Jennifer Hudson's syndicated talk show debuts on Monday, and the multi-hyphenate entertainer recently spoke with Newsweek about a variety of topics, including the talk show hosts who inspired her and her upcoming projects outside of television.
"Talk shows are just embedded in us. You can't think about talk shows and not be inspired by Oprah," Hudson told Newsweek when discussing her TV host influences. "All the talk shows—Ellen and The View—it's so many, and I'm a sponge. So it is just drenched in me."
She continued, "At the same time, my job now, oddly, is to simply be myself. And I say it that way, because for 20 years I played Effie [in the 2006 film Dreamgirls] to Aretha [Franklin in 2021's Respect] and singing everybody's songs. This time it's my turn to simply be me. Although I'm inspired from all the other talk shows, I want to simply be Jennifer."
The Jennifer Hudson Show's first episode arrives on September 12, which also happens to be the actress/singer's 41st birthday. She has had many things to celebrate this year, in fact, including becoming an EGOT (the term used to describe someone who has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards). In June, Hudson completed that special designation when she took home a Tony Award as one of the producers of best musical winner A Strange Loop.
On Monday, Hudson will welcome Simon Cowell as the first guest on her show. This will also mark the first time she's had an on-air conversation with the former American Idol judge since she placed seventh on the third season of the singing competition series in 2004.
"I definitely want to see Simon Cowell, because we got a lot to talk about," she said.
When asked about any dream guests she'd like to interview, Hudson listed off a few major celebrities while also emphasizing she won't just focus on A-listers.
"Oh, I'm a dreamer," she said. "I'm blessed to just meet so many people and be inspired by so many things. It varies, and it changes continuously, or it grows continuously. I'm inspired by talent. It may be some kid I see. Like, 'Oh, why don't you come do this on my show?' And I'm happy to be able to have a platform to give them a platform."
She continued, "I want to see Cardi B. I want to see Drake...Nicole Kidman. It's so broad...Then I listen to people like, 'Hey, who do you want to hear me talk to?' And I'll respond to that as well."
Though the upcoming premiere of her show has kept Hudson plenty busy, she has still found time to work on other projects.
"I actually just finished a film project—it's called Breathe—right before I came to walk on 'my Jennifer Hudson stage.' I still can't believe I get to say that," she said.
"It was so important to me; I really wanted to do that project, another film before going into the talk show world," she added. "Music is always there...My dream is to put a little studio, if they'll let me, maybe in my office somewhere. So I could dip off and go record a song. Then I would be, 'I'd be out to talk, give me one second' (sings). Then I would come out and talk to people."
Hudson added, "I want to be able to put all my worlds right here—even be able to film a performance from my stage. Or maybe you come here: Which show did you come to see? Did you come to see me sing, or do you want me to talk? But, I'm going to talk to you in the middle of a song too. You're going to get it all at the same time, because that's what we do here at JHud Productions."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... Read more
