Jennifer Hudson shares to Billboard Pop Shop hosts Katie Atkinson and Keith Caulfield about why she wanted to make her Christmas album 'The Gift of Love,' how she chose the songs both classics and new originals she co-wrote, interviewing Michelle Obama on her talk show and more!
Category
đ”
MusicTranscript
00:00I mean, I don't know what could ever top her as a guest.
00:04It's hands down my favorite by far.
00:06Jennifer Hudson dropped by Billboard's Pop Shop podcast
00:09with Keith Caulfield and Katie Atkinson
00:11to discuss her new holiday album, The Gift of Love,
00:15and her recent interview with Michelle Obama.
00:17We talk about the song selections for the album,
00:20the inspiration, and why now was the time to do it.
00:23Well, because I've always wanted to do a holiday album
00:26and I couldn't think of a better time than now.
00:29The question to me, I think, is why not now, you know?
00:32And I finally was able to narrow it down
00:35to my favorite Christmas songs,
00:36because I feel like those are the things-
00:37Your favorite things?
00:38Yes, my favorite things, there you go.
00:41Yeah, and pick, you know,
00:43the songs that was most personal to me
00:45for this holiday album.
00:46You know, this album has familiar favorites,
00:48like we just, I just sort of hinted at my favorite things,
00:51but also some new material that you co-wrote.
00:54What was the process like for you
00:56to determine the songs that you wanted on the album?
00:59How did you decide what would ultimately be on the album?
01:02Originals or classics?
01:04I mean, well, let's start with the classics.
01:08Well, okay, so that's what I'm saying.
01:10Like, it was difficult to say,
01:12I love all holiday music, first of all.
01:13So it's like, how do I narrow it down
01:15to know what to put on the holiday album?
01:18But I picked what was most personal to me,
01:20like the Christmas song, for instance.
01:22My grandmother used to love that song.
01:23So I recall hearing that as a little girl
01:26throughout each and every holiday
01:28of her playing that song.
01:30âȘ And a flying soul âȘ
01:36And on the other side of the spectrum,
01:37Santa for Someone is such a fun, light song.
01:40And the ad-libs and the dialogue bits add so much to it.
01:44You know, what was it like writing this song and recording it?
01:47Was it as much fun as it sounded like?
01:49You know, I love that song.
01:51It's so personal to me and how I celebrate the season.
01:55Like I said, I'm lighting up the whole block.
01:57I got my lights up.
01:58You know, I'm calling out my sister name, my boy's name,
02:01everybody's name.
02:02Like, oh my God, did I get gifts for everyone?
02:04And it was actually even more exciting to record it
02:07because I was like, I'm not really a singer right here.
02:09I'm an actress where it's like acting out how we are
02:13when it's like, it's a countdown.
02:14It's almost Christmas.
02:15Did we get the kids gifts?
02:16Did we get their toys?
02:17Did it come yet?
02:18Did they get what they want?
02:19We all get to be Santa to someone.
02:21And sometimes we lose it in the middle.
02:23They're like, oh my God, I gotta cook the food.
02:25I gotta package up the gifts and pack them up,
02:27send them out.
02:28Did I check everything off the list?
02:30So that's what that song represents.
02:32Even the notes in it.
02:33That's not a note.
02:33That's like, ah, did I make it?
02:36Are we there yet?
02:37Did I get all the gifts?
02:38âȘ Oh, cause I gotta be, gotta be, gotta be, gotta be âȘ
02:41âȘ A Santa for someone, someone, yeah. âȘ
02:44Since we are talking to you for our Christmas episode,
02:47are there holiday albums or certain artists
02:50that are your go-to favorites to play during the holidays?
02:54That varies.
02:55Oh, see, that is what has taken me so long
02:58to do a Christmas album because it's so much,
03:01so, oh my God, it's a lot of great holiday music out there
03:04and it's a lot of great Christmas albums out there.
03:06I love Pentatonix for sure.
03:09What collaborators of yours in previous?
03:11Yes, I've gotten, of course, Mariah Carey.
03:14Of course, the Queen.
03:15Another collaborator.
03:16Another collaborator.
03:18I love CeeLo Green.
03:21He has one of the best Christmas albums there is.
03:25His Mary Did You Know is what inspired me to do
03:27Mary Did You Know.
03:28What?
03:29Did You Know.
03:30Okay.
03:31Um.
03:31And of course, the daytime TV queen recently talked
03:34to Michelle Obama and this was her reaction.
03:37A dream to be able to have her in this capacity
03:40as, you know, to sit down and have a conversation
03:43at the Happy Place.
03:45I mean, I don't know what could top, ever top her
03:48as a guest.
03:49It's hands down my favorite by far.
03:51And the first thing I said to her, I was like,
03:53you know, I don't know what's more nerve-wracking,
03:56singing for you guys or now interviewing you.
03:59You know what I mean?
03:59Because this is a different thing.
04:01But I'm great to have had the experience of both.
04:04Um, and they're just great people.
04:06So, it was such an honor to have her here.
04:09And it's a moment that none of us will ever forget.
04:12Once we were done filming, I had to look around
04:14at everybody like, guys, we will never forget this moment.
04:17For more on the album and the full episode
04:19of the Pop Shop Podcast, head to Billboard.com.