Jennifer Hudson Returns to Idol as Disney Night Judge
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- Jennifer Hudson will guest judge and first-time mentor on American Idol's April 20 Disney Night alongside Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, guiding the Top 9 finalists for spots in the Top 7.
- Hudson's last Idol appearance was in Season 14 in 2015, when she performed 'Trouble' with Iggy Azalea — her first return to the show in more than 10 years.
- American Idol recorded its biggest January season debut since Season 20 four years ago and shifted from Sunday to Monday nights this year.
- The Jennifer Hudson Show was renewed for a fifth season, has earned 13 Daytime Emmy nominations, and Hudson released a Grammy-nominated holiday album, 'The Gift of Love,' in October.
- Dreamgirls is getting a Fall 2026 Broadway revival with Hudson joining the producing team, two decades after her Academy Award-winning portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation.
Why it matters: Hudson's first-time mentoring gig — her first Idol appearance in over a decade — lands during American Idol's biggest season debut in four years. The Top 9 finalists get a coach who once sat in their exact seat (Season 3, seventh place) and has since won an EGOT, raising the profile of a themed night built around the kind of showstopping vocals Disney songs demand.
