Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson is getting her own daytime talk show. Dubbed The Jennifer Hudson Show, the one-hour show will launch this fall on Fox Television Stations and Hearst Television.
“I have experienced so much in my life; I’ve seen the highest of the highs, the lowest of the lows, and just about everything in between, but as my mother always told me, ‘Once you think you’ve seen it all, just keep on living,” Hudson said in a statement.
She added, “People from around the world have been a part of my journey from the beginning – twenty years ago – and I’m so ready to join their journey as we sit down and talk about the things that inspire and move us all.
I have always loved people and I cannot wait to connect on a deeper level and let audiences see the different sides of who I am, the human being, in return. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to do it alongside this incredible team. We’re about to have a lot of fun and shake things up a little bit!”
Mike Darnell, president of unscripted television at Warner Bros., said, “I knew that Jennifer was a force to be reckoned with from the moment I met her nearly 20 years ago. From her Grammy-winning career in music, to her Oscar-winning acting career, Jennifer’s amazing talent, big heart and authenticity shine through in everything she does. I am thrilled to be working with her in this new role. She’s a natural, and I know audiences will embrace her in their homes every day.”
“Daytime has found its Dreamgirl. We are excited to bring Jennifer Hudson to FOX, Hearst and all our broadcast station partners this fall,” said David Decker, executive vice president of domestic television distribution at Warner Bros.
Frank Cicha, executive Vice President of programming at Fox Television Stations, concluded, “As the syndication business continues to go through a major sea change, we need power players to reenergize talk shows and Jennifer Hudson is just that.”
Hudson’s announcement comes just days after winning two NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Respect) and Entertainer of the Year.
“It was here, the NAACP Awards — I don’t wanna cry — where I watched so many legends and icons that inspired me, and now I’m standing here holding an award like this,” Hudson said in her acceptance speech for the latter award.
“It’s because of the Aretha’s, the Patti LaBelle’s, the Halle Berry’s — all of these legends right here on this stage that inspired me. Thank you, NAACP for inspiring girls like me.”
In other news, Hudson is currently filming for Tell It Like a Woman, a seven-segment anthology project. With Taraji P. Henson as director, Hudson will play in “Pepcy & Kim,” opposite Pauletta Washington.
The segment is based on the true story of Kim Carter, the founder of Time for Change Foundation. Carter is a former addict who turned her life around and sought to help homeless women and children.