Jennifer Hudson Enters a New Era as She Returns to Writing Original Music: “It’s Time for My Voice”

Jennifer Hudson is stepping into a new chapter — and this time, the EGOT winner says she’s putting herself at the center of it.

After more than two decades in the spotlight, Hudson is reflecting on everything that has brought her from “American Idol” to becoming an Oscar-winning actress, Grammy-winning recording artist, Broadway producer and daytime television host. But as she looks toward what comes next, her focus appears to be shifting from proving herself to simply living and creating on her own terms.

Speaking with Variety, Hudson described this period of her life as a chapter of “putting myself first,” revealing that she’s thinking differently about how she uses her time, her voice and the space she occupies.

That realization became especially clear during the final stop of her summer tour with Josh Groban. Instead of allowing the audience to select a song for her to perform as usual, Hudson chose one for herself: “Invisible,” a track from her 2008 self-titled debut album.

Nearly two decades after recording the song, its message about no longer standing in the background hit Hudson differently.

The emotional moment appears to represent exactly where the 45-year-old entertainer is today — revisiting where she started while preparing for where she wants to go next.

Hudson is currently working on material for an untitled album, with inspiration reportedly coming from her relationship with fellow Oscar winner Common as well as her son, David Otunga Jr. More importantly, Hudson says she wants the upcoming music to reflect her own voice and words.

While audiences have watched Hudson deliver unforgettable performances of songs associated with legendary voices including Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, she now wants listeners to hear more directly from Jennifer Hudson herself.

“I only write when I have something I really want to say, and it’s my time for my voice,” Hudson told Variety.

“The Jennifer Hudson Show,” which launched in 2022, has grown into another major chapter of Hudson’s career, earning 18 Daytime Emmy nominations. The show’s viral “Spirit Tunnel” has also become a pop-culture moment of its own, with celebrities including Zendaya, Michelle Obama, Aaron Pierre and Gwen Stefani participating.

Hudson is now preparing to welcome another major Hollywood name: Tom Cruise.

After crossing paths with Cruise following her performance at the World Cup Final in New York, Hudson personally pitched him on appearing on her show — including experiencing his own Spirit Tunnel. Cruise agreed, with the interview scheduled to air September 30.

The moment speaks to Hudson’s growth as a television personality. After spending years being interviewed herself, she says that experience helps shape the way she approaches celebrity guests. Instead of focusing solely on fame, Hudson wants audiences to see the person behind it.

Years after winning an Academy Award for portraying Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of “Dreamgirls,” Hudson is now producing the upcoming Broadway revival of the musical and participating in the search for the next actress who will take on the career-changing role.

It marks a striking transition: Hudson once received an opportunity that transformed her own life. Now she is helping create that opportunity for someone else.

Through the Jennifer Hudson Foundation, Hudson is expanding her philanthropic work with a particular focus on young people, music and arts programs in underserved communities, and recognizing everyday people making meaningful differences in their communities.

For Hudson, giving back is deeply connected to the values instilled in her by her late mother, Darnell Donerson, and grandmother, Julia Kate Hudson.

From finishing seventh on “American Idol” in 2004 to becoming one of the relatively few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, Hudson’s career has already included several reinventions. Now, more than 20 years after America first heard her voice, she seems less interested in fitting into someone else’s vision of Jennifer Hudson.

The next chapter is about defining that vision herself. New music. A thriving daytime show. Broadway. Philanthropy. And perhaps most importantly, a renewed commitment to making room for herself. As Hudson puts it: “It’s my turn now.”

The Prince Report