Jennifer Hudson is embracing a new chapter, balancing a Dreamgirls Broadway revival, original music, her Emmy-nominated talk show and a highly anticipated Tom Cruise appearance.
WEBDESK – NJNEWSLINE
Jennifer Hudson says she is entering a new phase of her life — one focused more deliberately on herself, her voice and the creative work she wants to pursue.
The EGOT winner, who rose to international prominence after finishing seventh on American Idol in 2004 before winning an Oscar for her performance in Dreamgirls, is now preparing for several major projects while reflecting on what she calls her “next chapter.”
That chapter includes producing a Broadway revival of Dreamgirls, continuing her daytime talk show and returning to the recording studio to work on new original material.
From ‘Invisible’ to finding her voice again
A defining moment came during Hudson’s 16-city summer tour with Josh Groban.
At the final show in Salt Lake City on July 3, Hudson decided not to perform one of the familiar songs selected by fans. Instead, she asked whether she could sing a song for herself.
She chose “Invisible,” a lesser-known track from her 2008 self-titled debut album that she had not performed in years. The song’s message about finally stepping forward resonated differently with Hudson nearly two decades after its release. She became emotional while performing it and said she was eager to sing it again.
The experience appears to have reinforced something Hudson has increasingly been thinking about: making more room for her own voice.
“I’m writing about what’s in my heart,” she said while discussing the new music she is developing.
New album draws from love and family
Hudson is currently working on material for an untitled new album.
The music is inspired in part by her romantic partner, Oscar-winning musician Common, as well as her son, David Otunga Jr., who is also a musician. Hudson said she wants the new project to represent a more personal side of her artistry.
She explained that she writes when she has something meaningful to say and wants her next music to feature her own words.
That approach reflects advice she received while making Respect, the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic in which Hudson portrayed the legendary singer. Franklin and Carole King both encouraged Hudson to use her voice, advice she said has stayed with her.
Dreamgirls returns to Broadway
Hudson is also connected to a new generation of Dreamgirls performers.
She is producing the Broadway revival and has participated in auditions as the creative team searches for the next actress who will portray Effie — the role that earned Hudson an Academy Award in her acting debut.
The project creates a striking full-circle moment in Hudson’s career, linking the role that established her as an award-winning actor with her current work behind the scenes.
Tom Cruise is coming to ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’
Hudson also has a major television guest lined up.
After performing the national anthem at the World Cup Final in New York in July, she encountered Tom Cruise and invited him onto The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Hudson pitched Cruise on experiencing the show’s signature Spirit Tunnel, in which staff members line a hallway and perform a song to welcome celebrity guests.
Cruise agreed quickly, surprising Hudson, who said the actor told her he watches the show and had followed her career since American Idol.
The interview is scheduled to air Sept. 30.
For Hudson, the talk show has become another way of showing audiences a side of celebrities beyond their public personas. After hosting more than 100 episodes, she says her experience as a performer helps her understand what it feels like to sit on the other side of an interview.
A broader focus on giving back
Hudson’s next chapter also extends beyond entertainment.
Her foundation, launched last year after two decades of supporting youth programs in Chicago, aims to expand her philanthropic work nationwide. Youth music and arts programs in underserved communities are among its priorities.
Hudson said music played an important role in her own development and that she wants young people to have similar opportunities.
The combination of Broadway, television, music and philanthropy reflects the range of Hudson’s career — but her latest comments suggest the central theme of this period is personal expression.
After years of performing songs written by others and inhabiting characters created by others, Hudson says she is increasingly interested in putting her own experiences and words at the center of her work.
