American Idol: Jennifer Hudson In Talks to Get Daytime Show

American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson is reportedly getting her own daytime talk show. Jennifer competed on season 3 of the singing competition and was shockingly sent home in 7th place. Fans may also remember that she was originally eliminated much earlier in the season, before being brought back as a wildcard by original judge Randy Jackson. While this kept Jennifer in the competition for several more weeks, she sparked outrage among viewers. Celebrities like Elton John publicly expressed their frustration. However, Jennifer went on to have one of the most successful careers of any contestant in the show’s history.

After competing on Idol, Jennifer went on to release three studio albums, star in films, TV shows, and perform on Broadway. Jennifer coached on two seasons of The Voice in America, and three seasons of the UK version of the show. This past summer, Jennifer played Aretha Franklin the renowned biopic Respect. She also won a Daytime Emmy Award in September, for her work as an executive producer for Baba Yaga, an interactive story for virtual reality headset Oculus Quest. This is in addition to her Academy Award, Golden Globe, and two Grammy Awards. In 2020, Time magazine named Jennifer one of the most 100 influential people in the world.

Now, Variety is reporting that Jennifer is in talks with Warner Bros. TV to launch her own daytime talk show. It would most likely air once The Ellen DeGeneres Show wraps its final season. Jennifer’s show wouldn’t be a continuation or replacement for Ellen’s show, but it would be positioned as Warner Bros. new flagship show once Ellen is off the air. A test show was recently filmed on the same stage, with Ellen executive producers Andy Lassner and Mark Connelly serving as showrunners. This test episode will be used as part of the upcoming pitch so that the show can officially be picked up.

Jennifer’s talk show doesn’t yet have an official title, and more details are still unknown. However, Warner Bros. did a deep dive when looking for new daytime talent, and found that Jennifer would be the perfect star to take on a talk show. With years of experience on unscripted shows, and all of her other work in the entertainment industry, Jennifer would bring several skills to the table. She would have some competition, though. Fellow American Idol contestant and The Voice coach Kelly Clarkson hosts The Kelly Clarkson Show, which has been massively successful. It has been renewed through 2023.

It’s interesting to think about Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson going head-to-head. They are two of the biggest stars in American Idol’s history, and they have a lot else in common. They even appeared on the same season of The Voice, which some fans found odd considering how it emphasizes the success of a competing show’s contestants. Kelly and Jennifer have both expanded their careers beyond music, becoming TV stars in their own right. Jennifer may have the edge over Kelly, as she is also an award-winning actress. Her iconic roles have introduced even more fans to the Idol star, and they will likely tune in to watch Jennifer’s talk show. With so many projects under her belt, it makes sense that Jennifer would want to explore even more opportunities.

Source: Variety