Jennifer Hudson’s Got This

And the talk show host/singer/actor/mom/philanthropist/lots of other things wants you to know that you do too. Our editor in chief hung out with her, and that was the big takeaway: Jennifer Hudson is not only amazing, she’s also your biggest fan.

[Editor's note: This interview and photo shoot took place before SAG/AFTRA strike activity.]

Jennifer Hudson should be a diva. She has every claim, with arguably the greatest singing voice on the planet, a coveted EGOT (she’s won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), and illustrious friends, like Oprah and the Obamas, to name just the Os. There are rumors of romance with a famous beau, and she even has a celeb-y nickname, JHud. By all standards, Jennifer has a right to be high-maintenance and aloof. What she actually is: a hustler who’s so sweet and solicitous, you almost worry about her.

Audiences first met her nearly 20 years ago as the R&B savant who should’ve won American Idol. Her clapback was to take home perhaps the most unanimously agreed-upon Best Supporting Actress Oscar in history, for her turn as Effie White in 2006’s Dreamgirls. In 2008, she faced an unspeakable family tragedy, losing her mother, brother, and nephew at once. She kept singing, launching a solo music career that would earn her two gold records and feature collabs with top talents, like Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, and Bono. More films followed, including the role your kids know her for: Young Nana, a caftan-clad sheep crooning a gorgeous Beatles cover in the 2016 hit animated musical Sing. 

And just last year, she threw her hat into the infamously tough daily-talk-show ring. Despite a crowded field of newcomers and the learning curve that can come with new launches, The Jennifer Hudson Show welcomed a stream of A-list guests like Vice President Kamala Harris, and received six daytime Emmy nominations. All in its first season—a testament to the power of Jennifer’s brand of charisma. And her hustle.

Jennifer shows up ready to work, whether work means taping back-to-back hour-long shows, singing at the White House’s first major Juneteenth celebration, or opening her Chicago home to a big group of her 14-year-old son David’s friends. It was in that city, when she was getting her start at gay clubs around town, that the should-be diva honed her makeup skills. (Yes, she can do her own glam. Search for the video of her applying a cat-eye, if you doubt.) Jennifer walks to Starbucks each morning, often with David, for her cuppa. Weekdays on the Warner Bros. lot, you may see her riding her bike from her office to the studio, backpack on. One daily indulgence is to sit on a bench in the sun and look at the mountains. 

She and I met up in Los Angeles in June to talk about many things—including how she resets for fall. This is a big one for her, as she returns to the talk show grind with a lot to prove in her sophomore season, as her son starts his freshman year of high school, as she juggles his schedule and hers, as her life–like all of ours—somehow gets busier than ever.

LAUREN IANNOTTI: So, where to start? Do anything cool for Juneteenth? 

JENNIFER HUDSON: Well, I sang at the White House for the first Juneteenth there. It was absolutely amazing. Historic.

LI: You went with your son and a troop of his buddies. Why that entourage?

JH: I want my son to be a part of those things—and his cousins and friends. Little David has a really big heart, and he always wants to include them. So I said, “I’ll sing, but I have to bring my boys.” And I told the guys, “When you all get old and you have children, you’re going to say, ‘I was there for the first Juneteenth.’” And to be able to sing for it—that’s something I will never forget.

LI: Speaking of accomplishments, congrats on your talk show being renewed! How does it feel, as you kick off season two?

JH: Thank you! I feel like the show is every bit of who I am and how I connect with people. The only difference is the cameras are rolling. I want it to be a platform where everyone can sit on the couch and tell their story and be celebrated. Everyone has a superpower, a talent—not only playing an instrument or acting or dancing or singing, but whatever you’re passionate about. I get to be around people who specialize in something. And because they’re so into what they’re into, I’m intrigued. 


LI: People who are passionate are the best.

JH: It’s all about the passion and the love for what you do. Everybody’s got a story. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you’re from, I’m interested. And if ain’t nobody else cheering you on, Jennifer Hudson is. That’s what I want the world to know.

"Everybody’s got a story. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you’re from, I’m interested."

Jennifer Hudson, on her natural curiosity

LI: I love that daytime talk shows are dominated by Black women, and it seems like hosts are bringing their true selves to their shows. 

JH: Yes, that’s what time we’re in. People want to see real things. And I think that’s the most beautiful thing. We’ve all been sugarcoating and hiding, but when we share, it helps us know we’re not alone.

LI: You had Chaka Khan on last season, and she told you she was proud of you. And you replied, “Yes, ma’am. I’m listening.” You’re deeply accomplished, but you also bring this modesty, this respect for others to what you do. 

JH: I think it’s so important for people to know you can be humble and still achieve things. When I get to talk to Chaka Khan, and all these other people I’ve looked up to, it’s OK to give them their flowers and pay respect. That doesn’t take away from your own greatness. And just because you’ve achieved so many things, it don’t make you better than no one else. My mother used to write us letters, and I found one that said, “It’s beautiful, all the things you’ve accomplished, but what I’m most proud of is the human you are and how you treat your fellow man.” The awards on my wall don’t amount to who I am at all as a person. When I meet anybody, I want to meet your human, and I want you to see mine.

LI: Tell me about your foundation.

JH: My sister and I started the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in honor of my late nephew and dedicated it to him, my mother, and my brother. It’s how we stay connected to them. It gives back to the youth of Chicago, making sure they have their school supplies. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about where their book bag going to come from, if people going to laugh at their shoes, or if they don’t have the tools they need to learn. We've had parents that say, it was either pay my rent or buy my kids school supplies. We also do a holiday toy drive. We want the kids to know: Your positivity is highlighted and we encourage it and we support you all to keep going.

LI: So you’re running this foundation, taping the show, producing, promoting, doing TV appearances and film cameos, and you’re a single mom. What do you do for yourself?

JH: We sometimes forget about ourselves. I was just at home, and I was like, “I got this big old house, but the only space I have in it is my bedroom.” That’s like life: We give so much to everybody that we end up, as women and mothers, in a little corner of our own lives. Why not give ourselves space, grace, compassion, and consideration? That’s something I’m working on. I’m always trying to get better at life.

My mother used to say, "Where there's a will, there is a way." And a lot of times, when I do get stuck—whether I'm stressed, I'm scared, I'm tired, whatever—I ask myself, "What would my mama say? What would she do?" That helps me. And then sometimes you got to say, I can't do it today. Meet yourself where you are. We can do that for everyone else. Sometimes you have to stop and consider yourself. And that's the phase that I'm in. I can't say I've always been that way, but I'm older now.

I also make a point to have my David walks. A little walk in the morning with my son to Starbucks. It helps me gather myself by finding even little moments, because everything is in little small windows. It's stealing the mini vacations for yourself. I’d like a real one, though. One of my birthday wishes, when I turned 40, was to have a one week off. I'm still waiting for that and I'm about to be 42.

LI: You mean you haven't had one week off straight in two years?! 

JH: My poor phone is stressed because it's like, “Dang, she ain't even turn me off.”

LI: Stressing out your phone, man. I hesitate to ask what’s next.

JH: I’m going to do an album soon. I’m doing a talk show, but that does not mean I’m going to stop singing or acting. It’s my passion to do all of these things.

LI: Do you sleep?

JH: You have to! I hit the ground running every day. I don’t sit down until the day is done and the work is done. I’m going to live it to the fullest because I’m grateful for that day. So I feel like I earned my right to sleep. I’m not a napper, but if Jenny naps, baby, I’m tired!

LI: Since your show goes on hiatus in the summer, does it feel like you’re back to school in the fall?

JH: David and I joke that we’re both starting a new school year! My son has a busy schedule, and I love to be there for him, so I’m learning how to juggle this newness. It used to be I’d hold your hand and take you to the park. Now it's like, how do I mother you? Figuring that out. And how do we exist in this new space?

LI: What’s it like raising a Black teenage son in this country right now? 

JH: My son goes to a predominantly white school, and he has giant hair, a whole afro. He loves to walk in there with the big old ’fro and the pick in his hair. And I’m like, “Do you realize the statement you’re making? Know that just wearing your hair like that is a statement alone.” He’s very rooted in who he is and OK with that. Being a mom of a Black son, you have to make him conscious of and aware of certain things—who he is within the world. And there’s so many layers he has to learn! But he’s at an age where he can fully understand it. And he’s so evolved beyond what I could ever imagine.

LI: What are your non-negotiables as a parent?

JH: Well, I'm blessed—he's a good kid. As all my boys know, you got to know how to act and behave. The more responsible you show to be, then the more you're allowed to do. For little David, my biggest thing is getting his priorities in order. Knowing education comes first, clean your room, and help take care of home. Learn how to help out and contribute. Those are things that he is learning.

LI: How is dating as a single mom?

JH: My mom didn’t believe in having just anybody around her children, and I’m the same way. I’m extra careful and cautious. I also know that, as a kid, you don't want to see your mama with nobody. So I'm very sensitive to that. It took a long time to date. Because obviously, my focus has been on my child. It's always about the energy of who you're bringing into your circle. I'm very funny and sensitive about those things.

LI: Is there anybody you’re thinking about now? Common. I’m asking about Common. 

JH: I’ll leave that where it is.

LI: Fair. Here’s a super REAL SIMPLE question: Is there anything you have too much of? Anything you need to declutter or organize?

JH: I don't know why I want to say socks, because I can't ever find the match to the sock. We just traveled here and I'm always cold when we fly, so I got to have socks in my purse. I sleep in them. So I want to say socks, but the hard part is when you lose the match to the sock. It's so upsetting when you find your favorite sock and then you can't find the other one.

"When people discourage your dream, it’s only because they don’t dream as big as you do. "

Jennifer Hudson, on keeping the faith

LI: Right?! Last question: It’s been 20 years since Idol. What advice would you give to your younger self?

JH: “Don’t let anyone interrupt your faith.” The people who say, “But what if…?” Don’t listen to them. When people discourage your dream, it’s only because they don’t dream as big as you do.

LI: That’s great advice. Thank you for your vibrant energy. Anything else you want to talk about?

JH: Mr. Common—Rashid is what we call him—he is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful man. And that’s all I will say.

Credits

Talent: Jennifer Hudson

Photographer: Chrisean Rose

Cover Story: Lauren Iannotti

Creative Director: Phoebe Flynn Rich

Photo Director: Muzam Agha

Videographer: Liam Le Guillou

Video Editing: Wes Reel

Executive Producer, Video: Joan Yeam

Styling: Elizabeth Stewart

Hair: Albert Morrison

Makeup: Yolonda Frederick-Thompson

Tailoring: Verneccia Etienne

Set Design: Wanted PD

Producer: David Cooper

Booking: Bethany Heitman

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