Jennifer Hudson opened up about her highly anticipated return to American idoldescribing the experience of joining the jury as a “insane” full circle moment.
Appearing as a guest judge for the April 20 episode, the 44-year-old star reflected on how much has changed since her first appearance as a contestant during the show’s third season, more than two decades ago.
Talk to E! News During a tribute to Eddie Murphy, the Oscar winner admitted that being on the other side of the desk has put her incredible career journey into perspective, noting with surprise that her first appearance on Idol was 22 years ago and Dream girls followed shortly after.
The passage of time has clearly been a blessing for the EGOT winner, who now finds joy in helping the next generation of talent find their feet.
Beyond her time on the show that made her a household name, Hudson is also part of the production team for the upcoming Broadway revival of Dream girls.
She explained that she’s at a stage in her life where she feels ready to move from being a person in the spotlight to being in the spotlight, allowing her to watch someone else get their big break.
This spirit of mentorship and connection is something Hudson has carried over into her television career, particularly with The Jennifer Hudson Showwhich was recently renewed for its fifth season.
She previously shared with EGOT winner Viola Davis that the talk show was a conscious choice to show the world who she really is.
After years of audiences only knowing her through her music or film characters, she felt the show provided a much-needed space for her to be herself, the “Jenny Kate from the South Side of Chicago.”
