Jennifer Hudson Is Ready for the Holidays: ‘It’s Just a Beautiful Synergy in the Air’

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Jennifer Hudson is ready for the holiday season. The EGOT winner stars in Old Navy’s “Love is In the House” holiday campaign released last month and recently debuted her first-ever holiday album, The Gift of Love.

The campaign features Hudson’s rendition of “Winter Wonderland,” from her holiday album. Hudson will kick off a four-city tour at The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 24.

The tour stops at The Chicago Theatre in Hudson’s hometown on Dec. 13, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, and wraps at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Dec. 21 and 22.

The Gift of Love album will also be available for purchase at select Old Navy stores on the tour.

Old Navy’s “Love Is In the House” campaign spotlights the holiday style staples — from embellished and metallic denim to puffer coats, fleece zip-ups, festive sweaters and Jingle Jammies. The holiday ad features Hudson hosting a holiday party wearing Old Navy’s High-Rise Rockstar Jeans in Black Shine, Long Sleeve Sweetheart Velvet Top, and black faux-fur jacket — currently 40% off during Old Navy’s limited sale (the sale ends on Nov. 11).

Last week, Billboard caught up with Hudson to chat about Old Navy, her holiday album and all things festive.  

What do you love most about the holidays?

What got me most excited about this holiday season is the venture with Old Navy, the holiday album and to do a holiday commercial. My biggest goal is to add to everyone’s holiday traditions, that would be like the ultimate Christmas gift for me. I feel like Old Navy is a part of all of us. For me, growing up and seeing the Old Navy commercials and now having one? That’s insane! That’s the gift.

What took you so long to release a holiday album?

I could never figure out what songs to do! And I also wanted to really dedicate the time to it, and I feel like there was no better time than now. With the Jennifer Hudson Show, I feel like my family has expanded. Why not take my holiday family traditions and share it with the world? That’s why my album is called The Gift of Love. My son named the album. I love music and holiday carols and things like that and I’m like “where do I even begin to narrow the songs down?” I went around with that for a long time, and I finally dwindled it down to [15] songs.

How did you narrow down the songs?

I decided to make it really personal. ‘Oh Holly Night’ is my favorite holiday song, “Hallelujah” is why I wanted to do [the album] to begin with, it’s the heart of the album. My grandma used to love hearing “The Christmas Song,” I grew up listening to that so that had to be on the album. I can relate to all of the songs on the album in a personal way.

What are some of your favorite things to wear during the holiday season?   

Old Navy Jingle Jammies! I love stuff like that because we like to be [cuddled] up during the holiday season. It’s just the coziness, I love mushiness, fuzzy socks, or even fancy things like the Faux Fur Zip-Up Jacket that I wore in the Old Navy commercial, which I took home with me. We always do the glamour and the glitz, but what do you wear when you’re snuggled up by the fire, or when you’re at home? That’s the time when we get to relax and rest. It gets cozy. I’m from Chicago where it’s cold out, you want to be in the house and have your hot chocolate and all those things.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Being with family. Everyone is on one accord, it’s just a beautiful synergy in the air. I’m a big family person, so [the holidays are] a time when we all come together. There’s a song on my album [called] “Make It to Christmas.” Sometimes we spend all year working and the one time we get to be at home and be together is during the holiday season.

Do you like to host holiday parties?

Oh my goodness, yes! If you’re not into the holidays, by the time I get done with you, you will be! Especially having a kid and making sure there are gifts and different festivities for all the kids. We do ice skating, give out gifts, have holiday parties. We do a bunch a different festive things leading up to [Christmas].

How early do you start decorating?

I’m ready for my decorations right now. My tradition normally though is the lights are revealed right after Thanksgiving dinner, but now that I have a holiday album my holiday season officially started on Oct. 18, the day that I released my holiday album. I’ll call that ‘homecoming day,’ which will officially set off the holiday season. I started my Christmas music from that day forward.

Where do you plan to spend the holidays?

Right now I’m in LA, but like my song says, “I will make it home by Christmas.” I’ll make it [home to Chicago] in time for Christmas.

How early do you start decorating?

I’m ready for my decorations right now. My tradition normally though is the lights are revealed right after Thanksgiving dinner, but now that I have a holiday album my holiday season officially started Oct. 18, the day that I released my holiday album. I’ll call that “homecoming day,” which will officially set off the holiday season. I started my Christmas music from that day forward.

Where do you plan to spend the holidays?

Right now I’m in Los Angeles, but like my song says: “I will make it home by Christmas.” I’ll make it [home to Chicago] in time for Christmas.

I love the “spirit tunnel” that guests walk through on your show, where did the idea come from?

I may be the “Princess of Christmas” and the “Princess of Soul,” but I call myself the “Queen of Sprit.” The staff and crew are amazing they came up with that big, bright idea. I don’t know [how] they came up with it, maybe they concocted it knowing I love to celebrate everything and sing about anything. They were like “how about we put this concept together?” and now, when you come to the Jennifer Hudson Show we want you to know that you are loved and celebrated.

By the time you leave you should walk out in better spirits. What better way to hit them with the spirit tunnel then when you walk through the door? [The staff] even sings me down. They make every lyric personal to every guest. They have dance steps, I’m like when is rehearsal? That’s the energy that we have around and the environment I feel like everyone should have no matter where you are. It should be filled with love and celebration, and we should be lifting each other up. That’s why we call it the “happy place.” That’s the environment we’ve created.  

Watch Hudson’s Old Navy commercial below.