Jennifer Hudson

A powerhouse vocal presence joining Mariah Carey to save Christmas in an Apple TV+ original special.

Jennifer Hudson appears alongside Mariah Carey in "Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special," a festive project that premiered on December 4, 2020. In this special, which centers on a holiday crisis at the North Pole requiring Mariah's intervention, Hudson joins an elite lineup of guest stars including Ariana Grande and Snoop Dogg. The special was directed by Hamish Hamilton and Roman Coppola and executive-produced by Carey herself. Hudson contributes her vocal prowess to the soundtrack, performing alongside Carey in the segment featuring "Oh Santa!" and other holiday classics. This collaboration marked a significant moment for fans, bringing together two of the industry's most celebrated voices in a unique, story-driven musical event that received positive reviews upon release.

Quick Facts

Other names

J.Hud

Birth name

Jennifer Kate Hudson

Born

12 September 1981

Birthplace

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Occupation

Singer
actress
producer
television presenter

Partners

James Payton (1999–2007)
David Otunga (2007–2017)
Common (2022–present)

Children

Mother

Darnell Donerson

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

In the narrative of "Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special," Jennifer Hudson plays a pivotal role within a sequence where Mariah Carey, having flown from her New York City apartment to the North Pole, sneaks off from the toy factory. While Billy, Santa's elf-secretary, panics at her disappearance, Hudson arrives on the scene alongside Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, and Jermaine Dupri. Together, they perform a medley that includes "Oh Santa!" and "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)," creating a lively celebration known as the "House Top Celebration." This moment occurs before Carey gets lost in the forest with Billy later that evening. The special, which premiered on Apple TV+, uses these collaborations to drive its festive plot, aiming to restore holiday cheer after a year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reader's Guide

The special premiered on December 4, 2020. Fans can find her performing with Carey and other stars in the "House Top Celebration" segment, where they sing a medley of "Oh Santa!" and "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)." This performance is part of the soundtrack, which was released exclusively on Apple Music on the day of the premiere before hitting other platforms a week later. The special received positive critical reception, with critics comparing it to 20th-century Christmas TV specials. Hudson's role here is distinct from her earlier career; unlike her American Idol days where she covered Carey's songs, this was an official collaborative performance produced by Mariah Carey and her team.

Did You Know?

The soundtrack featuring Hudson was released exclusively on Apple Music on December 4, 2020, and expanded to other platforms on December 11, 2020.
Hudson's performance in the special includes a cover of "Oh Santa!" originally released in 2010 as part of Mariah's album Merry Christmas II You.
The special received positive reviews with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 7 reviews.