Jennifer Hudson tells Billboard Pop Shop hosts Katie Atkinson and Keith Caulfield why she wanted to make Christmas album The Gift of Love , how she chooses classic songs and new originals she co-wrote, interviews with Michelle Obama during her presentation, and more!
Jennifer Hudson
I don’t know of anything better than her performance as a guest which is by far my favorite.
Tetris Kelly
Jennifer Hudson joined Keith Caulfield and Katie Atkinson on Billboard’s Pop Shop podcast to discuss her new holiday album, Love Gift” and her recent interview with Michelle Obama. We talk about the album’s song choices, inspiration and why now was the time to do it?
Jennifer Hudson
Well, because I’ve always wanted to make a holiday album, and I couldn’t think of a better time than now. I guess, for me, the question is, why not now, you know? I was finally able to narrow it down to my favorite Christmas songs…
Keith Caulfield
Your favorite thing?
Jennifer Hudson
Yeah, my favorite stuff is right there, yeah, and then picking the songs that are most personal to me for this holiday album.
Keith Caulfield
You know, the album has familiar favorites, like, we just, I just hinted at “My Favorite Things,” but there’s also some new material that you co-wrote. What was your process like identifying the songs you wanted on the album? For example, how did you decide what ended up on the album?
Jennifer Hudson
Original or classic?
Keith Caulfield
Well, let’s start with the classics.
Jennifer Hudson
Okay, okay, that’s what I’m going to say. Like, it’s hard to say, first of all, I love all holiday music. So it’s like, how do I narrow it down to know what to put on a holiday album? But I chose something that was most personal to me, like “Christmas Songs.” For example, my grandmother used to love this song so I remember hearing it every holiday when she played it as a little girl.
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