Jennifer Hudson is an undeniable talent. She’s got the kind of résumé most entertainers dream about. A Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winner.
But when news broke that she would be hosting a daytime talk show in 2022, I was excited for her but curious about what the show would bring to the Daytime talk Show arena. Hosting a TV show requires a whole different skill set that her charismatic personality wouldn’t be enough to carry and Hudson’s recent missteps prove how little we talk about what it actually takes to do the job.
In an episode with Eddie Murphy on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Hudson pressed him about a wedding that never happened, between his son Eric and Martin Lawrence’s daughter Jasmin. Murphy looked confused. Instead of actively listening to Murphy, she kept repeating questions he had already answered. It was an awkward moment, with plenty of negative feedback. And for a legend like Murphy, I would be on my Ps and Qs.
Then came the interview with singer Kesha. Kesha revealed she’d once worked as an extra on Dreamgirls, the very movie that won Hudson her Oscar. A golden opportunity to connect and reflect, right? Instead, Hudson laughed, gasped and moved on. No follow-up, no curiosity, no depth. That was Hudson’s chance to dig deeper and show more range, which she missed.
To be fair, The Jennifer Hudson Show has strong ratings. It was renewed for a fourth season in February. But what’s driving the show’s popularity isn’t Hudson’s interviewing skills; it’s the viral “Spirit Tunnel,” a feel-good segment where guests dance through a hallway as the staff claps and sings. It’s fun, it’s shareable, it works for TikTok.
And that’s the heart of the problem.
Talk shows are no longer just competing with each other; they’re up against TikTok, YouTube, streaming platforms and more. That pressure to go viral has led networks to prioritize celebrities and influencers with large followings over trained journalists and skilled interviewers. But the result is what we’re seeing now, which is that popular people put in positions they might not be fully equipped to handle…yet.
Hudson is not Oprah. She’s not Wendy Williams. She’s not Tamron Hall. And she doesn’t have to be, but those women were (or are) pros, curious, quick-thinking and deeply informed. They could steer a conversation, read a guest, ask the hard questions and let a moment breathe.
Hudson, on the other hand, is a singer. A brilliant one. But she’s not known for being inquisitive or for navigating difficult conversations. Plus, it is not easy putting yourself out there and venturing into something new like this. You will always be learning.
This isn’t just about Hudson. It’s about the flawed logic behind the celebrity-host pipeline. The assumption seems to be that if someone is famous, charming and posts well online, that’s enough. But being a great host requires more than likeability. It takes preparation, timing, instinct and real interest in other people’s stories. I would also argue that celebrities can transition and become successful talk show hosts, like comedian Steve Harvey and Keke Palmer.
The criticism Hudson is receiving is harsh at times, but some of it is valid. And it doesn’t have to be the success of her talk show journey. It could be the beginning of her evolution. Think of Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, who turned early internet mockery of her dancing skills during The Renaissance Tour in 2023 into applause-worthy performances during The Cowboy Carter 2025. Blue Ivy was motivated by the negative comments of strangers and succeeded. Hudson can pull the same move if she’s willing to study the craft.
That means going back to the drawing board, hiring public speaking coaches, working with producers who understand how to build tension and connection in an interview, consulting journalists, doing the research, and practicing the art of the pause.
Right now, some people are tuning in just to see if Hudson will mess up again. That’s not the kind of suspense any host wants. But there’s still time for her to shift the narrative, not by dancing through it, but by doing the work.
Hudson has already proven she can master multiple industries, so I know she can shake it off and bounce back.
