Twenty years ago, Jennifer Hudson's journey took a surprising turn. As one of the bottom three contestants on the third season of “American Idol,” she faced elimination alongside fellow frontrunners Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London. Despite her powerful performances of Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Whitney Houston, Hudson was unexpectedly voted off, finishing seventh in the 2004 season, which Barrino ultimately won.

“I believe everything happens for a reason, and I wouldn’t change any of it,” Hudson, now 43, shares with Alexa. “Everyone has their own path, and there could only be one winner. I think Fantasia deserved to win, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve achieved as well.”

Indeed, that controversial elimination proved to be a turning point. The Chicago native went on to win an Oscar for her role in 2006’s “Dreamgirls” and a Grammy for her 2008 self-titled debut album. After earning a Daytime Emmy for her virtual-reality project “Baba Yaga” in 2021, she completed her EGOT status as a producer of “A Strange Loop,” which won the Best Musical Tony in 2022.

Hudson’s resilience is evident in her famous declaration: “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” As she hosts the third season of “The Jennifer Hudson Show” and returns to her musical roots with a new holiday album, “The Gift of Love,” she reflects on her journey. It’s been a decade since her last LP, 2014’s “JHud,” but Hudson insists, “I feel like it hasn’t been [a decade] because I sing through everything I do.”

“The Gift of Love” is a labor of love for Hudson, who began recording it after her talk show went on hiatus. “What better way to come back than with a Christmas album?” she asks. “It’s been a dream of mine my whole career. I’m a holiday fanatic, so it just makes sense.”

Despite the challenges of recording during the summer, Hudson embraced the process. “I love Christmas songs, and it’s hard to narrow down what to record,” she says. “But holiday music is sentimental to me. Songs like ‘The Christmas Song’ remind me of my grandmother and my upbringing.”

Hudson’s Christmas roots trace back to the church, as heard in “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” “Growing up in the church, we used to march in with candles leading up to Christmas,” she recalls. “My gospel roots needed to be a part of the album.”

The album opens with a stirring rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” “If ‘Hallelujah’ isn’t on it, then there is no album,” Hudson insists. “It unifies everyone.”

Since her “American Idol” days, Hudson has brought people together through music, movies, and TV. She seized the opportunity to play Effie White in “Dreamgirls” and later received the “ultimate honor” of portraying Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic “Respect.”

After her regal role, Hudson transitioned to hosting her talk show in 2022. “I come from a very talkative family,” she says. “When the opportunity to do the talk show came about, I was excited to just sit and talk.”

One of her guests was Grammy-winning rapper Common, who made their romance official on her show. “We connected initially because of our shared Chicago roots,” she says. “We have a similar energy that connected us.”

Common recently hinted at marriage, saying, “If I’m going to get married, it’s to her.” Hudson giggles, “That is a very strong statement.”

Hudson’s Christmas tour kicks off on November 24 in Brooklyn and will hit Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. “It’s going to feel very festive and personal,” she says. “I’m looking forward to coming home to my musical family.”

Reflecting on her journey, Hudson says, “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. I’m grateful for it all. This album is a gift of love to all those who have supported me.”

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