Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent Jennifer Hudson didn’t win “American Idol” 18 years ago — she came in seventh place.
But it didn’t matter: She was soon destined for a tremendous, award-winning career. The superstar became the first and only “Idol” alum to win an acting Oscar, nabbing the best supporting actress trophy in 2007 for her stellar turn in “Dreamgirls.” Fast-forward to 2022 and Hudson is now an EGOT, having also won a Tony Award, Grammy and Daytime Emmy along the way.
Now, she’s adding another credit to her lengthy resume: talk show host. Hudson will debut “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on Sept.
12, which also happens to be the star’s birthday. But why a talk show? “I come from a very talkative family. Oh my God, we love talking,” Hudson tells Variety. “I’ve been so blessed to do so many things in my career…I want to help someone else have a platform.” Hudson says music will be heavily incorporated into “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” which will welcome original “Idol” judge Simon Cowell, Mickey Guyton, Magic Johnson and Viola Davis as some of its first guests during its premiere week. “The Jennifer Hudson Show” will be helmed by the producing team behind “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and even shoots out of the same studio on the Warner Bros.
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