of my honest, sentimental moments with all of my guests — but some of them hit me differently.” She adds, “We’re having a blast. That’s the most exciting part about being back. It feels like home now.”

She also cites Mariah Carey as a guest who charmed her and who she’s now lucky enough to call a friend. Hudson had the opportunity to collaborate with the Queen of Christmas on a 2020 remake of her song “Oh Santa!” (which also featured Ariana Grande). Some of that holiday spirit has stayed with the star, who’s now gearing up to release her own holiday album, The Gift of LoveOct. 18. But Hudson says she’s always been a fan of the holidays, something she and Carey bonded over. So, while this is her first holiday album, she says there will be more to come.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole career. I’m a big fan of the holidays and I’m so happy that I can share my joy with everyone through music,” she says. “Growing up, I played ‘Oh Holy Night.’ Every year I’d find a new arrangement and give it to my family as a gift. They were probably sick of my ‘Oh Holy Nights,’ but it’s my favorite Christmas song. And now that I can have The Gift of Love and share it with the world, but with songs that are more than just “Oh, Holy Night,” but it’s there! I can’t wait. It’s been Christmas all year for me.”

Hudson has a lot to be excited about this fall, from releasing a Christmas album to filming a series of new episodes Jennifer Hudson Show. Amidst all this, she remains an active parent. The only thing that has changed is that her son, David Otunga Jr., is no longer a baby. He now “towers” ​​over her, she says, and he just turned 15. “Every phase of raising a child is different from the last. So it’s like, Okay, how do you need me now? says.“How do I raise you now, considering where you are now? “So we’ve found a new normal, and I’m preparing him for what’s to come.”

She teaches him how to be as independent as possible before college or other inevitable plans, and she’s confident in what she’s taught him in the first 15 years of his life. Still, Hudson is like any mother who finds herself looking at her teenager with amazement.

“He went to bed, took a nap with his Mohawk, and when I tell you this, he came out and had a whole new nose and shot up. I was like, ‘Where did my baby go? Who is he?’ It happens so quickly,” she says. “I just accept it and I’m the mom he needs right now — or I pray I can be.”

As her relationship with her son changes, she shares that all of that pouring and protecting has been minimized, so some of that attention now comes back to her. When asked what she does to pour into herself, Hudson said it’s simple things that remind her that she deserves some of the time she gives to everyone and everyone else.

“When I wake up in the morning, what’s going to make me smile today? What does my person need today? You know what I mean? Not boss, mom, and all the other titles in the world. The first check-in is: Okay, how do I feel today? And then what is that one thing, if I can’t do anything else in this busy day, what is that one thing that I can do that I can say I did for myself? And you know, one of the things is fixing my bed. I can’t leave a mess. The least I should do is make sure that I fix my bed before I walk out that door or before the day starts. Why? Because it’s something for me.

She adds: “For me, it might be the simplest thing, which is riding a bike. I have a son and all his friends. I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m going to go on a bike ride and I have to ask you to figure out how you’re going to get to Walter’s house? Okay? You’re old enough now, but this is something I wanted to do, and I’m going to go on this bike ride.'” So whatever it is Youfind time to do this, even on your busiest day. Do this one small, simple thing for yourself.”

If Hudson hadn’t taken the time to take care of herself, to feel and be the best version of herself, she wouldn’t have gotten to where she is in her career. She couldn’t be an EGOT winner with all four major American performing arts awards under her belt, a “Happy Place” in the studio she now calls home, three studio albums and a fourth to come, without loving every part of what she does. And that includes the not-so-pretty parts.

“It’s the fruit of labor, of hard labor. And in this industry, it takes a long time to get to a place where you can do what you want to do. Oh, honey, I’m there. ‘I won’t do that.’ You have to earn it,” Hudson says. “But what got me here was doing it for love — and
realizing that not everything will be Dream girls.”

He continues: “When you realize in your career that you’re doing it for passion and love, you can continue. There’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs, there’s going to be great things where we break records, and there’s going to be tough things, but you can’t let the tough things stop you just because you’re not breaking records all the time. That’s not a career.

“I feel like not getting discouraged by the roller coaster of everything has gotten me here. I always say I jumped on it American Idol roller coaster, and it’s been that way ever since,” Hudson adds. “A lot of people tend to focus on just success or everything that always has to be that, but that’s not life. Longevity comes when you can actually ride that roller coaster and say, I’ve been on this game for 20 years. Maybe the ride can break some people, but I’m not the type to get discouraged. I do it because I love it.”

The Jennifer Hudson Show airs weekdays. Check your local listings.

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