Jennifer Hudson Returns To ‘American Idol’ As A Guest Judge

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Jennifer Hudson attends 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Mariah Carey at Los Angeles Convention Center on January 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brianna Bryson/WireImage) PHOTO BY BRIANNA BRYSON/WIREIMAGE)

Jennifer Hudson made a return to the Idol world when she appeared this week as a guest judge. More than two decades after her appearance on the show’s third season, Hudson spoke about being a guest judge for the Monday, April 20 episode.

“To be on the other side of everything is insane, but it puts how much time has passed into perspective,” Jennifer told E! News at the taping of The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy. “I’m like, ‘Wow. Idol was 22 years ago. Dreamgirls was 20 years ago.”

Not only did the singer guest host on American Idol but she is also apart of the producing team for the upcoming Broadway revival of Dreamgirls. Hudson talked about how she could juggle being a guest judge on Amerian Idol while also working on the production side of Dreamgirls. She also talked about how much time has passed between both, and the full circle moments for her.