Why has Jennifer Hudson left The Voice as a judge and what is she doing now?
THE Voice UK fans will miss coach Jennifer Hudson as the new series kicks off on ITV tonight (January 4).
But why did Jennifer turn down the big-money deal? Here’s everything we know about her decision to quit…
Why did Jennifer Hudson quit The Voice?
Jennifer quit The Voice after three years after being too busy to commit to ITVs filming schedule.
The 37-year-old star joined the show in 2017 to to star alongside long-running judges will.i.am and Tom Jones, as well as fellow newcomer Gavin Rossdale with Emma Willis presenting the show.
But after the last series ended, she hinted that she could struggle to squeeze in filming into her schedule.
She told the: “You know, I am an actress as well. It’s kind of going into film season for me.
“I was thinking that I truly, truly love this and that’s why I’m three seasons deep in. I want to continue it, but I don’t know that my schedule will allow me to.”
What is Jennifer Hudson up to now?
Jennifer announced that she would be swapping her role as a judge on the show to focus on her commitments around the Cats movie and her role as the iconic singer in the Aretha Franklin biopic.
Explaining her decision to quit, Jennifer wrote on Twitter: “Hey y’all! I’m sad to share that I won’t be able to join my friends in the red chair for @thevoiceuk this season due to filming commitments here in the States.”
The star added: “I sure will miss my UK family, but I’ll be back soon for ‘Cats’ and ‘Respect’!”
She added: “Throw some shoes for me in the mean time.”
Is Jennifer Hudson married?
Jennifer and David Otunga were engaged to be married from 2008 to 2017 before splitting.
The pair got engaged when the former professional wrestler popped the question after less than a year of dating.
A month after the engagement, the couple went through hell as Hudson’s mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot down at the family home in Chicago.
Jennifer’s brother-in-law William Balfour was later convicted on three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life behind bars.
Does Jennifer Hudson have kids?
Jennifer was with her ex for nearly a decade, but since their split they’ve been consumed by disputes – including a custody battle for their son, David Otunga Jr.
In 2017 Jennifer fought for a protective order for her and her son.
A spokesperson for David hit back at Jennifer, accusing her of using the protective order to get an unfair advantage against her ex in their custody battle over son David Jr.
In 2019, Jennifer and her ex reached a custody agreement over their 10-year-old son after a two year legal battle.
What are Jennifer Hudson’s most famous songs?
Jennifer’s biggest UK single was 2008 release Spotlight, which reached 11 in the UK charts.
During her successful music career, she has produced three albums, ten videos and appeared on the soundtrack for Sex and the City 2, Dreamgirls, Winnie Mandela and Sing.
After starring in 2006 biopic Dreamgirls, Jennifer’s release of the soundtrack anthem And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going has gone on to become one of the most successful songs of her career.
She also delivered a stunning rendition of Amazing Grace at Aretha Franklin’s funeral.
What films has Jennifer Hudson been in?
Jennifer won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her star performance as Effie White in 2006 biopic Dreamgirls – starring alongside.
She has since appeared as Nelson Mandela’s wife Winnie Mandela, in a 2011 biopic about her life, Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant Louise in the Sex and the City movie, mother-figure Rosaleen Daise in The Secret Life of Bees and had a small role in the Three Stooges remake.
In 2017, she appeared as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray Live alongside Ariana Grande.
Her career has seen her bag 41 award wins with another 33 nominations.
What other TV shows has Jennifer Hudson done?
Jennifer rose to fame in the third season of American Idol in 2004.
Despite only placing seventh on the show, Jennifer has gone on to become one of the show’s biggest success stories.
She has also served as a coach on both the UK and US versions of The Voice and was the first female to coach the winner when Mo Adeniran won the UK show in 2017.