The Voice’s revamped 29th season is flying by — much like Jennifer Hudson’s shoes — as the Battle round has wrapped, leaving this season’s three coaches with just six team members apiece. The so-called “Battle of Champions” has been full of surprises, and J-Hud’s return was one of the latest. After watching her fill in for Kelly Clarkson, I’m now desperate for a season that features all coaches who came to fame through reality competitions.

I Loved The Advice Jennifer Hudson Had For Team Kelly

It was previously reported that Kelly Clarkson had missed some filming days for The Voice Season 29 after the death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. However, it was only when the Battles began that we learned Jennifer Hudson was returning to pull double duty as Team Kelly’s Battle Advisor and coach during rehearsals.

J-Hud was previously a coach on The Voice in Seasons 13 and 15 and a Mega Mentor on Season 26, and while we all remember her penchant for throwing shoes, I’d forgotten how strong those competitive juices flow. It should come as no surprise, of course, from someone who took a seventh-place finish on American Idol and became an EGOT winner with her own talk show (complete with that viral Spirit Tunnel).

Where The Voice’s other coaches encourage their Battle contestants to forget about the competition and focus on chemistry with their duet partner, Jennifer Hudson went in the opposite direction, reminding Kelly Clarkson’s artists they were vying for the same spot. As she told Drew Russell and Jared Shoemaker in the March 23 episode (streaming with a Peacock subscription):

Her unique perspective coming from a talent competition makes me want to see how her strategies would play out against Kelly Clarkson and other artists who have found fame on American Idol and other talent shows.

I Want To See A Full Coaching Panel Of Former Competition Stars

Artists like Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson bring such gravitas to The Voice because they’ve been through this. It’s why Carrie Underwood returning to American Idol as a judge was such a big deal. It’s why Clarkson and John Legend butted heads earlier this season over song choice. Now I’m so curious to see what four former competition stars would do if pitted against each other.

Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Niall Horan — whose former band One Direction was formed on The X Factor in 2010 — would be obvious options, with all of them having coached on The Voice before.

There are endless options for a fourth, including Cassadee Pope or another past winner of The Voice. I’d love to see Adam Lambert (American Idol Season 8 runner-up) or Kelly Rowland (who competed on Star Search), and if The Voice weren’t so entwined with Blake Shelton, his ex-wife Miranda Lambert, who came in third on Nashville Star in 2003, would be an option.

Or maybe The Voice would stick to its 3-chair format. However they’d choose to do it would be fine with me. I was just delighted to hear Jennifer Hudson offering some different advice during the Battle round, and I think it would be a treat to see her face off against Kelly Clarkson and others who have been through a similar experience.

See how The Voice Season 29 plays out, with new episodes airing at 9 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Daytime television will be looking a little different in the near future on the 2026 TV schedule. Kelly Clarkson has decided to end her talk show to focus more on her family, while Fox has canceled Sherri. For Jennifer Hudson, though, her show is staying strong and was even recently renewed for a fifth season, securing The Jennifer Hudson Show’s future for at least another year. Now the EGOT winner is opening up about how it feels to be without her fellow talk show colleagues.

While it’s definitely an exciting time for Hudson knowing that her show is going to come back, it can probably be a conflicting time as well, knowing that two great talk show hosts aren’t going to come back. Hudson admitted to People just how she’s feeling about taking on the extra weight, though she hasn’t exactly thought about it too much just yet:

Despite the fact that the three of them were fighting for the same audience and were in a talk show competition, it’s nice to see Hudson being so supportive of Clarkson and Shepherd. They all know what it’s like to be on both sides of the couch, which is why it was so great to have them hosting their own talk shows. It will be weird when The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri eventually end, but Hudson seems ready to make them both proud.

When it was announced that The Kelly Clarkson Show would be ending, Hudson had the best take on it. She gave her fellow successful American Idol alum some well-wishes, telling her that she’s a GOAT. I wouldn’t be surprised if Clarkson ended up appearing on JHud’s show in the future, as well as Shepherd, and perhaps the only thing that would make those appearances better is if Hudson managed to get Clarkson and Shepherd on at the same time.

Meanwhile, Hudson is not the only one whose talk show is still going strong. It was actually just announced that The Drew Barrymore Show has been picked up for two additional seasons, per Variety, keeping the series on the air through at least 2028. So even with two daytime shows down for the count, there are still talk shows to look forward to that will surely keep fans happy.

Speaking of, check out a clip from one of this week's episodes, in which the host addresses the life lesson she keeps stumbling upon.

As of now, it’s unknown exactly when Sherri and The Kelly Clarkson Show will air their final episodes, but the longer fans wait, the longer they will be able to prepare their goodbyes. The final shows will definitely be emotional, but Shepherd and Clarkson are leaving daytime talk television in good hands, even if it wasn’t Shepherd’s own decision to make. Plus, with another season of The Jennifer Hudson Show and two of The Drew Barrymore Show on the way, there is going to be much more to look forward to.

The Kelly Clarkson Show will come to an end after seven seasons, as the Emmy-winner announced last week. Clarkson's big move will allow her to focus on her children after the death last year of their father Brandon Blackstock. However, Clarkson isn’t the only American Idol alum who’s since found success in daytime talk shows. Jennifer Hudson also has become a celebrated host, and she shared her unique perspective on the situation.

It’s not known exactly when Kelly Clarkson will host her final episode, just that it will be sometime on the 2026 TV schedule. When that day comes, she’ll get nothing but well-wishes from one fellow American Idol contestant, as Jennifer Hudson told Variety at the premiere of her new movie Goat:

It’s pretty sweet that Jennifer Hudson would use the animated movie’s title to reference someone else as the “Greatest Of All Time,” especially since they’re technically in competition for daytime viewers.

While both are among American Idol’s most famous contestants, they did not compete against each other on the show. Kelly Clarkson won the first season in 2002, with Jennifer Hudson finishing seventh on Season 3 (and yes, fans are still upset about that).

In addition to making music, both went on to pursue other opportunities post-Idol before the talk show world came knocking. They were both coaches on The Voice, for instance, and Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls before hitting the Broadway stage and ultimately earning an EGOT.

The Kelly Clarkson Show debuted in 2019, with The Jennifer Hudson Show following in 2022. They’ve both become hits, with Clarkson’s winning 24 Daytime Emmys and J-Hud’s earning a dozen nominations. Hudson’s viral Spirit Tunnel videos have become a phenomenon unto themselves.

Rumors that Kelly Clarkson was quitting TV plagued the singer throughout 2025 — even after it was learned that her unexplained absences and canceled shows were due to the illness and ultimate death of ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. Insiders continued to suggest that her enthusiasm for The Kelly Clarkson Show was waning and that she would walk away after her contract expired following Season 7.

That turned out to be what happened, as she said it was “not an easy decision,” but:

Kelly Clarkson is reportedly “excited” about having more flexibility with her schedule to focus on her children River, 11, and Remington, 9, as well as continue to write and record music and even make more appearances on The Voice.

In fact, she’s set to appear alongside Adam Levine and John Legend on The Voice’s revamped Season 29 with all-new twists for what is being dubbed the “Battle of Champions.” Tune in at 9 p.m. ET Monday, February 23, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription. You can also check your local listings to see when to catch The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show.

I’ll be honest, Steven Spielberg becoming an EGOT winner is not something I ever had on my Hollywood bingo card. Not because he isn’t deserving. I mean, the man has been hitting it out of the park and making hit films for more than fifty years. Obviously he is deserving, yet I was still rather surprised. But here we are, the director has officially joined the rare EGOT club, and a few famous names are celebrating the moment.

The reaction across the industry has been nothing but celebratory, with actors, musicians, and Broadway veterans clearly delighted to see Spielberg finally complete the EGOT. One of the most enthusiastic responses came from Rachel Zegler, whose career took off after she was cast as Maria in West Side Story. While the film struggled at the box office, it was critically well-received and changed Zegler’s life overnight, and she’s never been shy about how much working with Spielberg meant to her. She marked the moment by sharing a photo of the two on her Instagram Stories, alongside a simple, heartfelt message:

The Snow White actress has spoken before about how formative that experience was for her as an artist, so the Minority Report director’s EGOT win clearly feels personal for her. There’s something fitting about it, too. West Side Story may not have been one of the influential filmmaker’s biggest commercial hits, but it played a defining role in launching the next phase of his creative legacy through performers like Zegler.

Another voice celebrating the milestone is Jennifer Hudson, who understands just how rare that achievement is. Hudson hit a major career milestone in 2022, joining the EGOT club, which makes her reaction especially meaningful. Speaking with PEOPLE, she didn’t hide her excitement about welcoming the ET creator into that exclusive group:

When red carpet hosts jokingly asked Hudson if she had any advice for the newly minted EGOT winner, she leaned into the moment with a perfectly self-aware response. She added:

Spielberg’s path to EGOT status is genuinely unique. His Tony Award came from producing A Strange Loop, while his Emmy wins span multiple formats. He earned his Oscars in 1994 and 1999 for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, respectively. The final piece fell into place with a Grammy for Music by John Williams, the documentary he produced honoring his longtime collaborator. At 79, Spielberg completed the rare awards sweep not by chasing trophies, but by continuing to tell stories and uplift the artists he’s worked with for decades.

That’s why the industry response feels so warm. For actors, musicians, and theater artists who grew up on Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List, the Hollywood staple’s work was influential and foundational. Many of them wouldn’t be doing what they do without his films lighting the way.

So yes, Steven Spielberg becoming an EGOT winner caught me off guard. But watching people like Rachel Zegler, Jennifer Hudson, and others celebrate the moment makes it feel completely right.

For anyone curious to see the project that completed the sweep, Music by John Williams is now streaming for viewers with a Disney+ subscription.

ABC’s version of American Idol is worlds away from what it was like in the beginning, with the trio of current judges never coming anywhere near to the revulsion and other over-the-top reactions from OG mainstay Simon Cowell. Of course, the producer’s frank and unbridled comments were a big part of what made the show such a gobsmacking hit during its early years, even if fellow judges like Paula Abdul thought he was a pain. But despite viewers blaming him at the time for Jennifer Hudson’s shocking elimination, he stands by his innocence, as it were.

Speaking to Rolling Stone about his exciting new show Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which dropped its first trailer recently and became a seeming threat to the likes of other talent-showcasing shows like Idol and The Voice. When asked if Hudson’s infamous vote-off came across as a problem with the process, Cowell said the issue didn’t involve anything behind the scenes, but what was on the screen. He explained:

That early on in the lifespan of reality TV singing competitions, without social media playing into it, a contestant's song choice definitely had a bigger potential to impact an outcome. So while we'll never truly know how far Hudson would have gone in Season 3 had she not made Barry Manilow's, "Weekend in New England" her song choice, Simon Cowell seems pretty convinced that she would have moved on beyond the Top 7.

I have to think that she still could landed the Dreamgirls role even if she'd been eliminated in successive weeks, or even won out entirely, since it was well over a year later when the casting wasn't announced. But regardless, no one can argue that both Idol and Dreamgirls were huge milestones in her wildly successful career that led to her become one of the few rarefied EGOT winners.

What was argued, at least around the time of American Idol's third season, was that Cowell was somehow to blame for Hudson being voted off, even though the show's trio didn't actually do the voting. He continued:

Sure, any of Cowell's harsh on-screen comments could sway those voting at home at any point, but it'd be patently impossible to prove him culpable for Hudson's elimination. Unless someone discovered he had a home gymnasium full of sentient monkeys and robots calling in votes for the other contestants. But that seems...unlikely.

Simon Cowell has been lending his skills-seeking expertise to the NBC staple America's Got Talent, but as mentioned above, will soon debut a brand new series within that subgenre. Check out the trailer below!

Wil Jennifer Hudson pop up on Cowell's new show the way he appeared on her talk show for their first in-person chat in 18 years? Probably not, but find out when Simon Cowell: The Next Act begins streaming via Netflix subscription on Wednesday, December 10.

I don’t think anyone paying attention to today’s world would dismiss the idea that we are all in desperate need of some daily joy. While there can be many ways to get that, a lot of people rely on the 2025 TV schedule to help bring them some comfort and happiness with their favorite shows. One such program just so happens to be The Jennifer Hudson Show, which has been going viral for months because of the “Spirit Tunnel” that the crew uses to welcome guests to the stage. Now, the talk show’s EGOT-winner host has opened up about why they started the tradition.

What Did Jennifer Hudson Say About Starting Her Show’s Spirit Tunnel Tradition?

Getting and keeping a talk show (or any show, really) on the air is a feat that requires not just the talent and dedication of all involved, but some serious luck. With that, it’s always good to have something that makes the show stand out from the pack, and The Jennifer Hudson Show (which is in its third season) has discovered just that with its Spirit Tunnel entrances. Those welcomes see the staff of the Dreamgirls Oscar winner line the hall to the stage entrance to dance, clap and sing a special song for arriving guests as they walk out.

The practice has all but taken over social media, with fans now making their own versions to celebrate everything from birthdays and anniversaries, to less common things like their love for great roommates. When talking to People about the Spirit Tunnel and how popular it’s become in the third season, Hudson said:

If you haven’t seen the Spirit Tunnel in action, it might be hard for you to picture how just watching such a thing could inspire joy and the millions of viral views the entrances have gotten. But, once you do take a look for yourself, you might change your mind:

I mean, honestly, how can you not absolutely LOVE that energy! I’m going to just go ahead and come clean here, because I was 12 clips deep into a massive Spirit Tunnel playlist and then realized, you know, I had an article to finish writing. And I’d already seen several videos of this happening. That’s how wrapped up in the spirit you can get when watching a Spirit Tunnel go down!

So, how did this walk of joy come about in the first place? In another video on the JHud YouTube, the famous former American Idol contestant and her staff revealed that they started doing this off camera to hype Hudson up before shows. What started as general cheering and clapping, however, eventually turned into the sing-songy chants you see above and have become standard practice for the show’s guests (though accepting the attention and going through the Spirit Tunnel is totally voluntary).

Now, dozens of stars have gone through, including No Good Deed cast members Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow, One of Them Days stars Keke Palmer and Sza (on separate occasions), You lead Penn Badgley, and others like Joshua Jackson, Damon and Damon Wayans Jr., Jelly Roll, Michelle Obama, Kevin Hart and Gwen Stefani.

Really, the Spirit Tunnel is something that we should all indulge in, even if it’s just by watching others enjoy it. Jennifer Hudson is completely correct, because watching will put a true smile on your face whenever you see it!

Every year, I try to honor Black History by writing about something important that has occurred in the entertainment industry. And, I can’t think of any greater honor than winning the Academy Award.

Yes, there have been achievements in many different categories, including directing, writing, producing, scoring, etc, but today, my focus is going to be on Black actors.

Split amongst the Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor categories, there have been a total of 23 Oscars doled out to Black performers. So, here are all 23 of them, chronologically ordered.

Hattie McDaniel - Gone With The Wind (1939)

The very first Black winner for an acting Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel won it for Best Supporting Actress with her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

And, even though it's a racial stereotype role, McDaniel's character was often the most sensible and attention-grabbing character on the screen. It's a landmark victory for Black people in cinema.

Sidney Poitier - Lilies Of The Field (1963)

One of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, Lilies of the Field, which is about a handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel, was actually Poitier’s second nomination for Best Lead Actor.

His first was for 1958’s The Defiant Ones, which was a movie that he mostly shared with Tony Curtis. Lilies of the Field, however, was a leading role purely for Poitier, and he ended up becoming the first Black Actor to ever win the award. Great stuff!

Louis Gossett Jr. - An Officer And A Gentleman (1982)

In this romantic drama that also stars Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr. plays a hard-nosed drill instructor who really challenges his cadets.

Before there was R. Lee Ermey in one of my favorite Kubrick films, Full Metal Jacket, there was Louis Gossett Jr. berating his troops. He was the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Acting trophy, and it was justly awarded. He’s really good in this.

Denzel Washington - Glory (1989)

Denzel Washington’s first Academy Award was a supporting one for his role as a private in the Civil War drama, Glory.

As both a leader to the men in his regiment, but also a soldier who must follow orders, Washington’s character shows the duality of a Black man in uniform. Him deciding to hold up the flag for the charge is one of the most iconic scenes in late ‘80s cinema.

Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost (1990)

An EGOT recipient (though, not the only one on this list), Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as the medium, Oda Mae Brown, in the hit Ghost.

The romance between Swayze and Moore’s character is what defines this film, but it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without Goldberg’s humor, and seriousness when the moment calls for it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. - Jerry Maguire (1996)

For this sports comedy-drama, Cuba Gooding Jr. received a Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a cocky but steadfast wide receiver who wants to be shown the money.

Gooding Jr.’s performance is full of energy, and it makes this romantic comedy feel even sweeter when his and Tom Cruise’s characters share more than just a player and client relationship and actually become good friends.

Halle Berry - Monster's Ball (2001)

The only Black woman who has ever won Best Lead Actress, Halle Berry, took home the trophy for her role as a conflicted woman who takes on a relationship with the man who helped execute her husband.

Berry’s character is highly vulnerable, and the events of the movie are stressful beyond belief. Still, her character, as flawed as she is (everybody’s flawed in this film) weathered the storm, and earned Berry a Best Actress statue for her troubles.

Denzel Washington - Training Day (2001)

Washington’s second trophy came as the Best Lead Actor, for playing a cop in Training Day who definitely didn’t follow the rules.

Washington’s character was both charming and terrifying, often in the same scene. Say it with me, people: King Kong ain't got nothing on him!

Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Morgan Freeman actually had a supporting role in two of Clint Eastwood’s best movies, those being Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. And, both films won Best Picture.

However, it was in the latter film where Freeman picked up the Best Supporting Actor statue, for playing a grizzled former boxer and gym assistant. It’s a mostly quiet role, but a memorable one.

Jamie Foxx - Ray (2004)

In one of the best music movies of all time, Jamie Foxx scored a much deserved Best Lead Actor award for his role as the famous blind musician, Ray Charles.

Foxx even had his eyes glued shut for the sake of authenticity. Anything for the craft, right?

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls (2006)

Another EGOT recipient on this list, Jennifer Hudson, scored a Best Supporting Actress trophy in her VERY FIRST ACTING GIG!

It’s little wonder why though. Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls is powerful. Going from lead singer to starting all over again, Hudson did a “Supreme” job (Do you see what I did there?) in her very first role.

Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Forest Whitaker’s best performance is by far his role as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

In a role that netted him a Best Lead Actor award, Whitaker is utterly terrifying, but also somewhat funny, in the way that only Whitaker can be.

Mo'Nique - Precious (2009)

After watching Mo’Nique as the abusive mother in Precious, it’s hard to watch her again in one of the best Black TV shows, The Parkers. It just seems like such a smoke screen.

Anyway, Mo’Nique was awarded a Best Supporting Actress trophy for this performance, and I haven’t looked at her the same way since.

Octavia Spencer - The Help (2011)

Though The Help hasn’t aged well, Octavia Spencer’s role as a maid who was fired for using a guest bathroom is still one of her best performances.

Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for a role where she got to take a dump in somebody’s pie. It’s a feel good film.

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave (2013)

In her career-defining role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o plays a violently abused slave.

It is one of the most brutal (and likely most realistic) portrayals of slavery ever put to screen, and Nyong'o won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.

Viola Davis - Fences (2016)

In this adaptation of a play in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, Viola Davis plays a wronged but loyal wife.

The third EGOT recipient on this list, Davis should have several Oscars, but this is her sole win, and it’s in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight (2016)

Though only in Moonlight for one act, Mahershala Ali’s performance as a caring drug dealer was so powerful that he won the Best Supporting Actor trophy.

It would be his first of two Academy Awards so far.

Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

In If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King plays the mother of a young woman whose boyfriend has been convicted of rape, and she tries to convince the victim that it wasn’t him.

King won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her quiet, but searing performance.

Mahershala Ali - Green Book (2018)

In Ali’s second Best Supporting Actor win, the skilled performer played real-life pianist Don Shirley in this Best Picture winner.

Ali’s character in this film is completely different from that in Moonlight, but that sense of vulnerability still persists, which was worthy of the award.

Daniel Kaluuya - Judas And The Black Messiah (2020)

Playing the “Black Messiah,” Daniel Kaluuya portrayed the inspirational Fred Hampton in this riveting biopic.

He won Best Supporting Actor, beating out the “Judas” (Bill O’Neal) in this picture, played excellently by LaKeith Stanfield, who was also nominated.

Ariana DeBose - West Side Story (2021)

In this second adaptation of the famed musical West Side Story, Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress playing Anita, who was portrayed by Rita Moreno in the first theatrical adaptation.

DeBose is absolutely magnetic in the role, firmly earning her win.

Will Smith - King Richard (2021)

Though the unfortunate slap is likely what many people remember most about this ceremony and Will Smith's award, his Best Lead Actor-winning turn really does deserve a second look.

Playing the tenacious father to Venus and Serena Williams, Smith definitely deserved the award for his work in the lauded film.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers (2023)

And finally, the most recent winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a quietly grieving mother in The Holdovers.

This film speaks to me as a teacher, yes, but also as a parent. I can thankfully only imagine the pain that her character Is going through.

That’s all of them! We’ll see if Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, or Cynthia Erivo pick up a trophy at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Think of your favorite movie character of all time. There is a good chance that the actor who ended up playing that part is not the first actor the studio approached. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of celebrities who decided to pass on a movie role that would turn out to make cinematic history.

Will Smith (Neo In The Matrix)

It is actually pretty easy for us to picture what the Matrix movies might have been like with Will Smith as Neo. However, the Academy Award winner seems to believe that Keanu Reeves was the better choice to play the chosen one in the mind-bending, dystopian sci-fi movie classic, claiming in a video on his YouTube channel that he would have "ruined it."

Jodie Foster (Princess Leia in Star Wars)

Fresh off her Academy Award-nominated breakthrough role in 1976's Taxi Driver, a teenage Jodie Foster was offered the chance to be a part of the Star Wars movies as Princess Leia Organa. As she revealed to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the two-time Oscar winner had a contractual obligation to an unnamed Disney movie, allowing Carrie Fisher to win the role.

Tom Hanks (Jerry Maguire In Jerry Maguire)

Tom Hanks was on top of the world with two Oscar wins (for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) when he was offered to play a sports agent down on his luck in Jerry Maguire. He ended up passing on the eponymous role from Cameron Crowe's 1996 dramedy and later told Access Hollywood (via FandomWire), "I think you look at it now and it couldn’t have been anybody other than Tom Cruise," who would receive a nod from the Academy for his performance.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Patrick Bateman In American Psycho)

Christian Bale once told GQ that every one of his roles was first offered to Leonardo DiCaprio and one confirmed example is Patrick Bateman in 2000's American Psycho. The future Oscar winner told The Morning Call that he passed on playing the sadistic yuppie because he felt the script “didn’t mean anything in the end," but rumor has it Bale's stepmom, Gloria Steinem, convinced DiCaprio that it would be bad for his post-Titanic, romantic heartthrob reputation at the time.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Predator In Predator)

The titular terrifying alien enemy from 1987's Predator looked a lot different when Jean-Claude Van Damme was still in the role, according to THR's oral history. The Belgian actor star actually shot some footage in the original insect-like suit before deciding he would rather not be hidden in his own movie, leading to a redesign of the costume and the casting of 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.

Jack Nicholson (Michael Corleone In The Godfather)

While we cannot imagine anyone other than Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Jack Nicholson probably would have been great in the Godfather movies. However, the three-time Oscar winner refused the offer, explaining to Movieline in 2004 (via ScreenRant) that he believed "Italians should play Italians."

John Travolta (Forrest Gump In Forrest Gump)

When speaking with MTV News (via Collider), John Travolta revealed that he had no regrets about turning down the title role of the Best Picture Oscar winner Forrest Gump and it is no wonder why. Not only did Tom Hanks embody the role to Oscar-winning acclaim but Travolta found career-rejuvenating success with Pulp Fiction in 1994 instead.

Burt Reynolds (James Bond In Live And Let Die)

In 2015, Burt Reynolds told USA Today that, when approached to be Sean Connery's replacement in the James Bond films, he believed the public would not accept a 007 with an American accent. However, he would later come to believe that, "It was a stupid thing to say. I could've done it and I could've done it well."

Eddie Murphy (Winston Zeddemore In Ghostbusters)

While appearing on The Tonight Show in 2019, Eddie Murphy was asked by Jimmy Fallon if it is true that he passed on playing Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters. The comedian confirmed that it was true but added that it allowed him the opportunity to lead an even bigger hit from 1984: Beverly Hills Cop.

John Lithgow (Seth Brundle In The Fly)

Jeff Goldblum's iconic role from David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly was previously offered to John Lithgow, who told IndieWire that he said no, not wanting to play "something so grotesque.” Having witnessed Seth Brundle's transformation into a half-human, half-insect in the intense body horror movie, we cannot say we blame him.

Tom Selleck (Indiana Jones In Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

Having already worked with Harrison Ford three times before, George Lucas was reluctant to cast the Han Solo actor as Indiana Jones, opening up the opportunity for a rotation of actors, including Tom Selleck. As he recalled on Today, the actor was forced to pass on 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, due to his commitment to the CBS crime drama, Magnum P.I.

Christopher Lee (Dr. Loomis In Halloween)

While already a horror movie icon at the time for his acclaimed portrayal of Dracula and role in 1973's The Wicker Man, Christopher Lee could have added one of the all-time best horror movies, 1978's Halloween, to his resume. According to The Digital Fix, he would come to regret the decision to pass on the role of Michael Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, who was immortalized by Donald Pleasance instead.

Christina Applegate (Elle Woods In Legally Blonde)

Before Reese Witherspoon made Elle Woods an icon among fictional lawyers in Legally Blonde and among fictional politicians in the sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, the role was offered to Christina Applegate. The former Married... with Children star later explained to Entertainment Tonight that she was afraid of repeating the ditzy blonde but jokes it was a "stupid move."

Emily Blunt (Black Widow In Iron Man 2)

Scarlett Johansson was perfect as Natasha Romanoff but Emily Blunt would have made a killing as the Avenger also called Black Widow. The English actor explained to Howard Stern that she could not originate the role for the MCU in 2010's Iron Man 2 because she was contractually obligated to appear in that year's adaptation of Gulliver's Travels.

Emma Watson (Mia In La La Land)

Playing Mia in 2016's La La Land earned Emma Stone her first Oscar win but the role of the aspiring actor had originally gone to another Emma: Emma Watson. The Harry Potter movies star said in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview (via Us Weekly) that her commitment to Beauty and the Beast and the hard work required to star in the musical led her to pull out.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Rollergirl In Boogie Nights)

Heather Graham made her mainstream breakthrough in 1998's Boogie Nights as "Rollergirl" – a role that was previously offered to Gwyneth Paltrow. The future Oscar winner told Howard Stern (via Us Weekly) that she passed because she feared the role, which required her to completely disrobe and simulate lewd acts on camera, would "kill" her conservative grandfather.

Jennifer Hudson (Precious In Precious)

Jennifer Hudson had previously said in her memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways And Lost What Weighed Me Down, that she turned down the title role of Precious because she did not want to take a role that involved her weight. The Oscar winner later retracted that statement when speaking to The Huffington Post, explaining that Was not interested in what the role, which ultimately went to Gabourey Sibide, would have required her to do at that point in her career.

Matt Damon (Jake Sully In Avatar)

Sam Worthington became a household name when he led James Cameron's astonishingly successful sci-fi epic, Avatar, as Jake Sully – a role previously offered to Matt Damon. The Oscar winner once joked to Access Hollywood that not participating in the 2009 film cost the movie "a lot."

Ian McKellan (Albus Dumbledore In Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban)

The Lord of the Rings movies' Gandalf actor, Sir Ian McKellan, could have added another famous wizard to his resume and become the Harry Potter franchise's new Albus Dumbledore. Instead, the part went to Michael Gambon after, as he told BBC News, McKellan turned it down because he couldn’t “take over the part from an actor who I’d known didn’t approve of me,” referring to the late Richard Harris who was a vocal critic of the actor.

Drew Barrymore (Sidney Prescott In Scream)

Given Drew Barrymore's A-list status in 1996, audiences assumed that she was the lead of Wes Craven's Scream, which could have been the case, as she confirmed on Hot Ones. However, she requested to be killed off in the beginning as Casey Becker, knowing it would shock the audience, paving the way for Neve Campbell to become a Scream Queen in the role of Sidney Prescott.

Angela Bassett (Leticia Musgrove In Monster’s Ball)

Halle Berry became the first Black Best Actress Oscar winner for her performance in Monster's Ball as Leticia Musgrove – a role that was offered to Angela Bassett. According to EW, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star felt the part of a Black call girl was too stereotypical.

Sean Connery (Gandalf In The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

Sir Ian McKellan mentions in an oral history about the Lord of the Rings series for The Independent that an earlier choice to play Gandalf the Grey was Sir Sean Connery. New Line Cinema executive Mark Ordesky notes that the former James Bond actor passed on the role of the wizard simply because he "did not get it."

Bette Midler (Annie Wilkes In Misery)

Despite having no qualms about playing an actual evil witch in 1993's Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler did have some reservations about playing Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery from 1990. The actor and singer told Variety that was interested in playing the sadistic nurse because of her violent, unfunny, and irredeemable qualities.

Warren Beatty (Bill In Kill Bill)

In 2003, Quentin Tarantino told BBC that he originally started writing the title role of Kill Bill with Warren Beatty in mind because he wanted to work with him and the Oscar winner was set to play the target of Uma Thurman's vengeful Bride for a bit. However, after realizing that David Carradine was a better fit, followed by consideration of the time commitment and martial arts training involved, the actor and filmmaker amicably agreed to part ways.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Clarice Starling In The Silence Of The Lambs)

Michelle Pfeiffer once told Today's Hoda Kotb (via People) that her reasons for passing on roles in the likes of Pretty Woman and Basic Instinct typically had to do with scheduling conflicts. However, she told The New Yorker she passed on playing Clarice Starling (which ultimately went to Jodie Foster) in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs because the “evil” in the film made her nervous.

Al Pacino (Han Solo In Star Wars)

In his memoir, Sonny Boy, Al Pacino reveals that, before Harrison Ford was cast in Star Wars, he was offered the role of Han Solo. The Oscar winner explains that he could not "make anything out of" George Lucas' script and chose not to play the pilot of the Millennium Falcon.

Bela Lugosi (The Creature In Frankenstein)

According to the book, The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi by Arthur Lennig (via SlashFilm), the star of 1931's Dracula had the opportunity to play two Universal Monsters in the same year, having also been offered to play The Creature in Frankenstein. However, the actor believed such a role was "beneath him," paving the way for Boris Karloff to rise up in the ranks of horror royalty as Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation.

Haley Lu Richardson (Dani Ardor In Midsommar)

Haley Lu Richardson, known for one of the best M. Night Shyamalan movies, Split, passed on the role of Dani Ardor in Ari Aster's 2019 sophomore effort, Midsommar. The A24 horror masterpiece was ultimately led by Florence Pugh, whom Richardson told Backstage she has nothing but praise for, despite not yet having the courage to watch the movie.

Julia Roberts (Annie Reed In Sleepless In Seattle)

The two most prestigious queens of the rom-com genre would have to be Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan but only one could play Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle. Roberts told InStyle (via ABC News) that she was offered the part but could not do it, adding that Ryan and Tom Hanks "are just such a jewel of a fit in that."

Jamie Lee Curtis (Regan MacNeil In The Exorcist)

Jamie Lee Curtis became horror royalty with her feature film debut in 1978's Halloween but her reign could have begun earlier if not for one thing: her mother, Janet Leigh. Curtis told EW that, when she was asked to audition for Regan MacNeil in 1973's The Exorcist (which would go to Linda Blair), the Psycho star spoke on the then-13-year-old's behalf and refused the offer.

Lee Marvin (Quint In Jaws)

Robert Shaw's performance as Quint in Jaws is nearly as famous as the man-eating shark itself but the English actor was actually not Steven Spielberg's first choice. The filmmaker told Vanity Fair that he previously approached Lee Marvin but the Dirty Dozen star was not interested.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Amber In Clueless)

Elisa Donovan's character in Clueless, Amber, very nearly went to the future star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Adam Schroeder, the co-producer of the 1995 high school movie classic, told Vanity Fair that the actor's commitment to the soap opera All My Children at the time forced her to recede from consideration.

For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving Day doesn’t start until the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on television. The parade has run for nearly 100 years and it takes place rain or shine. This year, rain was on the forecast, but that doesn’t mean the show was any less entertaining. In fact, for those watching Jennifer Hudson perform, the show was even better.

This year's parade, available on NBC or with a Peacock subscription, brought everything the show is known for. In addition to the famous floats and balloons, including the return of Spider-Man to the parade, several musical performances take place in Harold Square both before the proper parade arrives and while it’s happening. Those performances largely happened in the rain this year, and most of the performers just dealt with it, but Jennifer Hudson apparently decided she really didn’t want to get wet. This led to her dancers incorporating an umbrella into the performance, and the internet is having a blast with it.

Hudson’s performance was entertaining on its own, but unfortunately it feels like a lot of people didn’t notice it. Instead they were fixed on the umbrella that was keeping her dry. It was like the umbrella itself was dancing, as it would travel between the hands of different dancers so that whoever was closest to Hudson at any given moment was holding it over her head.

Honestly, now I have so many questions. There must have been rehearsals for this number. Was the umbrella part of the number the whole time? It was certainly known in advance that rain during the parade was likely, so perhaps they practiced this. Or are the dancers so good they were able to incorporate the umbrella on the fly and make it work?

Working the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the rain can’t be a great deal of fun. From the bands marching down the street to the balloon wranglers in ponchos, nobody has any choice but to just deal with it. Certainly not everybody can have their own umbrella sherpa to keep them dry, but then not everybody has won an EGOT.

Of course, not everybody attempted to avoid the rain. Some seemed to embrace it. Another tweet regarding the parade and the rain is going viral because the float promoting the upcoming Season 2 of Wednesday is happy it was a dark and gloomy morning in New York. It doesn’t appear anybody here wanted an umbrella.

While many of the musical performances at the Macy's Parade are lip-synced, a not-unusual step considering the technical requirements to sing live can be prohibitive, Hudson certainly appeared to be singing live. It should be said that it's possible the umbrella may have had a specific purpose to keep the microphone dry rather than Hudson herself.

Hopefully everybody both working and attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year stayed relatively dry. We certainly know Jennifer Hudson did.

Sometimes an actor just explodes on the scene with their first movie. Many of the people on this list have even been nominated and won awards for their first roles. Most, of course, have gone on to have long, successful careers, so let's look back at these actors who absolutely crushed it in their first roles. 

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years A Slave

It didn't take long for Kenyan native Lupita Nyong'o to make a huge splash in Hollywood. After a little time working on movie sets behind the camera, she studied acting at Yale and landed her seminal role in 12 Years A Slave almost immediately after graduating. The performance speaks for itself, and Nyong'o deservingly took home an Oscar for it. Amazingly, three years later, she won a Tony in her Broadway debut in Eclipsed.

Sean Penn - Taps

Sean Penn has had a long, storied career and while many may assume his breakout role came as the stoner Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but a year before cracking up audiences in that cult classic, he played a very different role as a would-be soldier at a military academy in Taps. Notably, Tom Cruise also made his breakthrough role in the movie alongside Penn. 

Reese Witherspoon - The Man In The Moon

Over the last 4 decades or so, Reese Witherspoon has not only become one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood, but a major force behind the scenes as a producer. It all started for the Nashville native with her debut in The Man In The Moon in 1991. It's always impressive when a newcomer can lead a personal film like this, and Witherspoon showed early how good she is by doing so. 

Natalie Portman - Leon: The Professional

There are a few actors in Hollywood who broke big when they were very young. From the moment you see Natalie Portman on screen in her first role as Mathilda in Leon: The Professional, you know she's going to be big. Yeah, it's an uncomfortable movie to watch for obvious reasons - Portman was just 13 - but seeing how brave she was to take on a complicated role like that, it was clear she was destined for greatness. 

Edward Norton - Primal Fear

Has there ever been a more terrifying and convincing debut performance from an actor than Edward Norton in Primal Fear? It's one of the all-time great grifter films and Norton's performance is the major reason why. He's scary, both in character and in talent. 

Florence Pugh - The Falling

It's hard to believe Florence Pugh made her debut in The Falling in 2014. It seems like the actress has been around forever as she keeps picking amazing roles and crushing the performances, just like her first. 

Kevin Bacon - National Lampoon's Animal House

Every actor in Hollywood is connected to Kevin Bacon, as the game claims, and that's because for more than five decades he's been giving amazing performance and amazing performance. His first movie, the classic comedy National Lampoon's Animal House is certainly no exception as he plays a snobby, snarky, frat boy to perfection. There is nothing he can't do.  

Halle Berry - Jungle Fever

In 2001 Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Best Picture Oscar for Monster's Ball. That was just 10 short years after she made he incredible debut in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. The former beauty pageant contestant has been one of the most reliably great stars in the years since, starring in some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood including the X-Men, James Bond, John Wick, and much more. 

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

After finishing seventh in the third season of American Idol, we all knew Jennifer Hudson could sing. When she was cast as Aretha Frankin-like Effie White in Dreamgirls, it didn't surprise anyone. At least, we weren't surprised until we all saw just how her powerful voice was matched by her powerful acting. She took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her big-screen debut. 

Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs.

By the time Eddie Murphy starred in 48 Hrs. alongside Nick Nolte in 1982, he was already a bonafide TV star from his time on SNL. Known for his great characters and hilarious lines on SNL, it wasn't clear if he could carry a movie. 48 Hrs. settled that, he definitely could and he's been leading them ever since. 

Marlee Matlin - Children Of A Lesser God

Marlee Matlin has been breaking down barriers since the very beginning of her career. Deaf from the time she was a small child, there must have been many people who told her she could pursue her dreams. Instead, she became not only the deaf actor to win an Oscar in his debut movie, Children Of A Lesser God, but the youngest woman to take home the statue as well. 

Anne Hathaway - The Princess Diaries

From the very beginning, Anne Hathaway has been wowing audiences. Her first movie is still one of her most beloved, The Princess Diaries. She even got to star alongside true film royalty. Julie Andrews. She didn't seem intimidated then, and she never has been since. 

Tim Curry - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tim Curry's first movie has become the dictionary definition of a cult classic. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a flop when it was released, but in the decades since, it's become one of the most popular movies of all time with a fanbase that is not just dedicated, but rabid in its love for the movie and for Curry's character, Frank-N-Furter.

Emma Stone - Superbad

Superbad is one of those comedies that very really gets old, especially if you grew up with it as a staple of your DVD rotation. Emma Stone's character Jules is not the kind of character you'd expect to be as funny as she is, which makes Stone pretty much perfect for the role, as she is as effortlessly funny as she is effortlessly beautiful. She's gone on to tackle some characters with incredible depth, but she set the foundation in Superbad. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

There is really nothing Oprah Winfrey can't accomplish. She was already on her way to becoming the biggest daytime talk show in history by the time she landed a role in Steven Speilberg's classic The Color Purple. It turns out Winfrey can do a whole more than coax the most out of guests on her talk show, she can act really act, earning an Oscar nomination in her film debut. 

Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

It's really hard to believe that Julie Andrews didn't make her true film debut until she was nearly 30 years old, when she appeared as the legendary Mary Poppins in the film of the same name. Of course, Andrews was well-established as a stage actor at that point, but still, it was the golden age of Hollywood, you'd think she would have been cast in something well before Mary Poppins. At least we can be grateful she was cast here. 

Alan Rickman - Die Hard

Hans Gruber in Die Hard is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains of the 1980s. Knowing that it was the film debut of the incredible Alan Rickman makes it all that more impressive. He plays the role with such confidence and panache, that it's almost too much to believe it was his first movie role, but it was. 

Anna Paquin - The Piano

Anna Paquin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Piano. She was just 11 years old! Anyone who does that deserves a spot on any list like that. She's the second youngest ever to win an Oscar and in the years since she's continued to wow us with her work. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis basically invented the modern scream queen in horror movies in her debut in Halloween. It's a genre she's only returned to a few times in her long, impressive career, but we're sure glad it's where she got her start. 

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

It's a little remarkable how many young girls pop up on a list like this. One of the most recent examples of a teenager just crushing her film debut is Hailee Steinfeld. Not only did she have the pressure of playing a beloved literary character like Mattie Ross in True Grit, but she also had to act alongside legends like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. She doesn't just hold her own, either, she steals the movie. She rightly received an Oscar nomination for her work.  

Glenn Close - The World According To Garp

Glenn Close burst on the scene with award-winning performances on Broadway before transitioning to film with her debut on the silver screen in The World According To Garp where she picked up where she left off on the stage, getting nominated for an Oscar. She would earn Oscar nominations (but sadly no wins) for her next two movies as well, The Big Chill and The Natural. 

Robert Duvall - To Kill A Mockingbird

Robert Duvall's career goes all the way back to the 1950s, when he first appeared as Boo Radley in one of the most beloved movies about the American South, To Kill A Mockingbird. He only has a small role, as the character with an outsized effect on the plot who is only seen at the end, but he embodies the character so many kids learn to love when they first read the book in high school. 

John Malkovich - Places In The Heart

There is no question that John Malkovich is one of the finest actors of his generation. He's completely fearless in all the roles he plays and that's true going all the way back to his first role as a blind World War I vet in the Depression-era film Places in the Heart alongside Sally Field, Danny Glover, and Ed Harris. 

Lily Tomlin - Nashville

Though she was already a comedic legend on TV, having appeared on Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, Lily Tomlin showed what range she really had as a gospel singer and mother to two in Nashville. She's continued to show those skills over and over in the decades since. 

Gal Gadot - Fast & Furious

Gal Gadot is best known as Wonder Woman these days, but she made her debut in another giant Hollywood franchise when she appeared in Fast & Furious, the fourth installment of the Fast And Furious series. The ex-Israeli army veteran has impressed fans of the movies in each of her 3 appearances by performing most of her own stunts.  

Kerry Washington - Our Song

Our Song is an underrated movie that is everything great about independent filmmaking. It's an intensely personal story about a unique moment in time for the characters and the audience. Kerry Washington simply blows audiences out of the water with her powerful and heartfelt performance. It's incredible how good she was in her first movie. 

Dustin Hoffman - The Graduate

So, technically Dustin Hoffman had already had a small role in a film before The Graduate (a movie called The Tiger Makes Out). For all intents and purposes, he introduced himself to the world with an Oscar-nominated performance in one of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history, The Graduate. It's a movie people still love talking about and lauding, even nearly 60 years later. 

John Cazale - The Godfather

The incredible and tragic story of actor John Cazale is well-known among movie buffs. Cazale only starred in five movies before he died of cancer at just age 42. All five of those movies won the Oscar for Best Picture The first, his first, was, of course, The Godfather. Though his character, Fredo, would play a larger role in the sequel, he still established himself as one of the greatest of his generation before we all lost him too soon.  

Gabrielle Union - She's All That

Actor Gabrielle Union has definitely made her mark not only on Hollywood but on the world with her stellar performances and her charity work outside of film. HE burst onto the scene in She's All That and she's never slowed down since. 

James Dean - East Of Eden

The great James Dean is one of the biggest "what ifs" in Hollywood history. Though he did have some uncredited roles in a few movies, the young actor starred in just three movies, including his first East Of Eden. For that role, he would receive an Oscar nomination, though he wouldn't live to see it, as he was killed in a car crash before being nominated. A feat that would be repeated the next year with Giant.

Jason Schwartzman - Rushmore

Though Jason Schwartzman comes from a prominent Hollywood family, that didn't guarantee success. Instead, he went out in his first movie role, in Rushmore, and absolutely embodied his character of Max. It's every bit as impressive as anything his mom Talia Shire has done, and that is no small feat. 

Keisha Castle-Hughes - The Whale Rider

When Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar at just 12 years old for The Whale Rider, you knew she was one to watch for. She was, at the time, the second-youngest person nominated for an Oscar and not only was the nomination well-deserved, but she's continued to justify the voters' confidence in her with her roles over the last couple of decades. 

Even the biggest and brightest stars of Hollywood have movies that they’d rather not mention being a part of in polite company. And the list you’re about to read has some of the most infamous examples of those types of projects making silver screen history…just not in the way one would have expected.

Tom Hanks - The Bonfire Of The Vanities

While we’ve seen Tom Hanks’ comments on why The Bonfire of the Vanities didn’t work, the movie’s infamy as a box office dud is something he probably doesn’t address all that often. And who could blame him, as the public considered America’s Dad to be the worst casting choice to lead a satire about the amorality of late ‘80s/early ‘90s stockbrokers.

Jamie Lee Curtis - Virus

The film adaptation of Dark Horse Comics’ Virus is uncompromisingly bad, no matter if you’re familiar with the book or not. But the most entertaining thing to come out of it was the fact that star Jamie Lee Curtis has taken every chance to roast this picture with the most cutting of remarks. It’s truly one of the best cases of entertainers who have trashed their own movies.

Michael Caine - Jaws: The Revenge

This is an example of using class and wit to politely stuff a movie like Jaws: The Revenge into the trash bin of life. Actor Michael Caine’s remarks about never seeing the film, but loving its payday, is something that always hits like the best line at a cocktail party celebrating the movies we love to loathe.

Emily Blunt - Gulliver’s Travels

History almost gave us an Iron Man 2 with Emily Blunt playing the role of Black Widow. And then contractual obligations forced Ms. Blunt to pass, in favor of starring in the Jack Black vehicle Gulliver’s Travels. So yeah, maybe it’s best not to mention this one to this star of A Quiet Place, no matter how much you think she might laugh.

Dennis Quaid - Jaws 3-D

All legendary actors have the gigs that make them, and the ones that they took so early in their career that they’d rather not think about them. Dennis Quaid’s role in Jaws 3-D more than likely falls into the latter bucket, as it’s one of the two Jaws sequels that failed to make the cut with even the franchise’s most devoted fans.

Viola Davis - The Help

Academy Award winner Viola Davis scored a nomination for her role in Tate Taylor’s film adaptation of The Help. Despite her performance’s excellence, Davis still maintains her opinion of regretting having taken part in the movie’s production, and the resulting product. 

Bill Murray - Garfield

No cinematic icon is immune to trickery, especially a trickster like Bill Murray. With his infamous Garfield casting story seeing the comedy legend mistake the movie’s writer for one of the Coen Bros, you can kind of see why he’d use his Zombieland cameo in 2009 to poke fun at the film being his only life’s regret.

Mariah Carey - Glitter

Glitter wasn’t enough of a disaster to kill Mariah Carey’s acting career, and to her credit, she went on to deliver some amazing performances in films like Lee Daniels’ Precious. But whoo-boy, does this musical drama still sting to think about from time to time? 

Elijah Wood - North

While there’s an interesting selection of beloved films Roger Ebert absolutely hated, North is one of the flops that the legendary film critic rightfully roasted. Though it definitely wasn’t Elijah Wood’s fault, it’s probably best if you don’t approach him about this one without some sort of care. 

Jennifer Lopez - Gigli

As a legendary turkey in the world of infamously bad movies, even Gigli’s director Martin Brest has pointed thoughts about that epic fail. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s colossal dud of a rom-com has more than earned its place on the bad side of history, and one could bet that even its mere mention would inspire the most withering side eye from J.Lo herself. 

George Clooney - Batman & Robin

If there’s a constant in George Clooney’s career as an entertainer, it’s his regret over Batman and Robin. Stepping in after Val Kilmer bolted on Joel Schumacher’s second Gotham-based tentpole, you can bet the ER heartthrob wishes he could use a time machine to go back and prevent this experience from ever happening. 

Renee Zellweger - Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation

Out of the Oscar-winning pair of Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey, it’s a safe bet that Ms. Zellweger would be the one who’d want to keep Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation off the table of discussion. Then again, she might be a bit more relaxed on the subject since so much time has passed. 

Robert Downey Jr. - The Shaggy Dog

Early on in his mid-Aughts comeback, Robert Downey Jr. diversified his acting portfolio with everything from Kiss Kiss Bang Bang to Good Night, and Good Luck. And mixed in with the lot was his role as the antagonist in Tim Allen’s remake of The Shaggy Dog. Downey would probably talk about the movie if asked, but one has to wonder what he’d say? 

Emma Watson - The Circle

For someone like Emma Watson, an actor who chooses their projects with a level of mindfulness and message in mind, The Circle must have seemed like a good choice. But the eventual public reaction to the film may have caused the Harry Potter vet to think twice even before approaching source material with names as storied as author Dave Eggers and director James Ponsoldt attached. 

Eddie Murphy - The Adventures of Pluto Nash

The Adventures of Pluto Naash is a habitual punching bag when folks choose to talk about the most infamous disasters in movie history. And thanks to that distinction, even the very open Eddie Murphy wouldn’t be mistaken for keeping this sci-fi/comedy flameout away from the conversation. 

Lucy Liu - Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever is an infamous movie without even taking into account that it somehow managed to snag the star power of Lucy Liu into its clutches. Admittedly, so few people remember this one that it doesn’t feel like she’d have to be on guard for random fans mentioning its existence. 

Matt Damon - The Great Wall

You might think that the “white savior” worries of Matt Damon’s character in The Great Wall are the reason he might not want to talk about this massive box office dud. But the fact of the matter is, he’d probably politely decline any discussion on the matter because it was a thundering failure that didn’t really win him any new fans.

Jennifer Lawrence - Dark Phoenix

How much did Jennifer Lawrence distance herself from the X-Men movies by time she made Dark Phoenix? Well, not only was her time in makeup severely reduced/scaled back in quality, but she died quite early in the final X-Men prequel from the Fox days. Maybe that's part of why the two-part structure was abandoned prior to its release. 

Sylvester Stallone - Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot

It’s the movie so bad that Arnold Schwarzenegger tricked Sylvester Stallone into starring in it. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot is still a punch line for the Rocky franchise star/director, even decades after the film was released and tanked. One has to wonder how awkward some of those Planet Hollywood openings were, thanks to this awkward piece of history existing.

Lily Collins - Rules Don’t Apply

Actor Lily Collins is a talent that has the old Hollywood look down to a tee and isn’t afraid to show it. That confidence is probably what got her cast in Warren Beatty’s misguided rom-com Rules Don’t Apply, and to be fair, she and co-star Alden Ehrenreich are two of the only bright spots in this mostly forgettable throwback. 

Eddie Redmayne - Jupiter Ascending

If anyone is ready to admit Eddie Redmayne’s Jupiter Ascending performance is bad, it’s the man himself. While some might be inclined to give him more credit for his work in the Wachowski’s far-flung space opera, Redmayne’s criticisms of his role do come with some important caveats. 

Jennifer Hudson - Sandy Wexler

Adam Sandler is a talent who’s able to draw a wide range of actors into his orbit, and his Netflix movie Sandy Wexler was no exception. Playing a talent agent who knows a good client when he sees one, Jennifer Hudson is one of the people he rightfully tries to fast-track to fame. By no means does that proper judgment mean that this movie is something she, or most viewers, would even remember.

Hugh Jackman - Pan

Some flops crash and burn with very little trace of the wreckage. Others, like the Hugh Jackman starring Peter Pan adaptation Pan, collapse under ill-fated ambitions that don’t end up adding up in the end. But at least we got Jackman’s Captain Hook singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” in a totally bonkers musical number.

Pedro Pascal - Wonder Woman 1984

Pedro Pascal is almost universally recognized as one of, if not the best part of Wonder Woman 1984. That still feels like a far cry from something The Mandalorian star would even want to discuss, as its infamy is something that still echoes pretty strongly so close to its initial execution.

Dame Judi Dench - Cats

You can always count on an acting talent as iconic as Dame Judi Dench to tell it like it is. And whether it was reacting to her Razzie award nomination or the final look of her character in 2019’s Cats, she certainly hasn’t left any of her thoughts to the imagination. 

Daisy Ridley - Chaos Walking

One would probably think that Daisy Ridley would merely not want to remember Chaos Walking because of its unsuccessful bid for box office success. However, the protracted production and crazy amounts of reshoots and edits have probably ensured that the Star Wars vet has actually forgotten the ins and outs of this failed YA franchise.

Ben Kingsley - A Sound of Thunder

You don’t get to be an actor as legendary as Ben Kingsley without logging some seriously wild projects like A Sound of Thunder on your resume. This 2005 sci-fi disaster is so ill-regarded that its Game Boy video game adaptation is seen as a more favorable experience. That’s both terribly unique and just plain old terrible. 

Brendan Fraser - Monkeybone

Brendan Fraser is a lovable actor who knows how, and when, to get goofy. It’s just a shame that a project like Monkeybone never understood how to use those skills to its advantage, saddling The Mummy star with a movie that he more than likely hasn’t thought about for some time. 

Scarlett Johansson - Ghost In The Shell

There are some who might defend the live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson. Considering how much the movie has been rejected by even the source anime’s fans, and the kerfluffle that came from her casting as Major Mira Killian being seen as a bit of whitewashing, this project is probably one that the Marvel veteran would reasonably remain silent on.

Keanu Reeves - 47 Ronin

It’s not Keanu Reeves’ fault that 47 Ronin was a stinker for the ages. Although if one were to mention the movie to him in passing, he’d probably just smile and laugh, charmingly admitting defeat in that particular case of cinematic disaster. 

Will Smith - Gemini Man

What’s worse than a movie failing with one Will Smith in the starring role? Apparently, a technologically advanced picture like Gemini Man, which saw Smith playing against a CGI de-aged younger version of himself. Finally, a movie that rivals Wild Wild West for infamy on Mr. Smith’s resume.

Jack Nicholson - How Do You Know?

Jack Nicholson has been comfortably retired ever since making 2010’s How Do You Know? One has to wonder if he’d be equally as comfortable if he were to be prompted to remember the experience and the fallout that came from its release into theaters. 

As you can see, even the most talented of actors have their potential sore spots in conversation. Maybe they're not as shy about discussing these films as we'd think, and you can get a good story out of the deal. In any case, if there was a class of losers that the best and brightest of Hollywood wished they could forget, this is more than a formidable crop of titles that would fit that bill for good reason.

There has been a lot of talk about "nepo babies" over the last few years, and while it may seem like every actor has famous parents. That is hardly the case though, of course. Many of our favorite actors come from much more humble roots. So let's celebrate those stars with this list of actors who came from blue-collar backgrounds. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Growing up in Ohio Sarah Jessica Parker had a huge family, with seven siblings and step-siblings. She's talked about how there were times her parents struggled to pay the bills and were even on welfare for a time. Though her mom ran a nursery and her stepdad was a truck driver, they still found a way to support Parker's show business dreams and eventually moved to New York so she could star on Broadway. 

James Dean

James Dean is one of the most tragic stories in Hollywood history, and his upbringing was pretty rough too. His father left when he was a toddler and his mother supported the two of them as a single mother during The Depression. That is until she passed away when Dean was only nine. He moved to Ohio and lived with his aunt and uncle where things stabilized for him. After graduating high school, he moved to LA and embarked on his all-too-brief career. 

Maisie Williams

Though she found fame at early age with Game of Thrones Maisie Williams' family struggled when she was younger. She was raised in a council house (public housing in the UK) until she was cast in the hit HBO show at age 12. 

Jeremy Strong

Jeremy Strong may play a scion to one of the wealthiest families on TV in Succession, but in real life, he had a much more humble upbringing. Strong grew up in the blue-collar area of Jamaica Plain in Boston and his father was a guard in juvenile jails in town. Eventually the family moved to the more upscale town of Sudbury, where he went to high school and discovered acting. 

Samuel L. Jackson

For most of his career, Samuel L. Jackson was a blue-collar actor working as much as he could. That makes with his upbringing as the son of a single mother who worked in a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Shania Twain

Shaina Twain is best known as a country singer, of course, but she's done a little acting over her impressive career as well. It's a career that has taken far away from her humble roots outside Toronto, Ontario, where the family struggled. Those struggles led to her finding gigs as a singer at a young age and the rest is history.

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton had a rough upbringing in the UK. Nine of her formative years were spent in foster care when her parents, who were addicts, weren't able to care for her. She had a couple of scraps with the law herself but started getting acting work in her teens and it all came together. 

Dolly Parton

There is no more revered person in Hollywood (or Nashville) than the great Dolly Parton. She's often talked about her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee as one of 12 children. She has always praised how her mother kept the family together through hard times and when Parton was 18 she moved to Nashville and hit the big time pretty quickly as a songwriter and a singer. 

Adam Driver

Megalopolis star Adam Driver moved around a lot as a kid, living all over from San Diego to Indiana. His stepfather was a Baptist preacher, but he was mostly raised by his mother in Indiana. After the September 11th attacks, he joined the Marines and served, like many other actors have over the years, for a few years before being discharged for a medical reason and starting his acting career. 

Al Pacino

Al Pacino grew up mostly in the South Bronx, and anyone from New York can tell you that the South Bronx in the '40s and '50s was a tough place to live. By his own admission he got in trouble a lot, as often happens with kids with hard working parents. Even as a actor early in his career he couch-surfed with friends until he started landing gigs regularly. 

Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard's family experienced the American Dream, according to the actor and podcast host. His mom worked at GM while he was growing up near Detroit and the family struggled, but as he got older, his mom's career grew and she moved up the ranks from janitor to executive, so by the time Shepard was in high school, she was quite successful. 

Ice Cube

Any fan of N.W.A. knows about Ice Cube's roots in South Central LA as the son of a janitor and a groundskeeper. As a result of desegregation, Ice Cube had the opportunity to get bussed out of Compton and out to the suburbs, where he thrived in English class, something he would make good use of later in life as the principal lyricist for one of the most successful rap acts of all time. 

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson, who has won the famed EGOT, was raised with her two siblings by a single mother on the South Side of Chicago. She started working in local theater at a young age and famously worked on the Disney Cruise line before auditioning for American Idol in the show's third season, which was, of course, her big break. 

Mel Brooks

The legendary Mel Brooks, like so many of his generation, was the child of immigrants. He was raised very poor in Brooklyn surrounded by people who worked in the garment industry. Instead of following in their footsteps, he went into show business and the world is luckier for it. 

Joan Crawford

Screen legend Joan Crawford would die a very rich woman, but she started life as the daughter of a construction worker in Texas. After her parents split up and her mother remarried, her stepfather got in trouble in Texas and the family moved to Kansas City where Crawford attended Catholic school as a work student. 

Jim Carrey

At one point Jim Carrey was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, which is far cry from his humble beginnings in and around Toronto. For a time, Carrey has admitted, they were even homeless. Eventually his father found more stable employment and after dropping out of high school Carrey worked on his stand up routine and took shifts at a nearby factory. 

Misha Collins

Supernatural star Misha Collins grew up working class in Boston and he has said in the past that his family spent some time unhoused. He was lucky enough to gain admission to a prep school, which led him to the University of Chicago and eventually an internship at The White House during the Clinton administration before he concentrated on his acting career. 

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson has been a part of two of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, Star Wars and the MCU. It wasn't always the big time for her though. Her mother was a teenager when she was born and never married Dawson's father, but did marry another man, from whom Dawson takes her last name. He was a construction worker first in New York and later in Texas. 

Jessica Chastain

Though she doesn't talk much about her upbringing, we do know that Jessica Chastain's stepfather was a firefighter and that her family life was a struggle growing up. She grew up in Sacramento with four siblings, though she lost one to suicide when she was in her early 20s. Chastain started acting as a kid and her career would eventually take off and she would become one of the most beloved and acclaimed actors of her generation. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Born of Uganda immigrants in London, Daniel Kaluuya was raised on a council estate in one of the city's most famous blue-collar areas, Camden. He didn't know his father growing up, but he excelled in school and started acting in plays while there. he started landing paying gigs in his teens and the rest is history.

Hilary Swank

Though she has humble roots as the daughter of an army soldier, Hilary Swank grew up in a stable household and even after her parents split up when she was 15, her mother moved with Swank to the LA area so she could try her hand at Hollywood. That bet paid off as Swank has been one of the best actresses around for decades. 

Charlie Chaplin

It could be argued that Charlie Chaplin was the first bonafide superstar of the silver screen. While he would eventually become Hollywood's biggest star and one of the most financially successful moviemakers of his era, his childhood was a hardscrabble upbringing in central London. His parents had no capacity to raise children and he bounced around reform schools and other group homes as a kid before finding his way, first in the theater then later in silent films. 

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez famously grew up "on the 6," meaning the 6-Train through the Bronx in New York City. Her father had a job as a computer technician and Lopez had a solid, yet definitely blue-collar upbringing. 

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has starred in some of the best roles in Hollywood over the last four decades, and one of them, Woody Boyd on Cheers, reflected his actual blue-collar roots in Indiana. The story of Woody Boyd and Woody Harrelson are pretty similar, as both were raised in rural Indiana. Harrelson was famously locked up in prison for most of his upbringing, and he eventually died in prison after Harrelson's career had taken off. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis was actually born on plantation in South Carolina, if you can believe it. She was raised mostly in Rhode Island, however, but it was a hard upbringing which has described of being very financially unstable. 

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig may be famous for playing suave, debonair, and sophisticated characters, but that's nothing like his upbringing. His father was a construction worker and bar manager, though Craig does have aristocratic ancestors. 

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix (and his late brother River) had a wild upbringing. His parent were part of a cult called the Children of God and Phoenix spent much of his early life living in South America as his parents traveled as missionaries for the religious group. Eventually, the family left the cult, adopting the name "Phoenix" as a sign of their rebirth as a family in a new life.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is famously one of the richest people in Hollywood, but that's not how she started out. Her mother was a teenager in Milwaukee, but before long Winfrey found herself in Nashville living with the man she considers her father. While still a teen in Nashville, she started working in radio, which would eventually lead to her media empire. 

Bella Thorne

The whole reason Bella Thorne became a professional actor was to help support her family growing up. After her father was killed in a car wreck when she was ten, Thorne's mother was left to raise four children on her own. It was a tough upbringing, but the acting gigs started coming more and more often and got her big break on the Disney Channel's Shake It Up in 2010. 

James Caan

James Caan was in some of the best movies in Hollywood history. The list of Caan's best movies is incredible. His father was a deli meat salesman and he grew up in the blue-collar neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, in New York City. He found acting while he briefly attended Hofstra, where he would also meet Francis Ford Coppola, who would give the role of Sonny in The Godfather years later. 

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez was raised by a single mother who had Gomez when she was just 16. Gomez has never been resentful, it seems, and credits her with raising her under such trying conditions. Gomez caught the acting bug at a pretty young age and ws soon landing shows on kids shows, leading to the insanely successful career we all know and love. 

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had the definition of a blue-collar upbringing as the son of a beautician and an employee of the water company in his hometown of New York City. His parent worked hard to make sure he got a good education and after graduating from Fordham, he embarked on one of the most successful Hollywood careers of all time. 

With the 96th Academy Awards on the horizon, multiple music superstars are up for Oscars (usually in the Score and Song categories). Musicians are routinely up for those categories. However, there are rare cases where music artists have garnered acting nominations for their film performances. Some music superstars scored Academy Awards, including Barbra Streisand, Cher, Jared Leto, and Will Smith. Others garnered at least one Oscar nom, including Queen Latifah, Andra Day, Mary J. Blige, Frank Sinatra, and Bette Midler. There’s another category – those who got acclaim but failed to secure a well-deserved Oscar nomination or win.

So, here are some great musicians who should have won an Oscar for their acting turn.

Jennifer Hudson - Respect

Of course, most viewers know Jennifer Hudson has the vocal chops to pull off any musical film moment (i.e., Dreamgirls and Cats). However, Hudson took on her most challenging role yet – the Queen of Soul and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic Respect.

Much like Jamie Foxx in Ray, the Oscar winner sang Franklin’s songs live due to having a similar vocal range and tone to the late singer. However, Hudson’s acting chops are rivaled by her vocal abilities. She became the soul music icon through her speech, mannerisms, and personality. This technique was possible as Hudson studied Franklin, who handpicked the actress. The talk show host showed her emotional range, covering Franklin’s highlights and lowlights.

While Jennifer Hudson snagged a SAG nomination, it didn’t translate into a Best Actress Oscar nomination despite winning Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls in 2007. The film is available to stream on Peacock.

Tupac Shakur - Juice

Most moviegoers know Tupac Shakur was a rap legend taken from the world too soon. However, Shakur was a rising Hollywood star with his first lead role in the 1992 coming-of-age film Juice as delinquent Roland Bishop.

The rapper’s acting background shone through as he played a street kid. The role saw his metamorphosis from a bullied militant delinquent to a homicidal psychopath. He captured being fearful and frustrated to ruthless, blood-thirsty, and menacing. Shakur shined the most in scenes with co-stars Omar Epps, Khalil Kain, and Jermain Hopkins. At the same time, he was a scene-stealer playing against veterans like Samuel L. Jackson.

Despite receiving praise from critics, this didn’t translate to any awards love, including the Academy Awards. The cult classic is available on streaming platforms, including Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

Janet Jackson - For Colored Girls

Most viewers think of Janet Jackson as a veteran performer and a member of the Jackson music dynasty. However, Jackson returned to her thespian roots by playing successful lawyer Joanna “Jo” Bradmore (aka Lady in Red) in the 2010 stage-to-screen adaptation For Colored Girls.

The pop superstar explored a new side as the actress by tackling the character’s duality as a successful attorney and oblivious wife. She’s stern and controlling in every aspect while seeking love in a loveless marriage. Jackson tapped into her play counterpart by channeling anger, hostility, and frustration. Those emotions led to the Grammy winner focusing on Jo’s personality and mannerisms in tune with her associated color.

While Janet Jackson did receive acclaim for the role, the praise didn’t translate into any awards season love, including the Oscars. Watch the female-centric melodrama by streaming it through an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Macy Gray - Training Day

Macy Gray burst onto the music scene with a unique voice and style. So, her first film role was no different as she played the small but memorable role of Sandman’s wife in the 2001 Oscar-winning film Training Day.

Playing the wife of a drug dealer marked a complete departure from her eccentric music persona. She was a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking mother who didn’t mind mixing it up with the police. Gray became the character as she faced off against acting veterans Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke with ease, coming off as intimidating and condescending. She came off as an authentic ride-or-die wife, fitting into the movie’s gritty and amoral world.

Garnering acclaim for her debut role wasn’t enough to hear her name called for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Review the singer’s film debut by watching Training Day through a Netflix subscription.

Diana Ross - Lady Sings the Blues

After launching a successful solo music career, Diana Ross leveraged her music success to launch a successful film career. Ross made a splash in her debut film – 1972’s Lady Sings the Blues – playing troubled jazz singer Billie Holiday.

Before Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx, the Motown legend poured all her effort into becoming the beloved music figure. She nailed the late music icon's speaking style, mannerisms, and personality. Ross showed a range of emotions as she had to tackle the jazz legend’s tragic beginnings, music stardom, and downward spiral. Her chemistry with co-stars Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor only amplified those moments.

Her debut film performance secured Diana Ross multiple Best Actress nominations, including the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Unfortunately, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer lost the coveted prize to Liza Minnelli's Cabaret performance. See why Ross snagged an Oscar nom by buying/renting the musical biopic on DVD and Blu-ray.

Harry Belafonte - Buck and the Preacher

While Harry Belafonte was a Hollywood staple dating back to the 1950s, the entertainer rarely got to show his acting range outside of a few movies. Belafonte stepped out of his comfort zone by playing flamboyant and shady Reverend Willis Oaks Rutherford (aka The Preacher) in Sidney Poitier’s 1972 directorial debut, Buck and the Preacher.

Compared to past drama roles, the actor-singer let his usual stoicism go for an over-the-top performance. He got to be charming and humorous while being unfiltered and manipulative. Belafonte played a nice balance of amoral and moral while getting down and dirty during action scenes. The calypso music pioneer was a great scene partner to Poitier and Ruby Dee, especially seeing the longtime friends go from foes to accomplices.

Harry Belafonte did receive praise for his film performance. However, he missed out on securing a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Watch the first all-Black western drama by streaming it through an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Those stellar performances prove the musician-turned-actor is still battling for Hollywood’s respect despite multiple performers proving they can act. This stigma is still prevalent as moviegoers have seen multiple music artists passed over for Oscar recognition. Of course, Jennifer Lopez’s infamous Hustlers snub comes to mind. The Color Purple’s Fantasia Barrino was the latest victim of this stigma despite her acclaimed performance in the movie musical. As the Academy Awards push for more diversity, the voting body might start giving another musician a nod or win for their hard work and dedication.

In the meantime, check out who’s up for an Oscar this year before the 96th Academy Awards air on March 10 on ABC at 7 pm EST. Don’t forget to check out streaming platforms like Max and Netflix to watch all the outstanding performances from this year’s nominees.

Many Hollywood stars don't actually live in California these days. While some of the stars on this list might have a home in LA, they certainly seem to prefer to spend their off time very far away from the glitz and the glamour. Here are just some of the many stars that live outside of the Golden State. 

Nicole Kidman - Nashville

Nicole Kidman and her husband (and fellow Aussie) Keith Urban have quite a few homes around the world, including LA and their native Australia, but it's the greater Nashville area that they call home most of the time. 

Meryl Streep - Connecticut

21-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep was born in New Jersey, went to school at Vassar and Yale, and certainly strikes me as an east coast type of person. While she's lived in LA at times throughout her career, it's Connecticut that she's called home for most of her adult life. She's lived in Salisbury for decades now. 

John Goodman - New Orleans

John Goodman spent years living in LA, but in the '90s he'd had enough of California and he and his Louisiana-born wife made a choice between his hometown of St. Louis, and her home state. They moved to New Orleans, where they've been ever since. 

Matthew McConaughey - Austin

You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, TX, went to school in Austin, and has long lived on a ranch near the Texas state capital and getting fed up with the paparazzi in Malibu.

Bill Murray - Charleston, SC

Bill Murray has lived all over the place, LA, NYC, and Chicago... but he's a known fixture around Charleston, South Carolina and even owns his own restaurant in town called Harold's Cabin. He's also invested in the Charleston minor league baseball team. 

Harrison Ford - Jackson Hole, WY

Harrison Ford moved to LA in the '60s to follow his acting dreams, but once he hit it big, he bailed out. While he does own a home in Brentwood, he spends most of his time at his 800-acre ranch outside Jackson Hole, WY. The ranch has been his primary residence since the 1980s and it seems he prefers to call that home. 

Demi Moore - Idaho

When Covid hit in early 2020, Demi Moore and her daughters holed up together in her longtime house in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were soon joined by her ex-husband and father to her daughters, Bruce Willis. Eventually, Willis' current wife Emma Heming, and her child with Willis also joined the big happy family. Moore has lived in Sun Valley for years and it's often featured on her Instagram page.

Jeff Daniels - Chelsea, MI

Jeff Daniels grew up in the small town of Chelsea, Michigan and as soon as he could after finding success in Hollywood, he moved back. He's a true small-town kind of guy and it makes perfect sense. While he makes his money in Hollywood, his heart is always in Michigan. 

Chris Rock - New Jersey

Chris Rock has always been an East Coast guy. Though he was born in South Carolina, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was a baby. He grew up in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. He started his comedy career in New York City, and for a couple of decades has lived in Alpine, New Jersey.

John Travolta - Ocala, FL

John Travolta loves to fly and is a first-class plane spotter. As such, he seems to have found the perfect place to live. The Pulp Fiction star has called Ocala, FL home for decades now. While that might sound odd, it's not when you find out his house backs up to an actual airport, so he can park his planes right at home. Sounds pretty awesome. 

Tom Cruise - Clearwater, FL

Superstar Tom Cruise actually has houses all over the world. LA and London, for starters. The most surprising place he's owns property though has to be Clearwater, FL. Cruise has what's described in the Tampa newspaper as a "sprawling penthouse" just blocks from the headquarters of the Church of Scientology, to which he has long been an outspoken member, so it makes sense. 

Taylor Swift - Nashville

Music star Taylor Swift grew up in Pennsylvania and Nashville and still has a home in the latter, where she seems to spend a lot of her time when she's not on the road. In fact, she has homes all over the place, including LA, Rhode Island, and New York City. 

Chris Evans

Chris Evans grew up just outside of Boston in the suburb of Sudbury, MA. Even though he's become one of the biggest stars in the world, he's stayed close to home. He and his new bride live nearby where he grew up in Massachusetts, after getting married in Boston. 

Chris Hemsworth - Byron Bay

The Australian native Chris Hemsworth couldn't ignore the siren call of home. After years in Hollywood becoming one of the biggest stars in the world, he decided it was time to move home. He and his wife Elsa Pataky settled in a small surfing community south of Brisbane called Byron Bay in 2015 and have never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones - Texas

Tommy Lee Jones doesn't seem to care much for the trappings of fame, though he has used some of the money he's earned as an actor to buy a huge tract of land in Texas. Jones might be Harvard-educated and work in Hollywood, but he's Texas through and through. 

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - Tishomingo, OK

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani might be Hollywood's most unlikely couple, at least until you see them together. Less surprising is that they split time between her home stomping grounds in LA and his in Oklahoma. The two built a house on Shelton's ranch in Tishomingo, OK, where they spend most of their time. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds - Bedford, NY

The enduring couple of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds don't seem to be interested in big city living, instead opting for the small upstate town of Bedford, NY They maintain a couple of other houses, but their real home is in Westchester County, NY, where they live a quiet, but luxurious life in a small enclave with some celebrity neighbors including Martha Stewart and Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

Mark Ruffalo - Callicoon, NY

Mark Ruffalo is another actor who prefers the peace and quiet of small-town America to the bright lights of Hollywood. The Avengers star and his wife Sunny live in the tiny berg of Callicoon in the Catskill mountains of New York State. 

Elijah Wood - Austin

Elijah Wood doesn't actually live in a shire, like his Lord of the Rings character, but he doesn't live in a huge city, either. Wood has called Austin, TX home for years and a when he was on Hot Ones, he explained where to get all the best meals in town. 

Dave Chappelle - Yellow Springs, OH

Yellow Springs, Ohio might be the last place you'd expect to find a celebrity living among us, but when you understand Dave Chappelle's background, it makes perfect sense. The legendary comedian grew up in Yellow Springs and though he's made a name for himself in Hollywood, the Ohio town is clearly the place he calls home. 

Julia Roberts - Taos, NM

Many years ago, Julia Roberts bought a ranch in Taos, NM, and it seems every year, she spends more and more time there. She even married her husband Danny Moder there. While she does split time in a house in Malibu, closer to work, she seems to prefer the peaceful life of Taos, as she's explained in the past. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Ireland

Long before Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting, he had settled into living in Ireland’s County Wicklow. It's hardly surprising that an actor like Lewis would shun the spotlight, after all, he really only worked when the part really fascinated him, and he retired in 2017 despite unparalleled success as a performer. 

John Cena - Land o' Lakes, Florida

Don't confuse John Cena's hometown of Land o' Lakes, Florida for a stick of butter. The Fast X star has lived in the town outside Tampa for a long time. Even as his star has risen in Hollywood, with a major role in the DCEU as Peacemaker both in The Suicide Squad and his own show, The Peacemaker, Cena has resisted moving to California. 

Vera Farmiga - Woodstock, NY

Upstate New York is a popular place for stars to escape the public eye and Vera Farmiga is one of the stars that prefers it that way. The Many Saints of Newark actor lives in the famous artist colony of Woodstock in the Hudson Valley, following in a long tradition of celebrities retreating to the woods to get out of the spotlight, even when she's popping into rock shows in Woodstock to play Iron Maiden covers in a bar band. 

Woody Harrelson - Maui, HI

Woody Harrelson is definitely a man who moves to the beat of his own drummer, so the fact that he lives in Hawaii is hardly a shock. He even semi-retired for a while at the height of his career. While he's not "off the grid", he's certainly off the beaten path. Thankfully, his home was unaffected by the tragic wildfires earlier this year. 

John Mayer - Livingstone, MT

John Mayer has settled down into a much quieter life in recent years. The Dead & Co guitar player has found peace and quiet in the small Montana town of Livingstone. While life on the road certainly has its wild times, one would think, it must be nice for Mayer to get back home for some relaxing peace. 

Ken Jennings - Seattle, WA

Despite being named co-host of Jeopardy! a couple of years ago, and really taking a shine to the gig that shoots in LA, Ken Jennings does not seem to have plans to permanently relocate to Southern California. Jennings and his family have long called Seattle home and it seems he's happy to commute when it's time to shoot new episodes of the legendary game show. 

Robert De Niro - New York City

It's hard to imagine Robert De Niro living anywhere but New York. He just doesn't seem to be a California type of guy at all, right? He even helped get the Tribeca Film Festival off the ground, which bolstered not only NYC but the actual neighborhood he lives in in Manhattan as it struggled to recover from the 9/11 attacks. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is bi-coastal, for sure. She does have a house in LA, but her husband Cooke Maroney is an art dealer whose business and gallery are in New York City, so she seems to spend most of the time she's not working in the Big Apple. 

Dan Aykroyd - Sydenham, Ontario

Dan Aykroyd has always been proud to be Canadian and he's been a longtime resident of Sydenham, Ontario, near Kingston, ON, not too far from where he grew up in Ottawa. 

Jennifer Hudson - Chicagoland Area

Superstar Jennifer Hudson is a Chicago girl and as such, she's stayed close to home. She may be a worldwide star, but Chicago is what made her who she is today and despite the means to live anywhere, Hudson chooses to live in the suburb of Burr Ridge, outside Chi-Town. 

Nikki Glaser - St. Louis, MO

Despite being the hometown of a lot of huge stars like John Goodman, Sterling K. Brown, Jenna Fischer, and Jon Hamm, most don't stay in town. The exception to that rule is comedian and comedy roast specialist Nikki Glaser. She moved back during the pandemic and found it much more fulfilling to live in her hometown than on either coast. 

While Los Angeles may be the city of dreams, it's not always the city of permanent residence for stars that have reached those lofty heights. Most may get their start on the West Coast but many of the biggest stars in the world don't live in California. 

The holiday season is upon us, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, but it seems the onslaught of Christmas comes earlier each year. Stores have had Christmas displays up for weeks, and some have even dared to start playing the festive songs that come with the season. When to start the holiday celebrations can be a touchy subject, as many prefer to wait until after the turkey’s been carved. Others, however, will take as much of the Christmas spirit as they can get. Blake Shelton falls into the latter category, and I couldn’t agree with his reasoning more.

The topic of yuletide celebrations came up when Blake Shelton reunited with Jennifer Hudson, another former coach of The Voice, on her talk show. When the American Idol alum asked the cowboy if he thought people should don their ugly Christmas sweaters and put their holiday decorations up before Thanksgiving, he had a strong response, saying on a clip from The Jennifer Hudson Show: 

I am in complete agreement with the country singer. For one thing, to each his own. If putting up Christmas decorations in November or, dare I say, October brings joy to someone’s life, who are any of us to take that away from them? Secondly, stringing holiday lights and getting the other accoutrements on display is such a chore, and what’s more depressing than loading everything back into the attic at New Year’s? I say the more time between these two deeds, the better.

It’s no secret that Blake Shelton is a big fan of Christmas. He and wife Gwen Stefani have each released Christmas albums full of both covers and original music, pairing up for a duet of “You Make Me Feel Like Christmas” and recording separate versions of “Christmas Eve” for their respective albums. 

Blake Shelton is also crushing the Hallmark game with his Christmas movies produced with mom Dorothy Shackleford. This year’s upcoming Hallmark movie, Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas (which is available to stream now on Hallmark Movies Now and will premiere at 8 p.m. ET November 30 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) will be the sixth installment of the series based on his song “Time for Me to Come Home.”

The “No Body” singer isn’t the only celebrity who goes all-out for the holidays. Candace Cameron Bure has said she likes to jump into Christmas mode right after Halloween. Steve Harvey, as well, says his wife makes sure they always have a huge Christmas tree, and given the pictures of their holiday set-up, I sure hope they follow Blake Shelton’s advice and allow themselves to enjoy the merriment for longer than just the month of December. 

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, no matter how early, check out our 2023 Christmas movie schedule to see what’s on TV and streaming. 

From all the winners at America's Got Talent to some of the best singers on The Voice, plenty of great competition shows have introduced us to some incredible talent over the years. However, nothing quite beats one of the most iconic competition shows of all time: American Idol. With more than twenty seasons under its belt, here are the most successful American Idol contestants, from the audition room to the winners. 

Kelly Clarkson 

One of the most successful people in American Idol history is Kelly Clarkson. The winner of the first season of the show, she not only went on to have mega-hits like "Since U Been Gone" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," she has also worked in television and has her own talk show called The Kelly Clarkson Show. 

Kelly Clarkson has also gone on several tours where she headlined, including in 2019 for "The Meaning of Life" tour. Clarkson also had a part of the Trolls World Tour cast, and she appeared as a coach on The Voice from 2018-2021 and then returned in 2023. She's certainly has had an impressive career – and I have a feeling we'll only see more of her. 

Katharine McPhee

Katharine McPhee was the runner-up of Season 5 of American Idol, and she has released five studio albums since. McPhee has also appeared in various movies, such as The Tiger Rising and Bayou Caviar, as well as shows like Smash, The Masked Singer and Lip Sync Battle. She also played Jenna Hunterson in the musical Waitress on Broadway. 

Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler finished sixth on the fifth season of American Idol, and she has released four studio albums. She also competed on Dancing with the Stars with Derek Hough, and she hosted her own show called Pickler & Ben. She's been in a few Hallmark movies as well, including Christmas at Graceland. 

Carrie Underwood 

Carrie Underwood was the winner of the fourth season, and she became a major star afterward with hits like "Before He Cheats" and "Jesus, Take the Wheel." She has won several Grammy awards, released many studio albums and appeared on TV shows many times. Her album, Denim & Rhinestones, was released in 2022. 

Something else that is also essential to bring up is that Underwood actually did a live version of The Sound of Music back in 2013, where she played Maria Rainir in the NBC original production. She had a guest role on the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai too, where she played herself.

Caleb Johnson 

Caleb Johnson won the Season 13 of American Idol. He did release a solo album, but he has worked with many bands across the states, and in 2023, released Paradise Found: Bat Out of Hell Reignited with the Neverland Express band. 

Todrick Hall 

Todrick Hall was on the ninth season of American Idol, and he was eliminated during the Top 16 round. After he was sent home, he went on to have a very successful online career on YouTube, and he has amassed a global fan base. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, and in 2023, traveled around the United States on his tour called The Velvet Rage. 

Jennifer Hudson 

Jennifer Hudson came in seventh place on American Idol in Season 3, but she arguably has had the most success outside the show. Aside from her releasing music, Hudson also went into acting and won an Academy Award for her role in the film Dreamgirls. She's also won a Grammy, Tony and Emmy, which means she's the only American Idol contestant to have achieved EGOT status. 

She has since appeared in many other movies, including Sing, Cats, The Three Stooges, The Secret Life of Bees, Chi-Raq, and more. She also starred as Aretha Franklin and led the cast of Respect, and she was in the 2022 movie Tell It Like a Woman. Also in 2022, she premiered her own talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery won Season 10 of American Idol, and he has released five studio albums so far. He also stepped into writing a bit and co-wrote the Hallmark movie Five More Minutes. 

Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino won the third season, and she has released seven studio albums since then. Barrino has also made an impact on the stage. Notably, she played Celie in the musical production of The Color Purple on Broadway, a role she was able to reprise for the 2023 The Color Purple musical film.

Haley Reinhart

Haley Reinhart placed third on the tenth season of American Idol, and she has released five studio albums. She's also headlined four tours so far, and she even had a role in the Netflix film We Can Be Heroes, the perfect follow-up to Sharkboy & Lavagirl. 

Phillip Phillips 

Phillip Phillips won the eleventh season of American Idol, has released four studio albums, and has gone on several tours. Most notably, Phillips had the best-selling American Idol song with "Home," per THR, which broke records when it came out. 

Elliott Yamin

Elliot Yamin placed third on the fifth season of American Idol, but he has gone on to release nine studio albums since then. He's also collaborated with several folks in the music industry, including Taylor Hicks, DJ Sanjoy, and more. 

Ruben Studdard

Ruben Studdard won Season 2 of American Idol, and he has since released seven studio albums. Studdard has also appeared in several TV shows, including 8 Simple Rules, All of Us, Lifted, Eve, and more. 

Jordin Sparks 

Jordin Sparks is another major winner from American Idol, taking home the championship in the sixth season. The singer has released four studio albums and has gone on several tours since her time on the famous show. Her biggest songs include major hits like "No Air" and "Battlefield." 

She was also a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, and she had a stint on Broadway where she had roles in both In the Heights and Waitress. 

Danny Gokey

Danny Gokey placed third place on Season 8 of American Idol, and despite not winning, he has released eight studio albums. Most of his music is related to contemporary and Christian genres, and he has won many awards and earned several nominations, including Grammy Awards. 

David Archuleta 

David Archuleta finished second in American Idol during the seventh season. Afterward, he went on to create eight studio albums. He's appeared in several shows as himself, including The Masked Singer, and he has also done a lot of philanthropy. Archuleta has opened up about his time on American Idol too, which was a less-than-pleasant experience. But he did end up gaining a wide fanbase from it. 

David Cook 

David Cook won the seventh season of American Idol, and he has released four studio albums and gone on tour. He was also in a production of Kinky Boots on Broadway. 

Kimberley Locke

Kimberley Locke placed third on Season 2 of American Idol, but she's still released six studio albums. Aside from music, Locke has worked with several charities, including the "Pink for a Cure" campaign, and has her own charity called Camp Heartland.

Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks is the Season 5 winner of American Idol, and he has done a lot in the music industry since his win. While he released two independent albums before his time on the Idol stage, he released two more studio albums after he won. In 2019, he had a starring role as Charlie Anderson in a stage production of Shenandoah. 

Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo was the runner-up of the third season of American Idol, and since her time on the show, she has released two studio albums. Aside from her time in music, she's also worked a decent amount in philanthropy, and she is an ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Something else that is good to know is that DeGarmo actually ended up marrying another Idol contestant, Ace Young. 

Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert is one of those stars everyone knows. He was the runner-up of the eighth season, but he has gone on to release five studio albums, and he performs with Queen as their frontman. He was also in a TV production of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Along with that, he had a recurring role on the Ryan Murphy-created series Glee – where he arguably sang some of the absolute best covers on the series. "Marry the Night" stays stuck in my head. 

Lauren Alaina 

Lauren Alaina was the runner-up of the tenth season of American Idol, and she has since gone on to release three studio albums and headlined three tours. She's also won several awards in country music and was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars during Season 28. 

Chris Daughtry

Another major star from American Idol is Chris Daughtry, who actually placed fourth during the fifth season. However, Daughtry went on to release eight studio albums and created the band Daughtry, which has won several awards and has gone on many tours since. He also competed in The Masked Singer in 2019, becoming the first season's runner-up. 

William Hung 

William Hung is a particular case here. Hung actually never made it past the audition phase of American Idol during Season 3. However, his rendition of "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin ended up becoming so popular that he gained a lot of international fame. Even in that appearance, he went on to pop up in several television programs, including Saturday Night Live. Aside from his appearances on TV, he also has released two studio albums. 

Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken ended up finishing second place on American Idol during the second season of the show, but he has still released six studio albums. 

However, Aiken is an interesting case because he made a complete career change, went into politics and ran for Congress. But it's not like someone in the entertainment industry hasn't done this before – two pretty big examples are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan, both of whom were in movies before they went into politics. 

Kris Allen

Kris Allen won the eighth season of American Idol, and he has gone on to release six studio albums so far. His most famous song is "Live Like We're Dying," which peaked at number 18 in the United States after it came out in 2009. Allen has also done a lot in philanthropy, working with the United Nations Foundation and Heifer International. 

Mandisa 

Mandisa is another example of someone who finished far behind in American Idol, only placing ninth but has released six studio albums. She is mainly known for her Gospel music, which actually won a Grammy Award back in 2014, so it's clear she's been doing fine on her own even if she didn't place in the top eight. 

Blake Lewis 

Blake Lewis was the runner-up on Season 6 of American Idol, and he has released four studio albums since his time on the show. Lewis is also known for his collaboration with other American Idol contestants and has since become invested in voice work as well. He even had a role on Generator Rex. 

Ace Young 

Ace Young came in seventh place on American Idol, and he has released one studio album since. He moved to Broadway and took over the role of Berger in Hair. He is also the contestant who later married former American Idol contestant Diana DeGarmo. 

Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini was the runner-up of the first season of American Idol, and he has since released two albums. He's appeared in many TV shows and has done a lot of theater work, including parts in shows such as Chicago, Company, Mamma Mia!, In Transit, and in 2023, Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway. 

Crystal Bowersox  

Crystal Bowersox was the runner-up on the ninth season of American Idol, and she has released four studio albums so far. She still performs pretty regularly, and she is pretty active on Instagram, so she can stay connected to her fans. 

Constantine Maroulis

Constantine Maroulis placed sixth on the fourth season of American Idol, but still released three studio albums. Aside from that, he starred in the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, a role that earned him a Tony nomination. 

So many contestants from American Idol have gone on to do great things. One thing for sure is that we will have music for decades from these incredible musicians and performers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel the need to sing "Since U Been Gone" at the top of my lungs again. 

She was simply the best. Tina Turner, an iconic singer and actress, has died at the age of 83, and as the tributes roll in, there’s reminder after reminder about how beloved she was. Following reports that the Queen of Rock n’ Roll passed away on Wednesday after a “long illness” in her home in Switzerland, celebrity reactions are rolling on a river of tears and gratitude for her. 

Among the big names paying tribute to Tina Turner on the day of her death is Halle Berry. The actress posted this on Instagram:  

The image sees Halle Berry being embraced by Turner alongside Oprah Winfrey and Alicia Keys at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball when she recalled meeting her. The event that took place in 2006 was an event honoring twenty-five African Americans in the entertainment, civil rights and arts sectors. As Berry recalled, the late singer “rearranged” the actress with her presence on that day. Another celebrity also wrote about Turner is Mariah Carey with these words: 

Tina Turner had an impressive career in music that inspired the likes of Carey. The singer had numerous big hits across four decades and 12 Grammy awards. Some of her hits include “Private Dancer,” “The Best” and even the James Bond song “GoldenEye” from the 1995 movie starring Pierce Brosnan. Jennifer Hudson wrote this: 

Hudson thanked Turner for her incredible legacy she's left for the world. Tina Turner was born in 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, and grew up singing in her church choir before breaking into the music industry in the ‘60s. Nicki Minaj also had this to say about the Queen of Rock n’ Roll: 

Turner was a mainstay in the music industry, rolling with the tides between getting her start as a duo with Ike Turner in her early years before going solo in the ‘70s and reinventing herself. The 1993 Tina Turner biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It portrayed the singer’s life, with Angela Bassett playing her. Amidst the passing of Turner, former President Barack Obama also penned the below tribute on social media: 

Tina Turner is survived by her husband and her children. Throughout her lifetime, Turner had two biological sons and adopted two children, one of whom, Raymond Craig Hill, died by a reported suicide back in 2018. Turner died at her home near Zurich, Switzerland. Here’s one more big-name tribute, with Elton John posting this: 

Can you imagine how many incredible artists Tina Turner knew? As family, friends and fans mourn her loss, she has such an incredible life to look back on. If you’d like to learn more about the singer/actress, you can check out the 2021 documentary about her called Tina, which is now streaming with an HBO Max subscription. 

American Idol has served as a launching point for some notable celebrities over the years, even if they weren't the winner crowned in the end. Singer, actress, and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson is without question one of the most notable examples of post-Idol success, and celebrates her thriving career on a daily basis. Despite her icon status, there are indeed fans out there who are still mad she was robbed of a win on the singing competition, as confirmed by former judge Paula Abdul. 

Paula Abdul appeared as a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show, in what some may view as something of a full-circle moment between the two. When the subject of her seventh-place elimination during Season 3 of American Idol came up, Abdul shared that fans will still talk to her about that controversial elimination almost twenty years later: 

Jennifer Hudson's elimination was certainly one of the more egregious and odd eliminations in American Idol's history. Hudson found herself in the Bottom 3 on elimination night alongside LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino. It's been speculated that the three hopefuls ended up in the Bottom 3 due to vote-splitting between fans, as all were praised by the judges for their obvious talents.

One had to go home, however, and it ended up being Jennifer Hudson, much to fans' decades-long feelings of disgust. Fantasia Barrino ended up winning Season 3, but the world clearly didn't give up on Hudson. Paula Abdul recalled the conversation she had with the future talk show host after her elimination, and pointed out how she predicted (if broadly) that Hudson's career would take off: 

Two years after her early exit on American Idol, Jennifer Hudson landed the role of Effie White in the movie Dreamgirls, which netted her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and things really took off from there. Following two Grammy wins, several high-profile films, TV appearances, live performances, and landing her own talk show, it's safe to say life turned out pretty well for her regardless of reality TV fates.

American Idol's judges, and the live-show fans who help vote the winners through, don't always get it right, if there's even an objective "correct" answer at play. While the show's creatives might have some regrets about orchestrating a position that put Jennifer Hudson at a disadvantage, it's hard to imagine that Hudson regrets much about the journey that followed. After all, she ended up getting a talk show just like Kelly Clarkson, who was famously the series' first champ. So maybe the idea of winning American Idol has always been overrated.

This story is a great thing for television audiences to think about as American Idol airs its current season on ABC on Sundays starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. Given viewers got it wrong with Jennifer Hudson, perhaps now might be the best time to revisit some of the audition episodes with a Hulu subscription to help be sure the right contestants are being voted for during the live shows. 

Whether you’ve been a fan of The Voice since the beginning or are a newcomer to the NBC show, we've got everything you need to know about the singing competition's history of superstar coaches and winners right here. This fall, the show's milestone 30th season will hit the 2026 TV schedule, with Adam Levine looking to defend his title after winning last season's "Battle of Champions." He'll have to get through Kelly Clarkson and two talented newcomers to The Voice coaching family to do it though.

The Voice has welcomed 23 superstars so far in its 15-year history to lead the music industry hopefuls, with two more joining for Season 30. Blake Shelton was the longest-running mentor, appearing in the first 23 seasons, but an eclectic array of musicians have come and gone over the years as well. Let’s take a look at all of The Voice coaches, how many seasons they've coached, and all the artists they've led to victory.

Blake Shelton (23 Seasons, 9 Wins)

Blake Shelton is the leader of the pack when it comes to The Voice coaches in both longevity and wins. The longest-serving coach collected nine wins during his 23-season tenure, and he must have left his mark on the artists, as all nine of them showed up to surprise Shelton on his final episode with an emotional group performance. The cowboy returned for the Season 27 finale, but only to perform.

Season 2: Jermaine Paul. Blake Shelton got his first win fairly quickly in The Voice’s run, winning the second season with R&B singer Paul.

Season 3: Cassadee Pope. Country pop singer Pope has released four studio albums since The Voice, and her duet with country singer Chris Young, “Think of You.” went No. 1 on the US Country Airplay chart in 2016.

Season 4: Danielle Bradbery. Blake Shelton completed a three-peat with then-16-year-old Bradbery. She is among artists who found success after The Voice.

Season 7: Craig Wayne Boyd. Team Blake bested three Adam Levine team members in this finale, giving Boyd the crown.

Season 11: Sundance Head. In 2016, Sundance Head beat out competitors who included former child star Billy Gilman. Head was one of many singers on The Voice who also competed on American Idol, and he made headlines in 2024 after accidentally shooting himself in the stomach. He continues to tour as of 2026 and appears to have made a full recovery.

Season 13: Chloe Kohanski. Following her win, Kohanski gave us some behind-the-scenes info about The Voice. In 2019, she began performing as chloe mk, and in 2021 she released the album, All the Same All OK.

Season 18: Todd Tilghman. Pastor and father of eight Tilghman became Shelton’s seventh champion on The Voice. At 42 years old, he is the oldest contestant to win the show.

Season 20: Cam Anthony. The coach’s strategy of clearing the lane for Anthony to be the only R&B singer on his team paid off, as he “changed the show forever” and gave the cowboy an eighth victory.

Season 22: Bryce Leatherwood. This classic country singer used negative online feedback to fuel his upset victory in his coach's penultimate season. Leatherwood sang hits by George Strait, Travis Tritt, Keith Whitley and more en route to the trophy and stands as Blake Shelton’s final champion.

Kelly Clarkson (10 Seasons, 4 Wins)

Blake Shelton may have the most victories, but Kelly Clarkson has notched a pretty impressive win rate, winning 4 out of the 10 times she’s coached (Seasons 14-21, 23, 29). The American Idol OG champ stepped away from The Voice in 2023, whenThe Kelly Clarkson Show's production moved to New York City. She performed in the Season 27 finale before returning as a coach for Season 29, and she'll be back in the Big Red Chairs for Season 30.

Season 14: Brynn Cartelli. In her first year on The Voice, Kelly Clarkson gave A+ advice, leading this 15-year-old pop singer to victory. Cartelli stands as the competition’s youngest winner.

Season 15: Chevel Shepherd. Make that 2-for-2 for the “Breakaway” singer, as 16-year-old Shepherd became the first country artist to win on a team other than Blake Shelton’s.

Season 17: Jake Hoot. This country singer was “in shock” after giving Kelly Clarkson her third win in four seasons. He returned for Season 29's "All-Star Showdown," where he "broke" Kelly Clarkson but also helped her win an extra spot in the finale.

Season 21: Girl Named Tom. This folk trio comprising siblings Joshua, Caleb, and Bekah Liechty made history as the first group to ever win The Voice. They joined Jake Hoot in representing their former coach in Season 29's All-Star contest.

Adam Levine (18 Seasons, 4 Wins)

One of the original coaches, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine served on the panel for the first 16 seasons, contributing to some of the wildest moments in The Voice’s history and forming bromantic rivalry with Blake Shelton. He exited the show ahead of Season 17 for 10 seasons before returning for the 27th and 29th cycles of the competition in 2025 and 2026. He has earned four victories overall, including Season 29's Battle of Champions, and he's confirmed that he'll be back for Season 30.

Season 1: Javier Colon. Adam Levine started off with a bang, taking this singer-songwriter all the way to the end, to be crowned the first champion of The Voice. Colon returned to represent his coach in Season 29's "In-Season All-Star Competition."

Season 5: Tessanne Chin. This Jamaican artist beat out some strong competition in Jacquie Lee and Will Champlin to give the Maroon 5 frontman his second win.

Season 9: Jordan Smith. The singer-songwriter blew all of his competition out of the water, coasting to a victory in 2015. In 2022 he also represented Kentucky on NBC’s American Song Contest, and he joined Javier Colon in Season 29's All-Star Competition.

Season 29: Alexia Jayy. John Legend really shot himself in the foot with this artist, and Adam Levine took her all the way to the finish line in a season full of stunning covers of songs by Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Adele and more.

John Legend (11 Seasons, 1 Win)

EGOT winner John Legend has been a pretty regular figure on The Voice panel since 2019 but has garnered just one victory so far. Legend served as a coach on The Voice on Seasons 16-22, 24, 25, 27 and 29.

Season 16: Maelyn Jarmon. The folk singer wowed voters with her finale covers of Hallelujah and Unforgettable. Funnily, she said the competition was not as stressful to her as the final season of Game of Thrones. Jarmon represented John Legend in Season 29's All-Star competition, along with Season 27 finalist Renzo.

Christina Aguilera (6 Seasons, 1 Win)

Another one of the original panel, Christina Aguilera appeared on six of the first 10 seasons of the NBC competition show (1-3, 5, 8, 10), and won in her final appearance. Two years after her exit, the “Genie in a Bottle” singer said that by Season 10, The Voice had become less about music and more about making good TV moments.

Season 10: Alisan Porter. Some viewers may have recognized the eventual winner from her roles as a child actor, including the titular character of 1991’s Curly Sue. Porter’s victory made Christina Aguilera the first female coach to win a season.

Gwen Stefani (8 Seasons, 1 Win)

The No Doubt frontwoman joined the cast of The Voice in fall 2014, and has scored one win in her eight seasons so far (7, 9, 12, 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26). At the time of her first appearance, she and Blake Shelton were both going through divorces. Fans got to watch their friendship blossom into romance, and in Season 22, they were the show’s first husband-and-wife couple to go to battle. Stefani has appeared on two seasons since Shelton left, but only time will tell if she'll continue to return.

Season 19: Carter Rubin. The 15-year-old pop singer gave Gwen Stefani her first win — beating out two members of her then-fiancé’s team — and became the youngest male winner in series history.

Pharrell Williams (4 Seasons 1 Win)

The “Happy” singer was added to The Voice’s panel in Season 7. He stayed in the Big Red Chairs through Season 10, winning his sophomore effort.

Season 8: Sawyer Fredericks. Following his win at just 16 year's old, Fredericks recorded three albums while touring and playing events for charities, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He is one of several celebrity relatives to compete on The Voice.

Alicia Keys (3 Seasons, 1 Win)

Alicia Keys brought a cool and positive vibe to the panel for Seasons 11 and 12 — winning in her second season — before leaving to record an album. She came back one last time for Season 14 and performed in the Season 27 finale.

Season 12: Chris Blue. The soul singer was the very last contestant picked on this season, completing Keys’ team. This was the only season that the last singer chosen has won the whole competition.

Usher (2 Seasons, 1 Win)

Season 4 marked the first time The Voice switched up its coaches, and Usher came on replacing CeeLo Green. The “My Way” crooner made a second appearance in Season 6, notching his first and only win.

Season 6: Josh Kaufman. Kaufman started his Voice journey on Adam Levine’s team but was stolen by Usher in the Battles. Following the show he joined the Broadway cast of Pippin, and was the last person to play the title role before the revival closed in 2015.

CeeLo Green (4 Seasons, 0 Wins)

OG coach CeeLo Green appeared on Seasons 1-3 before stepping away in Season 4. He returned for Season 5 for a final season. The Gnarls Barkley member brought a certain flair to the panel, as he was often accompanied by his cat and tended to choose more unique artists than his counterparts. Those choices, however, did not translate to wins.

CeeLo Green has returned to The Voice a couple times since his exit, performing on Blake Shelton's final episode, and serving as a Mega Mentor and the judge of the All-Star Competition in Season 29.

Shakira (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer filled in for Christina Aguilera on Seasons 4 and 6, failing to bring an artist to the finale in both seasons.

Jennifer Hudson (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson is probably best remembered for throwing her shoes at the performances she deemed most impressive. She appeared on two seasons (13 and 15), but got no wins. J-Hud returned as a Mega Mentor for Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé’s teams in Season 26, filled in for Kelly Clarkson during the Battles in Season 29, and has also coached on three seasons of The Voice UK.

Miley Cyrus (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

The addition of Miley Cyrus to Season 11, along with Alicia Keys, marked the first time the singing competition featured two female coaches. She returned in Season 13, but the “Wrecking Ball” singer never earned a win.

Nick Jonas (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

Nick Jonas adorned the Big Red Chair in Seasons 18 and 20. While having an artist appear in the finale both seasons, he also failed to take them to victory.

Ariana Grande (1 Season, 0 Wins)

Pop singer Ariana Grande got some good zingers in on Blake Shelton, however, in her sole appearance on the show — Season 21 — she had no artists representing her in the finale. The Wicked star has since said she got too emotionally attached to her team and has no plans to return.

Camila Cabello (1 Season, 0 Wins)

Camila Cabello proved she was a force to be reckoned with in her first time on The Voice. In Season 22 she took one artist, Morgan Myles, to the finale, but was unable to wrestle the win away from the cowboy, Blake Shelton.

Chance the Rapper (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

Chance the Rapper made his debut on The Voice in Season 23, then returned in Season 25. The three-time Grammy Award winner took sister trio Sorelle to the finals in his rookie season but failed to secure an artist in the Season 25 finals. In the Season 27 finale, Chance the Rapper appeared as a performer.

Niall Horan (3 Seasons, 3 Wins)

Former One Direction member Niall Horan joined The Voice family in Season 23, where he struck up a hilariously strong father/son bond with outgoing coach Blake Shelton. It seems the nut didn't fall far from the tree, as Horan has gone undefeated in his three seasons on the show. He stands as the only undefeated coach and the first coach to win their first three seasons (Kelly Clarkson and Michael Bublé won their first two).

Niall Horan joins Blake Shelton as the only two coaches to win three attempts in a row, though Horan's were not in consecutive seasons like Shelton's were (Seasons 2-4).

Season 23: Gina Miles. The soft-spoken 18-year-old spoiled Blake Shelton's goodbye season, edging country singer Grace West in what Carson Daly said was the smallest margin of victory in the show's 23 seasons.

Season 24: Huntley. Niall Horan's long-haired rocker was up against some stiff competition, as all five artists in the Season 24 finale were Four-Chair Turns. He brought it home, though, making it two in a row for his coach.

Season 28: Aidan Ross. The 20-year-old from Texas earned a Four-Chair Turn as the first artist to take the stage for Blind Auditions on his season. He chose to go with Niall Horan and the two never looked back. Halfway through the season, fans were already calling him the winner.

Reba McEntire (4 Seasons, 1 Win)

Reba McEntire joined The Voice for Season 24, replacing fellow country superstar Blake Shelton, and then returned in Seasons 25, 26 and 28. Even before that, though, the three-time Grammy winner had been a friend of the show, helping Team Blake in Season 1, returning in Season 8 and serving as Mega Mentor in Season 23. She has notched one victory on her Voice belt.

Season 25: Asher HaVon. Asher HaVon, a 31–year-old singer from Selma, Alabama, dominated the competition, to the point that after his finale performances, both John Legend and Chance the Rapper agreed the Team Reba singer should win. HaVon was reportedly the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant to win The Voice.

Dan + Shay (1 Season, 0 Wins)

The Voice made history in Season 25 by introducing the Double Big Red Chair for country/pop duo Dan + Shay. The singers were longtime friends of the show, performing with past contestants, serving as Blake Shelton's advisor in Season 20 and filling in for Niall Horan for the Battles in Season 24. Dan + Shay have won three Grammy Awards and had hits with The Voice coaching phenom Kelly Clarkson, as well as Justin Bieber, but were unable to secure a win in their lone season.

Snoop Dogg (2 Seasons, 0 Wins)

Snoop Dogg was apparently so impressive during his gig as the Season 20 Mega Mentor that NBC wanted to bring him on full time. The West Coast rapper and Winter Olympics correspondant joined the coaching panel for the competition’s 26th cycle, and while he suggested he might be one-and-done as a coach, the Gangster Holy Ghost brought him back to the Big Red Chair for Season 28.

Michael Bublé (3 Seasons, 2 Wins)

Season 26 was Michael Bublé's first as a coach, as the five-time Grammy winner appeared on Season 3 as the Battle Advisor for Blake Shelton’s team. The “Home” singer became the fourth coach to win his rookie season (after Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Niall Horan) and the first coach ever to have both the winner and second-place finisher on their first season. (I think he was also the first coach to break their chair.)

He became the third coach after Clarkson and Horan to win their first two seasons, but he couldn't complete the hat trick, losing to fellow (and still) unbeaten mentor Niall Horan in Season 28. Bublé returned as a Battle Advisor in Season 29.

Season 26: Sofronio Vasquez. The 31-year-old from the Philippines and New York became the first Filipino singer to win the competition. He was a Four-Chair Turn who captivated America with covers of artists including Mary J. Blige, Sia and Elvis. Following his win, Michael Bublé announced he was producing Vasquez's EP.

Season 27: Adam David. The blues rocker was a one-chair turn in the Blind Auditions and then needed the help of the Instant Save to make it past the Semifinals, but the 34-year-old from Florida brought home the big prize in the end.

Kelsea Ballerini (1 Season, 0 Wins)

Kelsea Ballerini made her debut in Season 27. As a longtime friend of the singing competition, the country-pop singer served as an honorary fifth coach on Season 15, was Kelly Clarkson’s advisor in Season 16 and filled in for the “Since U Been Gone” singer when she was sick in Season 20.

Queen Latifah: Incoming Rookie

We've talked a lot about Reba McEntire being the "Queen of Country" on The Voice, but Season 30 will see true music royalty in the house when Queen Latifah joins the coaching panel. With a career dating back to the 1980s, this superstar is a Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe winner with an Oscar nomination for the 2002 musical Chicago. I'll be seated.

Riley Green: Incoming Rookie

Country music star and actor Riley Green will also make his debut on The Voice in Season 30, but he's no stranger to the show — Green performed on the finales for Seasons 26 and 28. Also, it sounds like he's living rent-free in Kelly Clarkson's head, because apparently she started trash-talking before production even began.

I'm super pumped to see if Adam Levine can capitalize on his latest victory, but I'd love to see Kelly Clarkson walk away with another win. On the other hand, I'd never underestimate Queen Latifah, and Riley Green is sure having a moment, so whichever way it goes, Season 30 should bring great things.

Stay tuned for updates on when the singing competition will return, with episodes coming this fall to NBC and available to stream next-day with a Peacock subscription.

Jennifer Hudson has come a long way since her days on American Idol. She’s become an EGOT winner, starred in notable movies, released hit albums, and made numerous TV appearances. And more recently, Hudson became a daytime talk show host. An expansive career like this may not be what many imagined for Hudson after she placed sixth place in the popular singing competition’s third season. While looking back at her time on the reality series, the daytime talk host recently spilled on whether she thought she’d win it, and how she felt after her surprising loss.

It's still crazy to think that the Dreamgirls star didn’t win the competition series, given her massive voice. (Though she won an Oscar and two Grammys instead). Hudson touched on her surprising elimination while speaking with Glamour. As a fan favorite, she excelled every week in the singing competition until she got voted off on a night when she and fellow standouts LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino ended up in the bottom three. While reviewing the moment years later, the Cats actress surprisingly admitted that gave a brief answer regarding whether she thought she'd be victorious:

So after being eliminated from the most-watched reality series on TV at the time, she had a positive outlook on not winning the show. She clearly didn’t let her loss defeat her self-confidence. Sadly, many eliminated competitors find minimal success or fade into obscurity altogether, so the Respect star is definitely an outlier in that respect. It's cool to hear that she knew her talent would carry her beyond her time on the former Fox show.

Luckily for her and us, her fortitude to continue beyond Idol has served her overall. Jennifer Hudson proved she could act when she scored the coveted role of Effie White in Dreamgirls, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. And her casting came only months after her elimination, as director Bill Condon was apparently a major fan of hers and wanted her to audition for the role. The starlet followed up the win with a Grammy for her debut self-titled album. Those wins started her on the road to EGOT status, as her Tony and Emmy wins occurred just within the last two years. Hudson's story is a unique one and should serve as a reminder to always believe in yourself.

Viewers can watch the star daily in syndication via The Jennifer Hudson Show, where you see can fun moments like the time the host danced with original Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph. Also, look at our 2022 TV schedule to see what other new talk shows are currently on the air. And can also brush up on Hudson's major career milestones if you're interested.

The legacy of Dreamgirls runs strong amongst notable Hollywood names. Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph originated the role of Deena Jones, scoring a Tony nomination n the process. Over two decades later, Jennifer Hudson went from American Idol contestant to proving she can act as Effie White in the film adaptation, which won her an Oscar. Despite having the musical in common, the two Hollywood powerhouses haven’t shared a Dreamgirls moment until recently. Watch the two Dreamgirls doing an impromptu performance of the musical's beloved song.

The dream moment happened during the second week of Hudson’s self-titled talk show. The interaction was more special as the two women celebrated Ralph’s historic Emmy win. The conversation soon turned to the Tony Award-winning musical as the two actresses connected over their common ground. The Abbott Elementary star reminisced about being intimidated by fellow Dreamgirl Lorette Devine after Hudson asked about being in the original production. She thought she had blown her audition due to her song choice until her name was called at the end of the day. Eventually, remembering her time on Broadway turned into her and the talk show host gave an impromptu performance of the title song. Watch the clip below to see the awestruck Jennifer Hudson follow Sheryl Lee Ralph’s lead.

Hudson turned into a complete fangirl trying to follow Ralph’s moves. It was funny and sweet to see the EGOT winner falling behind as the Moesha alum gave the singer dance lessons. Watching the American Idol alum melt into the Emmy winner’s arms capped off the feel-good nature of the shared moment. The hug between the two actresses was a nice cherry on top.

Seeing the two women share the stage was a nice visual considering the rocky start between the original version of Dreamgirls and the film adaptation. It appears now the original Deena Jones and the Effie White actress are now united by a lifelong musical sisterhood.

The original Dreamgirls stage production was a smash hit upon opening in December 1981. The Broadway musical ended up scoring 11 Tony nominations, with Sheryl Lee Ralph scoring a Leading Actress in a Musical nom, but losing to co-star Jennifer Holliday. The film adaptation added to the stage musical’s legacy when released in 2006. It became a critical and commercial hit. The musical film ended up being an awards season darling, with Jennifer Hudson collecting Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, and Academy awards for Best Supporting Actress.

Now fans get to see Sheryl Lee Ralph weekly as Barbara Howard, with Abbott Elementary’s sophomore season premiering on September 21 at 9 pm EST on ABC. Jennifer Hudson currently has high hopes for The Jennifer Hudson Show, which airs in daily syndication. That doesn’t mean Hudson put her film career to the side, as she is attached to star in the action-thriller Breathe and the female-centric collection Tell It Like a Woman. While neither actress has a film premiering in 2022, there are multiple upcoming movies still set to debut this year.

Not many people have the honor of being an EGOT winner, a.k.a. winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Jennifer Hudson is among those who have the major accomplishment of taking home a trophy in all four events, and she's reminding us of it as she comes to daytime TV with her own show.

Jennifer Hudson has hit some milestones in her career that few ever have, and she’s about to add one more achievement to that list. News of Hudson getting her own talk show initially released last year, and as she prepared to finally break into daytime TV with her show, she showed off her power with her many awards on Twitter:

Hudson posted the photos ahead of her 41st birthday on September 12, which is also the same day that her talk show premiered. And she had early celebrations, reflecting on the major accomplishments she’s already had. As for the “17,” Hudson is the 17th person to become an EGOT winner, it seems that that number will be meaningful for her for the rest of her life.

Obviously, being an EGOT winner is no easy feat, as there are a number of stars that are just one away from an EGOT, and Jennifer Hudson only earned her status a few months ago. The singer won the Tony for Best Musical for A Strange Loop, which she’s a producer on. Of course, Hudson’s new talk show will reference being an EGOT winner and more, and seeing her expand into something else will be interesting to see after how she has succeeded in so many other areas.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson is not the only newbie in the talk show department. Sherri Shepherd is also preparing to premiere her new talk show, SHERRI. Taking over Ellen DeGeneres’ former time slot, Kelly Clarkson recently opened up about the new talk show competition, and she was more than enthusiastic about it, especially since she’ll be having a fellow American Idol star in the daytime TV lineup, which means double the star power.

With a lot of daytime series getting canceled, hopefully Jennifer Hudson’s lasts a long while, and she gets even more awards because of it. Seeing how she does on the other side of the chair as the interviewer rather than interviewee should be fun for her fans to see on a regular basis. And who can doubt that she'll succeed, after she hit EGOT status?

Don’t miss Jennifer Hudson’s brand new talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, airing weekdays. Be sure to check your local listings to see when you can catch the EGOT winner try her hand at being a talk show host! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to in the coming months.

Kelly Clarkson may be taking over the coveted time slot that Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey previously held, but her domination of daytime TV is not guaranteed. While this spring marked the end for such talk show hosts as Wendy Williams, who was replaced after 13 seasons amid health struggles, and Nick Cannon, whose show was canceled after just one season, this fall brings the debut of some new faces to the game in Sherri Shepherd and Jennifer Hudson. Clarkson spoke about her new competition, saying she really doesn’t feel like she’s being pit against them.

Season 4 of The Kelly Clarkson Show will premiere on Monday, September 12. That’s the same day that Sherri and The Jennifer Hudson Show will air premiere episodes. While the trio may be fighting for some of the same audience, Kelly Clarkson told Variety she couldn’t be happier about the opportunity that all three of the women have. She said:

Talk about positivity! The original American Idol champion said that she, Sherri Shepherd and Jennifer Hudson all have the chance to bring something different to daytime television, and I’ve got to say that I love to see women supporting other women on this level. Shepherd seems to be on a similar wavelength to Clarkson, as she has spoken recently about wanting to stay away from the negativity that can sometimes be found on talk shows. Feedback from audiences of The Wendy Williams Show pointed out how “mean” the namesake host could be, and Shepherd hopes to create a more celebrity-friendly environment. 

You can count J-Hud right in there with them when it comes to those positive vibes. The Season 3 American Idol contestant said she hopes her audiences find inspiration from The Jennifer Hudson Show and “feel on top of the world by the time they leave.”

All three hosts seem to be ready to bring some really good energy to their upcoming seasons, and it will be interesting to see how their individual personalities play into their interviews and other segments. While Kelly Clarkson will definitely continue to incorporate music into her revamped talk show, Sherri Shepherd looks forward to filling a void in daytime TV with her background in comedy. EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, for her part, has endless talents to display, so be it music, theater or something else, audiences should have a good variety to choose from.

They won’t have to wait long, either. The Kelly Clarkson Show, Sherri and The Jennifer Hudson Show are set to premiere on Monday, September 12, so check your local listings for time and channel. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what other premieres are coming up soon.

The daytime TV landscape is going to look pretty different when the new and returning talk shows start premiering this fall. This year has seen a bevy of new host announcements, cancellations and, of course, Sherri Shepherd’s takeover of Wendy Williams' slot in the schedule. But as Sherri gets set to premiere, with hopes of filling what Shepherd thinks is a “void” in daytime TV, Jennifer Hudson is not to be overlooked, as a new promo for her talk show proves she’s got big aspirations.

Jennifer Hudson, who recently celebrated a major career milestone by completing her EGOT, is set to make her daytime talk show hosting premiere with The Jennifer Hudson Show this September. A first look at JHud’s show made it look like viewers are in for some singing (naturally) and plenty of fun, and in a new promo the host discusses her high hopes. According to Hudson herself: 

How better to help fans find their superpower than by displaying her own? We are definitely expecting to see some singing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, much in the same way that fellow American Idol veteran Kelly Clarkson does with her soon-to-be-revamped daytime talk show. We’ll have to wait and see just how much she shows off her pipes, but either way it sounds like JHud is ready to inspire her audience.

If Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have the music side of daytime TV covered, Sherri Shepherd is looking to bring the laughs. The former View co-host said especially with Ellen DeGeneres ending her show after 19 seasons, she’s ready to show what she brings to the table as a host with her stand-up comedy background, rather than follow The Wendy Williams Show’s format, which she did as a frequent guest host for that series’ final season.

Wendy Williams did not appear for any of her final season’s tapings amid reports of health and financial struggles. A series of guest hosts took over for Williams, ultimately filming a series finale that paid tribute to the eponymous host but did not include her. This drew the ire of some fans, as well as her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, who called the sendoff “a travesty.”

Along with Wendy Williams’ show being canceled, The Real was not renewed for a ninth season, though Warner Bros. said that cancellation was unrelated to the announcement of Jennifer Hudson’s show. Other daytime TV moves included Nick Cannon being shut down after just one season and Maury Povich retiring after a 31-year talk show career. And not only will The View return for a 26th season, but two co-hosts, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro, were announced to be joining the table. Needless to say, daytime TV is entering a new era, and Hudson seems ready to help lead the charge.

The Jennifer Hudson Show is set to premiere Monday, September 12, which is also the date Sherri Shepherd will debut Sherri. Check your local listings to see when and on what channel you can find these new shows, and keep up with all of the upcoming premieres with our 2022 TV Schedule. 

Jennifer Hudson has been doing well for the past year. She gave an Oscar-worthy performance in Respect. She achieved the apex of entertainment as she became the youngest woman to get the elusive EGOT. The next step in her multifaceted career is, of course, headlining her much-talked-about talk show. This next feat is almost here as the Dreamgirls actress gears up for her self-titled daytime talk show to premiere later this year. After months of waiting, the Oscar winner revealed a first look and premiere date with singing and an EGOT reference.

The American Idol alum celebrated her newest accomplishment by taking to Twitter to prepare her followers for The Jennifer Hudson Show. Coming off her Tony Award win for the play A Strange Loop, she chose to strike while her name is on everyone’s lips. In a preview of her daytime chatfest, the Cats star is seen giving her audience every aspect of her talent – singing, acting, personality, and heart. Hudson opened up about what to expect from her show in the exciting clip below.

Looks like the multitalented entertainer is taking full advantage of her new status. But who wouldn’t if they achieved such an accomplishment? Getting a look at her debut as a talk show host made the upcoming show seem like a fun time for viewers. Like anything else J. Hud-associated, performing and singing will be part of the show’s DNA. This should be expected as Variety reported Ellen DeGeneres Show producers Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner, and Corey Palent will serve as showrunners for the yet-to-debut talk show. Of course, viewers have to wait until September 12 to see what The Jennifer Hudson Show has in store.

Jennifer Hudson’s new talk show has become the latest jewel in her impressive entertainment crown. While the show may be a new accomplishment, reaching EGOT status has been years in the making. The actress made her first stride toward the achievement by winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2007 for Dreamgirls. Hudson's singing chops earned her first Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2009 for her self-titled debut album before securing another one for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017 with The Color Purple cast. In 2021, the former Voice coach earned a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Program as a producer for the children’s special Baba Yaga.

Not only might the EGOT winner compete with fellow Idol alum Kelly Clarkson, but she might also win another Daytime Emmy as a talk show host rather than a producer. Now, Jennifer Hudson will be able to add the show to her list of major career milestones. The Jennifer Hudson Show will premiere on Fox on September 12. As you wait for the show’s premiere, you can check out what new and returning TV  shows are premiering this summer.

Jennifer Hudson became the newest EGOT winner recently. For those who don’t know, this means she’s joined the ranks of only seventeen other artists and performers who have earned an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.

It’s a huge milestone for Hudson, who earned her first Oscar back in 2007 and only earned her first Emmy last year. That’s quite a meteoric rise to greatness. She now joins industry greats like Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Menken, and Audrey Hepburn as one of the few stars to reach EGOT status.

To celebrate Jennifer Hudson’s accomplishments, let’s take a look back through her storied career and count up her biggest career milestones to date.

She Made It To The Top 7 On American Idol (2004)

Jennifer Hudson’s career began at American Idol, where she competed in the third season of the singing competition.

In her now famous audition, Hudson shared that she’d just finished working as a performer on a Disney Cruise ship: 

Hudson was eliminated after making it to the Top 7, marking one of the biggest elimination upsets in Idol history. In fact, in an interview with Billboard, former Idol judge Randy Jackson shared that he felt eliminating Hudson had been a huge “miss” for the competition show. The ultimate winner was R&B/Jazz singer Fantasia Barrino, with whom Hudson would actually collaborate with later on in their careers.

Jennifer Hudson Won An Oscar For Dreamgirls (2007)

After shocking the world with her powerful vocals on American Idol, Hudson was cast in the 2007 musical adaptation, Dreamgirls, alongside Beyonce and Jamie Foxx. Portraying the role of Effie White, Hudson was tasked with the job of performing one of the most well-known Broadway songs of all time.

Not many people can perform “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” with the same gusto as the original Effie, Jennifer Holliday — and yet, Jennifer Hudson did just that. Her soulful and commanding performance of the classic Broadway tune catapulted her to fame, and earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Hudson appeared in several other popular movies after Dreamgirls, including Sex and the City and The Secret Life of Bees.

She Won A Grammy In 2008, And Again 2009

Fresh off the success from her Oscar win, Hudson won a Grammy award for Best Song Written for A Motion Picture for “Love You I Do” from Dreamgirls. Shortly after, she began working on her debut album, which contained the single “Spotlight,” a song that would become a Top 40 hit. 

Just prior to the release of the second single from the self-titled album, tragedy struck Hudson’s family when her estranged brother-in-law brutally murdered her mother, brother, and nephew. 

Despite the horrific tragedy, Hudson persevered and earned three Grammy nominations for Jennifer Hudson, ultimately winning for Best R&B album. Her second album, I Remember Me, also debuted in 2011 to positive reviews. 

In 2014, She Released Her Third Studio Album, JHUD

It was Hudson’s third album, JHUD, that represented a shift in her overall style. With an upbeat, ‘70s dance vibe, JHUD was created in collaboration with artists like Timbaland and Pharrell.

Hudson earned a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance for “It’s Your World,” one of the songs off JHUD. While she lost to Beyonce’s “Drunk in Love,” the album still earned the distinction of Best R&B/Soul Album on iTunes.

Jennifer Hudson Made Her Broadway Debut In 2015 With The Color Purple

Starring alongside Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, Hudson made her first Broadway appearance in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple.

The production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, though Hudson herself did not receive a Tony for her performance.

A new film adaptation of The Color Purple is set to release in 2023, although Hudson has not been named as one of the cast members set to reprise their roles from the 2015 revival.

While not on Broadway, Hudson returned with another live performance in Hairspray Live! (2016) as Motormouth Maybelle.

Returning To The Big Screen, She Appeared In Cats (2019) And Respect (2021)

After a stint as a judge and mentor on NBC’s The Voice, Hudson made her return to the big screen with Cats in 2019. While the film was criticized for a number of reasons, Hudson’s rendition of “Memory” was a bright spot.

Hudson also portrayed Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic, Respect. While the film didn’t receive many accolades, Aretha Franklin herself hand-picked Hudson to play the role prior to her passing in 2018, making her the perfect casting for the part. Hudson was praised for her strong performance in the film.

In 2021, She Earned A Daytime Emmy For Baba Yaga

In an unorthodox project, Jennifer Hudson expanded her resume with the virtual reality children’s program Baba Yaga. Backed by a talented cast, including Kate Winslet, Glenn Close, and Daisy Ridley, the program won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Media.

Hudson served as executive producer of the story and even voiced the role of the “enchanted forest.” The short story is available as an interactive VR experience on Oculus Quest.

And Then In June 2022, She Completed Her EGOT With A Strange Loop 

Prior to the 75th Tony Awards, Jennifer Hudson was only one award away from earning her “grand slam.”

Hudson joined the production of A Strange Loop, a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical (and so on an so forth), alongside many other famous producers including RuPaul Charles, Billy Porter, Mindy Kaling, and Ilana Glazer, in addition to the legendary broadway team of Pasek and Paul.

Hudson earned her Tony Award as a producer of A Strange Loop when it won Best Musical at the ceremony this on June 12, 2022, making her only the second black woman in history to achieve the career milestone of earning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (Whoopi Goldberg earned this distinction back in 2002). At the age of 40, she’s now also the youngest woman to ever earn EGOT status.

This certainly isn’t the end of Hudson’s career — rather, it’s the start of a new era for the talented vocalist. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Jennifer Hudson, who has arguably cemented her place as one of the greatest performers of all time.

Audrey Hepburn. Andrew Lloyd Webber. John Legend. Whoopi Goldberg. What do these people all have in common?

They’ve all earned their EGOT — that is, they’ve won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. It’s known as the “grand slam” of show business, and it’s incredibly difficult to achieve (despite how easy John Legend made it seem). But, who will be the next actor, composer, singer, director, or producer to join these EGOT winners? 

For this list, we’ll be focusing on artists who seem likely to complete their EGOT during their career — so, unfortunately, that eliminates some of the greats like Bob Fosse or Stephen Sondheim who won’t get the chance to complete their grand slam. Instead, we’ll focus on people who are contenders for the very next EGOT and speculate wildly about which of them it’ll be.

Common - Missing A Tony

Common won an Emmy for his song “Letter to The Free” from the documentary 13th and earned both an Oscar and a Grammy for his song “Glory” from the movie Selma (as well as two additional Grammys he snagged in the early 2000’s).

This one seems like a shoo-in to me. We already know Common can rap, and he’s flexed his musical theater chops in movies like Smallfoot. Plus he’s got a chance to win that Tony by writing, rapping, or acting.

Cher - Missing A Tony

Miss Cher earned her first major award in 1988 when she won an Oscar for Best Actress in Moonstruck, followed by a Grammy in 2000 for her dance recording “Believe” and an Emmy in 2003 for Cher: The Farewell Tour.

Some people might say that Cher is past her prime…and some people would be wrong. We all saw her in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. In reality, Cher is only in her mid-70s and still just as fabulous as she always was, so don’t count her out just yet. I could definitely see her on Broadway…

Jennifer Hudson - Missing A Tony

The talented Jennifer Hudson has already earned two Grammys and won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls. Hudson also earned an Emmy just last year for Baba Yaga, a childrens’ film she produced.

Here’s the thing: Jennifer Hudson is nominated for a Tony this year. As one of the producers of A Strange Loop, she actually has a chance to complete her EGOT at the awards ceremony this summer.

Kate Winslet - Missing A Tony

Unsurprisingly, Kate Winslet has already won an Oscar (for Best Actress for The Reader) and multiple Emmys (for Mildred Pierce in 2011 and Mare of Easttown in 2021). But, many don’t know she actually earned a Grammy all the way back in 2000 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, called Listen to the Storyteller.

Kate Winslet winning a Tony doesn’t feel far-fetched at all. She's acted in several plays early on, so taking to the stage wouldn’t be brand new to her.

Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross - Missing A Tony

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (yes, from Nine Inch Nails) are one of the most sought after composing teams in all of Hollywood at the moment, earning accolades from the Academy for their Best Original Scores in The Social Network and Soul. They also earned two Grammy awards for Score Soundtrack, again for Soul, and for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (in addition to the Grammys they won years ago with Nine Inch Nails). Add in their Emmy for Music Composition in A Limited Series for Watchmen and you have three prongs on the quadruple crown.

These two are definitely capable of writing the score for a Broadway musical. Crazier things have definitely happened. I mean, if the guys from South Park can write a musical…

Viola Davis - Missing A Grammy

Viola Davis started out as a stage actor, earning Tony awards for King Hedley II and Fences. She then earned an Oscar for the movie version of Fences, and as we all know, won an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away With Murder.

Viola Davis is not known for singing. But, as we’ve learned from some of the other Grammy winners on this list, there’s more than one way to earn a Grammy. I’d love for Viola Davis to narrate a spoken word album.

Elton John - Missing An Emmy

This is another EGOT that feels inevitable. Sir Elton John has won many Grammys, and earned a Tony for Best Original Score for the musical Aida. He also won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, and more recently, earned another for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman.

All Elton John has to do is compose one perfect song for an HBO show and that Emmy is his. I could also see potential Emmy nominations for a live action musical or Elton John documentary.

Cynthia Erivo - Missing An Oscar

And now for my personal pick for the next EGOT — Cynthia Erivo. She’s won an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy, all for her performances in The Color Purple, so she’s just missing an Oscar.

But, Erivo has already been nominated for two Oscars (Best Actress for Harriet in 2019 and Best Original Song for “Stand Up” from Harriet). Half of the people on this list haven’t even been nominated for the award they’re missing, so she’s right on track to earn an Oscar soon. Keep in mind that Cynthia Erivo is also set to play Elphaba in the Wicked movie in 2024, so at least one future Oscar nom seems eminent.

Hugh Jackman - Missing An Oscar

I can’t believe the only award Hugh Jackman is missing is an Oscar. That seems impossible, probably because most thought he would win one when he was nominated for Best Actor for playing Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

Jackman already won an Emmy for his hosting gig at the 58th Tony Awards, a Grammy for The Greatest Showman soundtrack, and a Tony for Best Leading Actor in The Boy from Oz. He’s also nominated again in 2022 for The Music Man, a role that's earned huge applause from audiences, so this could be his year.

Audra McDonald - Missing An Oscar

Just because she hasn’t won an Oscar doesn’t mean she can’t act — Audra McDonald has won six Tony awards, as well as an Emmy award for Outstanding Special Class Program for Sweeney Todd (Live from Lincoln Center). She also has two Grammy awards for Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording.

I’d love for Audra McDonald to earn her Oscar starring in a movie musical, but she also could earn a nomination for writing an original song for a movie.

Lin Manuel Miranda - Missing An Oscar

Like Hugh Jackman and Cynthia Erivo, Lin Manuel Miranda is only missing one award, and he’s already been nominated for it. His EGOT was put on hold when he lost the Oscar for Best Original Song for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, and again for “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto. 

Previously, Lin Manuel Miranda won two Tony awards for In The Heights and Hamilton, as well as Grammys for each soundtrack. He earned his Emmy for writing the opening number of the 67th Tony Awards, “Bigger!” and again for Hamilton.

Miranda’s obviously not done writing forever, although he did say he’s looking forward to taking some time off to spend with his family. Whether it's as an actor or composer, he'll eventually get redemption for Moana and Encanto and earn that Oscar. It could even be for a sequel to Encanto, which Miranda has mentioned he'd like to do.

Trey Parker And Matt Stone - Missing An Oscar

Oh, right. The guys from South Park did write a musical.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone won four Tony Awards for their musical, The Book of Mormon, in addition to a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. When you include their Emmy awards from South Park, the pair are only one away from an EGOT.

Again, this one feels destined to happen. Whether it will be a South Park movie or maybe a new movie musical, these guys definitely have the skills to earn their Oscar.

Ben Platt - Missing An Oscar

Ben Platt snagged his E-G-T for his work in Dear Evan Hanson and its soundtrack. Since he’s the youngest person on this list at only 28, he has more than enough time to earn plenty of nominations for Academy Awards.

Consider the fact that Ben Platt became the youngest person to win Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the age of 23, and you’ll understand why I’m not concerned that he’ll ultimately complete his grand slam. Let's continue the tradition of Dear Evan Hansen and cast Platt in one of the many other modern musicals that should be made into movies.

Billy Porter - Missing An Oscar

Billy Porter is going to win an Oscar soon, I can feel it. He already won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in Pose, as well as a Tony for Best Actor in Kinky Boots. He might even earn another Tony this year as a producer of the Best Musical nominee, A Strange Loop.

Porter earned his Grammy for Kinky Boots, as well, so I’m wondering if it’s time for another Kinky Boots movie. Whether that happens or not, Billy Porter is an extremely talented actor and definitely on track to complete his EGOT.

Lily Tomlin - Missing An Oscar

Finally, comedy legend Lily Tomlin has won six Emmys for her comedy and variety specials, one Grammy for Best Comedy Album, and even won a Tony for Best Actress in a Play for The Search of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

The Grace and Frankie actress has nothing to prove, but definitely has the ability to take on a dramatic role or maybe even provide some comic relief in an Oscar-worthy movie. 

Again, my money is on Cynthia Erivo getting a full EGOT first, but Jennifer Hudson does seem to be walking away with this one. To keep up with the progress of these EGOT contenders, tune into the 75th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12.

The entire daytime talk show climate seems to be in upheaval mode, as longtime staples including The Ellen Degeneres Show, The Wendy Williams Show and Maury are all coming to an end in 2022, as well as Nick Cannon, which was canceled after just one season. Now you can add one more name to that list, as The Real will also be ending its run after eight seasons. 

Warner Bros. decided to end The Real — which featured a format similar to The View that targeted a younger audience — after Fox declined to pick up the show for a ninth season, Variety reported. It's stated that the decision to pull the plug was reportedly unrelated to the upcoming launch of The Jennifer Hudson Show. Co-host Loni Love posted about the cancellation on her Instagram page, ultimately blaming the pandemic for the show’s fate:

It sounds like the co-hosts, who also included Adrienne Bailon, Jeannie Mai and Garcelle Beauvais, were aware of the financial strain being put on the show and really went to lengths to try to continue in the difficult circumstances. And by all means, they were certainly justified in their attempts. In its eight seasons, The Real won three Daytime Emmy Awards and two NAACP Image Awards. 

Garcelle Beauvais also took to social media following the announcement, lauding the work of the cast and crew:

The Real’s cancellation comes amid a slew of other moves on the daytime talk show scene. The Jennifer Hudson Show is set to make its premiere this fall, which will replace The Ellen Degeneres Show as Warner Bros.’ flagship daytime talk show. Meanwhile, Hudson’s fellow American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson will take over Degeneres’ time slot when the Finding Dory star’s show comes to an end after 19 seasons.

Another veteran host, Maury Povich, will drop the mic on his 31-year talk show career later this year. New episodes of Maury will run through September before the 83-year-old host begins retirement. 

Wendy Williams had her talk show canceled after 13 seasons amid ongoing questions regarding her health. A series of guest hosts filled in for Williams on the final season of The Wendy Williams Show, as the host battled COVID, Graves disease and other issues. Eventually the decision was made to permanently replace Williams with Sherri Shepherd, who is set to debut Sherri this fall.

Nick Cannon was also caught up in the daytime TV shakeup, with his self-titled talk show getting the ax after just one season. The show seemed to provide an emotional outlet for the actor, as he dealt with some pretty heavy life events in that single season. Most notably the host had raw and honest conversations about the death of his infant son Zen to brain cancer.

The chance of The Real's cancellation being reversed in the near future isn't entirely negligible, since stranger things have happened in the world of TV. But it's probably best not to get anyone's hopes up just yet. 

With so much up in the air in the world of daytime TV, it’ll be interesting to see which personalities rule the lineup this fall. Stay up to date on what’s premiering and when by checking out our 2022 TV Schedule.

There are many perks to filming a TV or film project in California. The weather is usually nice and there are plenty of great locations around. Of course, with it being such a star-studded state, there's also an increased chance that a production may be visited by a big-name celebrity.  This time, Respect’s Jennifer Hudson was the celebrity who stumbled upon a film set, as the Oscar winner went out for a bike ride and ended up meeting Michael B. Jordan on the Creed III set.

The American Idol alum was minding her business and spending some quality mother-son time with her 12-year-old son, David. While out and about, they came upon the jacked Michael B. Jordan, who was filming in Venice, California. The Without Remorse alum seemed to be chilling on the beach as he, his cast, and crew were on location for his directorial debut. Hudson couldn’t let this celebrity sighting go unnoticed, so she took to Instagram to give her followers a little taste of the threequel. In her caption, she recounted how exactly they came up the Creed III crew:

That last line this isn’t the first time the Grammy winner had a surprise encounter while on her family bike rides There’s no telling what other celebrity run-ins she’s had on her rides though, of course, she could easily be referring to wildlife in the area. However, this particular meeting is no doubt a major highlight for her. This moment was actually just the latest leak. Shots of the director in the ring and co-star Jonathan Majors (who's making the internet thirsty over his ripped body on Muscle Beach) have also gained traction.

Of course, the Dreamgirls actress didn’t just report on her and her son's meetup the Creed II actor. She had the pics to back up her story, and they're pretty sweet. To see how the A-list celebrity run-in played out, you can check out Jennifer Hudson’s Instagram slideshow below.

All of these behind-the-scenes leaks for the new Creed film are more than enough to get one excited for what's to come. However, they're also a reminder that it may be a while before we get our first official look at the movie. Still, based on what's been teased, it should be worth the wait. In the meantime, I wonder if the set will get any more surprise visitors like Jennifer Hudson.

Moviegoers can check out Creed III when it opens in theaters on November 23, as it's one of 2022's biggest upcoming movie releases. In the meantime, you can stream the first two installments in the boxing franchise by subscribing to Hulu.

It’s been seven years since the famous #OscarsSoWhite hashtag first went around after the Academy released a nomination list where all 20 acting nominations were given to white actors, which would be repeated in 2016. So where are we now? There is some POC talent being recognized in the performance category ahead of this year’s Oscar telecast, but the 2022 Academy Award nominations, only twenty percent are non-white nominees. This is especially disappointing considering how many incredible performances were left out of the race. 

The only non-white actors in the running for a performance Oscar this year are King Richard’s Will Smith and The Tragedy of Macbeth’s Denzel Washington in the Best Actor category (both of which have been recognized by the Academy before) alongside first-time nominees Ariana DeBose and Aunjanue Ellis in the Best Supporting Actress category. Now let’s take a look at great performances the Oscars overlooked. 

Colman Domingo (Candyman/Zola)

Let’s start with a Best Supporting Actor that was not among those picked by the Academy, but absolutely deserves to be recognized for his performances. Colman Domingo. The more “award season” pick is Zola, but the more I think about it, Domingo also pulled off an incredible performance in Candyman as well that I'd also pick over a couple of this year’s other nominees. In Zola, Domingo gives an affecting performance as a man on a stripper road trip (based off a real Twitter thread) as his character of Abegunde "X" Olawale takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and intensity as the secrets of the plotline are uncovered. 

Additionally, Domingo is an absolute highlight in Candyman as William "Billy" Burke, a Cabrini-Green resident who forwards the Candyman legend through Yayha Abdul-Mateen II’s character. All around, Domingo is proving again and again he’s one of the best actors working today and deserves more recognition for his work. Hopefully when TV nominations come around he’ll get some love for his role on Euphoria as well. 

Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) 

The Oscars have clearly been making an attempt to recognize more foriegn films in recent years, especially with the historical 2020 Academy Award moment when Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won Best Picture. Ahead of this year’s telecast, there’s a key international feature being recognized, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. But how do you recognize that film without its guiding lead performance, Hidetoshi Nishijima?

The Japanese actor carries a huge weight in the drama about an actor/director as he mourns a profound loss throughout the three-hour film. The performance is very internal and stoic, which is especially difficult for an actor to communicate to audiences. As crowded as this year’s Best Actor category is, Nishijima’s role in Drive My Car is something special. You can check out the movie now with an HBO Max subscription. 

Dev Patel (The Green Knight)

Throughout Oscar history, only a few actors of Indian descent have nabbed an acting nomination. Merle Oberon in 1935, Ben Kingsley four times between 1983 and 2004 (including his win for Gandhi) and Dev Patel in 2017 for Lion. The actor should have earned his second nomination this year (this time in the Best Actor category) for his role in The Green Knight. 

David Lowery’s perilous journey through the legend of Sir Gawain asks a lot of the actor as 90 percent of the film puts the focus on his character. Dev Patel plays a reluctant protagonist who must face the elements as he travels to meet the Green Knight along with driving an emotional narrative that subverts long held tropes about what it means to be a hero. 

Taylour Paige (Zola)

The Best Actress category this year is jam-packed with talent including Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart’s memorable performances, but it’s clearly skewed toward not only the experiences of white women, but privileged white women (with the exception of Cruz). It’s too bad the Academy overlooked Taylour Paige’s performance as a part-time stripper in Zola. 

Along with the wild based-on-a-true-story road trip movie being entertaining, it also highlights the very real threats that Zola got mixed into. In Zola, the stripper becomes wrapped into the world of sex work and other dangerous activities she did not want to be part of, and it's made more real through Paige's performance. 

Ruth Negga (Passing) 

Rebecca Hall’s Passing adapts a classic ‘20s novel about the topic of “racial passing” in 1920s Harlem through the narrative of two old friends Clare and Irene, played by Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson. Both actresses deserved more recognition for their work on this film, not only at the Oscars but during award season in general. Ruth Negga plays Clare Bellew, a Black woman who lives as a white passing woman during the era, with a white husband and all. 

Things change for Clare when she spots her childhood friend Irene passing for white at a club and they strike up a conversation. Negga’s performance is very unique in that there’s a restraint about the character, who seems to be very much putting on a mask through her demeanor to fit into being white passing. The audience watches as she lets loose a bit with Irene’s social circles. Overall, Negga represents a huge part of history and continued uncomfortableness to be in one’s skin, especially as a light-skinned Black woman. 

Tessa Thompson (Passing) 

The second performance in Passing that the Oscars overlooked was with Tessa Thompson. Whereas Ruth Negga plays a woman in passing, Thompson’s role as Irene is more reserved and quieter, but just as powerful. Irene sometimes lives in passing, but typically lives out a life as a Black woman. She’s a more passive character than Clare, but both women’s arcs and dynamics drive the powerful story that is Passing.

Jennifer Hudson (Respect)

The final pick here is the most surprising snub because everything about it seems to scream Oscar nomination. Jennifer Hudson has long been attached to playing Aretha Franklin in a biopic. Before the Queen of Soul died in 2018, she picked Hudson to play her and all these years later it came together with Respect. The actress and singer beautifully transforms into Aretha in this film that takes her from being a shy preacher’s daughter to a powerhouse. 

Experts fully predicted Hudson to be nominated for her second Oscar with Respect, and yet she was snubbed this year from the Best Actress category. It’s especially shocking because most performance nominees award actors portraying well-known people. 

Despite these performances not getting a voice in this year’s Academy Awards, you can tune into the Oscars when they air on ABC on Sunday, March 27. 

With Oscar nominations right around the corner, CinemaBlend is taking a look at which films and performances are likely to be in contention for nominations. Let’s look at a the Lead Actress race. 

Locked In

The Academy can’t resist lead performances from biopics, which is more apparent than ever with this year’s Best Actress hopefuls. Nicole Kidman is looking strong for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, especially after her Golden Globe win. Though this is the only win she has so far, her film has been performing well at guild awards like SAG, WGA, and PGA. This year’s Actress lineup doesn’t have a lot of candidates from Best Picture contenders, so love for the film overall could take Kidman far. 

Lady Gaga hasn’t lost an ounce of steam for her turn in the highest grossing drama of the year, House of Gucci. It seems the industry is more than ready to embrace Lady Gaga as an actress for the second time. Yet another biopic performance comes from Jessica Chastain, who plays Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Though her film struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews, the performance is easily one of the strongest in her career. She’s caked in makeup, she cries, she sings… it’s a high wire act that will be hard to pass up on.

Olivia Colman may be the only nominee who isn’t playing a real person for The Lost Daughter. The actress has quickly become an Academy darling, as this will likely be her third nomination in four years. Colman, Chastain, Gaga, and Kidman have been nominated at SAG, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice, which makes them about as secure for a nomination as one can be. 

Likely Bets

Just a month ago, Kristen Stewart was thought to be a frontrunner for the Oscar for her transformative performance as Princess Diana in the critically acclaimed Spencer. But then… SAG happened. Stewart was brutally snubbed, nearly destroying her chance at a win, and putting the prospect of a nomination in jeopardy. The snub seemed to confirm fears that Spencer wasn’t clicking with audiences, due to Pablo Larrain’s daring approach to what could have been another standard biopic. At worst, it says that the industry still doesn’t view Kristen Stewart as a serious actress. Still, the Academy is more likely to nominate performances from independent films than SAG, and her dozens of wins and nominations from critics groups and bodies like the Golden Globes should be enough to keep her safe. Though I can’t say I’m not worried. 

Dark Horses

Jennifer Hudson is a strong candidate for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect. She beat Stewart to the SAG nomination after all, but hasn’t received much recognition elsewhere. Mixed reception for her film, as well as its early release date, definitely makes her vulnerable in the way Taron Egerton was for Rocketman.  

Alana Haim is attached to a strong Best Picture contender with Licorice Pizza, and has received heaps of support from critics groups. It’s possible she sneaks her way into the lineup. This is her first appearance on the big screen, however, and she may struggle to compete with so many heavyweight biopic performances.

Rachel Zegler is in a similar situation to Alana Haim: she’s a newcomer attached to a Best Picture heavyweight (West Side Story). She hasn’t received the same level of recognition from critics groups as Haim, but she does have a Golden Globe win, so we can’t count her out. 

Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers has surprisingly gone unnoticed this awards season. Though a surprise seems possible, a red flag to me is her absence from the BAFTA longlist, where she couldn’t make it into a lineup of 15. Another non-English language performance that could surprise is Renate Reinsve for The Worst Person in the World. Odds are slim, but if the film has an unusually good day it’s not out of the question.

Check back here at CinemaBlend for more category breakdowns including Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay.

The daytime talk show landscape has been saturated with different styles of shows in the past decade. Given her personality and talkative nature, original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was a perfect fit for the format. Clarkson’s show has been a hit since premiering in 2019. But the Voice coach might have a new challenger in the daytime space from another American Idol alum.

According to Variety, Respect star Jennifer Hudson is currently pitching a daytime talk show to Warner Bros. TV. The speculation comes as the production company is looking for a new flagship chatfest after The Ellen DeGeneres Show ends with Season 19. Hudson reportedly shot a test pilot on DeGeneres’ stage. It is unknown what format the proposed talk show would take on if given a series order.

Jennifer Hudson possibly joining the daytime space shows how much her and Kelly Clarkson’s careers have mirrored each other. Both Grammy winners got their start on the iconic competition series American Idol with Clarkson winning the first season and Hudson placing seventh in Season 3. Both singers have gone on to sell millions of records and win numerous awards. Hudson and Clarkson have been part of The Voice family as well. Clarkson has been a coach since Season 14 while the Dreamgirls star coached in Season 13 and 15. So, having daytime talk shows would be the latest shared experience between the American Idol alums.

This latest development may come as a surprise to some viewers, as Warner Bros. TV has positioned Kelly Clarkson as Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime heir apparent. The television production company is also behind Clarkson’s daily chatfest. Her name has been in the mix since DeGeneres announced Season 19 would be her last. Just last year, The Kelly Clarkson Show’s ratings beat The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the first time. So, all signs pointed toward The Voice coach ascending the talk show throne. Adding Jennifer Hudson into the mix may signal an American Idol takeover on weekly daytime television.

In continuing with the Ellen DeGeneres connection, executive producers Andy Lassner and Mary Connelly would serve as showrunners on Jennifer Hudson’s proposed talk show. With Kelly Clarkson primed for DeGeneres’ spot, having DeGeneres’ team behind the potential Hudson series may signal Warner Bros. is weighing its options. Other names had been thrown out to replace the comedian in the daytime space before The Voice coach took the lead. But tapping Hudson for a show could lead to a multitude of possibilities.

If Jennifer Hudson’s talk show comes to fruition, it could mean Warner Bros. would place her show and The Kelly Clarkson Show back-to-back in daytime television. All that talent and personality would be a major win for the talk show space. It is currently unknown if Hudson would get a full test run. Currently, viewers can watch Kelly Clarkson in syndication on weekdays.

After being personally chosen by Aretha Franklin to play her in Respect, it seems like there’s no role that Jennifer Hudson couldn’t take on. The Oscar and Grammy winner is so good, she even has us wondering if Cats deserves a second look. So, if she says she wants to join Disney’s live-action adaptation of Hercules, we should probably listen to her -- especially since the role she’s eyeing seems like a perfect fit.

Jennifer Hudson recently participated in WIRED’s Autocomplete Interview, and one of the questions she had to answer was “Who is playing in Hercules?” Though she made it clear she hasn’t been cast yet, the actress was quick to explain why she was enthusiastic about the idea:

Jennifer Hudson also revealed that she has an interesting history with Hercules. And that connection could make her a shoo-in for a particular role in the film. She continued:

Now that she’s put the idea out into the universe, it’s pretty hard to imagine Jennifer Hudson not being cast as one of the Muses. It’s also a little surprising that she hasn’t had a Disney role yet -- except, of course, for her Disney Cruise gig. With her bright personality, gorgeous singing voice and wide range as an actor, she seems like a perfect fit for the studio.

Jennifer Hudson would be an amazing addition to the Hercules cast -- especially since the Muses have two of the most memorable musical moments in the animated film. But she’s not the only star who seems keen on playing one of Hercules’ muses. Glee’s Amber Riley threw her name into the running as soon as Disney announced the live-action adaptation in 2020. And Lizzo recently gave a nod to a fan on TikTok, who thinks the “Rumors” singer would be perfect for the role of Therpsicore (and took issue with those who had typecast her as Thalia).

Since Hercules was announced in 2020, there hasn’t been much news regarding when we’ll actually get to see it. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo admitted in February that they’re still in the early stages of development, so that’s good news for Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley, Lizzo, and anyone else hoping to join the Hercules cast.

Plenty of critics and moviegoers find musical films to be enjoyable experiences filled with singalong moments. Most musicals find a place in people’s hearts while others are cast away forever. 2019’s Cats falls into the latter category. While some stars have distanced themselves from the film, others have embraced it. Respect’s Jennifer Hudson chose to love the panned musical, as several years after it was blasted from every corner of the world, the Oscar winner has decided to defend the movie.

Cats became a punching bag for many film critics and moviegoers upon its release. Whether it was the human-cat hybrids or questionable storyline, the musical film faced many issues out of the stars’ control. Despite the film’s divisiveness, Jennifer Hudson still had fond memories from taking part in it. Given her musical background, Hudson finally chose to speak up for the final product, saying:

In Jennifer Hudson's mind, Cats will fall into the “so-bad-it’s-good” category in a few years. Could that be The Room and Showgirls knocking? Given its source material, a lot was riding on the musical’s theatrical release. So when it didn’t live up to expectations, musical fans and critics tore it apart. Hopefully Hudson’s thoughts about the film adaptation will translate to others eventually.

Maybe if the tide changes for Cats, moviegoers will finally see the much-talked-about "Butthole Cut." The rumored cut has been a thing of Hollywood lore since the musical film was released. Those involved with the production didn’t help to quell the rumors along with Universal’s response. It even got fans excited to see the Butthole Cut despite some eagle-eyed fans finding some in the film. Maybe one day the film will finally get the cut everyone deserves.

While critics and audiences found many faults with the 2019 musical film, Jennifer Hudson found the experience rewarding. After doing the film, the Respect star admitted to Total Film she was inspired to become a cat mom. Hudson ended up adopting two cats, naming them after Grizabella and Idris Elba’s Macavity. That’s why Hudson’s defense of the maligned film isn’t surprising after she called the experience “emotional and heavy.”

At least Jennifer Hudson found Cats to be rewarding and life-changing in several ways. The actress' outlook may or may not rub off on others as the film continues to live on. If you want to see the butthole-less version of Cats, you can catch it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to Aretha Franklin in Respect, a biopic based on the life, legacy, and career of the late powerhouse singer. Starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, the first film from Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy received mixed reviews, but many viewers agree that the Oscar winner gives an outstanding performance as the departed gospel singer. Additionally, critics are quick to praise the rest of this cast, which includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, and more. If you're wondering where you've seen (or heard) this famous ensemble before, we're here to help! Here's where you recognize the Respect cast.

Jennifer Hudson (Aretha Franklin)

As Aretha Franklin, one of the most influential female vocalists of the 1960s, Jennifer Hudson plays the Queen of Soul in Respect. Most notably, Hudson is an Oscar-winning actress for her supporting turn in Dreamgirls, her acting debut. Before that, Hudson found her first brushes with fame when she competed in American Idol's third season, where she placed seventh. She would later star in Winnie Mandela, Black Nativity, and The Secret Life of Bees. Furthermore, Hudson can be seen in Sex and the City, Winged Creatures, The Three Stooges, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete, Chi-Raq, Sandy Wexler, Cats, Winged Creatures, and this year's Monster. She can also be heard in Sing.

Additionally, on television, Jennifer Hudson appeared in Smash, Empire, Inside Amy Schumer, NBC's Hairspray Live!, and HBO's Confirmation. She was also a coach on The Voice and The Voice U.K. Moreover, Hudson made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple. As a musician, furthermore, the actress won a Grammy for her self-titled 2008 album and another for The Color Purple. Next, Hudson will star in Tell It Like a Woman.

Forest Whitaker (C.L. Franklin)

In the role of C.L. Franklin, Aretha's father, Forest Whitaker plays the man with "the Million-Dollar Voice" in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Whitaker won an Oscar for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He's also the star of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird, Vantage Point, Black Nativity, and, most recently, last year's Burden, City of Lies, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

Additionally, Forest Whitaker's other notable film credits include The Crying Game, Arrival, Bloodsport, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money, Street Kings, Where the Wild Things Are, Taken 3, Southpaw, The Last Stand, Phone Booth, Panic Room, Battlefield Earth, Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Great Debaters, Platoon, and Out of the Furnace. He also directed First Daughter, Waiting to Exhale, and Hope Floats. Outside of film, Whitaker stars in Epix's Godfather of Harlem. He can also be seen in Empire, The Shield, ER, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and Roots. Next, the award-winning actor will star in A Fall from Grace and Havoc, which is filming now.

Marlon Wayans (Ted White)

Playing the part of Ted White, the manager and first husband of Aretha Franklin, Marlon Wayans is a complicated figure in Respect. Through his time in In Living Color, Wayans continued to elevate his star status through his lead role in The WB's The Wayans Bros. From there, he starred in Senseless, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Scary Movie 1 and 2, White Chicks, and Little Man. — most of which he also co-wrote. Later, Wayans would co-write, produce and star in Dance Flick, A Haunted House 1 and 2, Fifty Shades of Black, and Netflix's Naked and Sextuplets.

Additionally, Marlon Wayans' other film credits include Dungeons & Dragons, The 6th Man, Mo' Money, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Above the Rim, The Ladykillers, Norbit, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and The Heat. Also, he was praised for his dramatic turns in Requiem for a Dream and last year's On the Rocks. Additionally, on television, Wayans was also the creator and star of NBC's Marlon. Next, he'll be heard in Back Home Again.

Audra McDonald (Barbara Siggers Franklin)

As Barbara Siggers Franklin, Aretha's mother, Audra McDonald plays a maternal character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, McDonald is a six-time Tony-winning actress and the only person to win in all four acting categories. Her award-winning performances were found in acclaimed productions of Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

Additionally, on television, Audra McDonald won an Emmy for her hosting duties on Live from Lincoln Center. She also received Emmy nominations for her work in Wit, A Raisin in the Sun, and Lady Day at Merson's Bar and Grill. Furthermore, McDonald played Dr. Naomi Bennett in Private Practice and Liz Lawrence-Reddick in The Good Fight. Most recently, the award-winning actress starred in Spectrum Originals' The Bite.

Moreover, in film, Audra McDonald appeared in Ricki and the Flash, It Runs in the Family, Cradle Will Rock, The Object of My Affection, Seven Servants, Rampart, Hello Again, The Best Thief in the World, and Beauty and the Beast. Next, she will star in The Gilded Age.

Marc Maron (Jerry Wexler)

In the role of Jerry Wexler, an integral producer in Aretha Franklin's career, Marc Maron is a big-time mover and shaker in Respect. A veteran comedian and radio personality, Maron came into fame with his immensely popular podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, which forged an active acting career. Most notably, he's the creator and star of IFC's Maron and he played Sam Slyvia in Netflix's GLOW. His other TV credits include Easy, Louie, Girls, and Roadies. Additionally, Maron lent his voice to Harvey Beaks, Animals, The Simpsons, Adventure Time, Metalocalypse, The Life and Times of Tim, and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. Briefly, he was the host of VH1's Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Moreover, the comic has several specials, including 2020's Marc Maron: End Times Fun.

Additionally, Marc Maron's other film credits include Joker, Almost Famous, Sleepwalk with Me, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Spenser Confidential, Flock of Dudes, Get a Job, Los Enchiladas!, and Stardust. He also starred in Sword of Trust. Next, Maron will be seen in To Leslie and heard in The Bad Guys.

Mary J. Blige (Dinah Washington)

Playing the part of Dinah Washington, one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s, Mary J. Blige is the Queen of the Blues in Liesl Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Blige was Oscar-nominated for her supporting turn in Netflix's Mudbound. Her other film credits include Black Nativity, Rock of Ages, and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Additionally, Blige starred in last year's Body Cam and The Violet Heart. Moreover, she appeared in MTV's Pink Skies Ahead earlier this year. Furthermore, as a voice actress, Blige was heard in Sherlock Gnomes and 2020's Trolls World Tour.

Additionally, on television, Mary J. Blige has a main role in Starz's Power Book II: Ghost. She also had a recurring role in VH1's Scream: Resurrection. Moreover, Blige can be seen in How to Get Away with Murder, The Umbrella Academy, Empire, 30 Rock, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Entourage. Next, she'll star in Netflix's Lost Ollie. Also, as a musician, Blige is a six-time Grammy winner who has sold over 100 million albums.

Tituss Burgess (James Cleveland)

As James Cleveland, the King of Gospel, Tituss Burgess plays a driving force in the musical genre as it sounds today in Respect. Most notably, Burgess is known for his multi-Emmy-nominated role as Titus Andromedon in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He's also a series regular on Apple TV+'s Central Park, for which he was also Emmy-nominated, and hosts Netflix's Sing On! The actor's other TV credits include Miracle Workers, The Good Fight, Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, 30 Rock, and A Gifted Man.

Away from TV, Tituss Burgess was seen in Dolemite Is My Name, Set It Up, Then Came You, Catfight, and I Hate Kids and heard in The Angry Birds Movie, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and The Addams Family (2019). Furthermore, on the stage, the actor performed in several Broadway productions, including Jersey Boys, Good Vibrations, The Little Mermaid, and Guys and Dolls. His other theater credits include The Wiz, A Wind in the Willows Christmas, and Into the Woods. Burgess was also heard in Grand Theft Auto V.

Skye Dakota Turner (Young Aretha Franklin)

In the role of a younger version of Aretha Franklin, Skye Dakota Turner has made her screen debut as the child lead in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Away from this film, the child actress was seen in The 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared on Steve, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tamron Hall, and Good Morning America.

Saycon Sengbloh (Erma Franklin)

Playing the part of Erma Franklin, Aretha's eldest sister, Saycon Sengbloh has a notable supporting role in Respect. On the stage, Sengbloh is a Tony-nominated actress for her performance in Danai Gurira's Eclipsed. Additionally, the actress is soon set to star in ABC's The Wonder Years. Her other television credits include The Night Of, In the Dark, Scandal, Dawson's Creek, Law & Order, The Good Wife, Ten Days in the Valley, The Passage, Songbyrd, and Deliah. Furthermore, Sengbloh's other film credits include Across the Universe, American Gangster, Funny Valentines, Ask for Jane, Double Play, and last year's A Shot Through the Wall. Also, the film and TV actress appeared in a handful of short films, including 1998's Kismet, 2008's 44, and 2012's Love & Squalor.

Hailey Kilgore (Carolyn Franklin)

As Carolyn Franklin, Aretha's younger sibling, Hailey Kilgore plays a sisterly character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, the actress received a Tony nomination for her performance in Broadway's Once On This Island. Her other theater credits include Our Town, Ain't Misbehavin', and Into the Woods. Additionally, on television, Kilgore can be seen in episodes of The Village and Amazing Stories. Currently, the award-nominated actress appears in Starz's Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Respect is her first film credit.

Respect is in theaters now. Check out our 2021 movie premiere date schedule.

No critic worth his or her salt would dare make an Oscar prediction in mid-August. The annual awards season doesn’t really kick into its second gear until the September film festivals of Venice, Telluride and Toronto begin, and there are far too many films and performances to absorb before you’d even consider writing a name in pen on an Academy Awards ballot.

So let me just say that Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) delivers yet another Oscar-worthy performance, this time as iconic soul singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin in director Leisl Tommy’s Respect. Hudson is a force, demonstrating the same gravitational pull as the legend she portrays. And while Respect, as a whole, plays as a sturdy, no-frills musician biopic (of which the industry has produced countless examples), Hudson really is the reason to see this, and she is reason enough to go.

Jennifer Hudson channels Aretha Franklin in Respect, and it’s mesmerizing.

I’m not saying that a musician needs to played by another musician to make a biopic work, but the examples we have lends enough credence to the theory that you can’t be faulted for believing it. Watching Jennifer Hudson disappear into the role of Aretha Franklin in Respect reminded me of classically-trained pianist Jamie Foxx slipping on the sunglasses of Ray Charles. The two individuals almost become inseparable, so that when Hudson stands on a stage meant to represent New York City’s Madison Square Garden and belts out the titular song, you assume you have been transported to a live Aretha Franklin performance. The sound mix on Respect is just that good.

It helps that Hudson can sing anything. And I do mean anything. Respect covers a significant and tumultuous early period in Franklin’s professional career, showing the 18-year-old singer signing with Columbia Records and staying with her until she records her Grammy Award-winning 1972 album Amazing Grace, still the best-selling record in Franklin’s entire catalogue. Over the course of that time, Franklin experimented with everything as she sought to establish her identity, switching from jazz and standards to pop music, soul and, finally, gospel. Hudson convincingly sings every note, and you marvel at her spiritual performance but then stop to realize, “Wait, Franklin did all of this first!” Respect, at the very least, conveys Franklin’s versatility as a songwriter and performer, as well as her passion for perfection when it came to her music.

Aretha Franklin lived an incredibly full life, and Respect captures… some of it.

You’d need hours to properly convey all that Aretha Franklin achieved, not just in the field of music, but also in her activism and political affiliations. As mentioned, the movie begins with Franklin’s childhood years (with Skye Dakota Turner providing a shining light as young Aretha), but it stops in 1972, then tries to highlight the rest of Franklin’s accomplishments in that cliched montage of title cards over the credits. This includes -- but is not limited to -- Franklin being the youngest female performer to be admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; her performance of “My Country, Tis of Thee” and the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and her receipt of the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Respect skims over these moments because there’s more than enough to juggle in the chosen time period. Too much, almost. There are multiple subplots that unfurl in this meaty movie that still made me wish we could have stopped and explored them a little deeper. Franklin’s dysfunctional relationship with her first husband, Ted White (an unrecognizable Marlon Wayans), serves the purpose of proving Franklin could find the strength to escape an abusive situation. Complicated history with Franklin’s father (Forest Whitaker), grandmother (Kimbery Scott) and sisters is dabbled with, then dropped. Even an early rape that cast a heavy shadow over the rest of Franklin’s existence -- she referred to it only as “The Demon” and it seemed to consume her -- begged for more explanation. Respect plays the hits. You’ll just wish the liner notes provided more descriptive details.

Music is in the fiber of Respect, just as it was in the fiber of Aretha Franklin.

Still, Respect deserves to be seen -- and seen in a movie theater with the best sound system available -- because Franklin’s songs and Hudson’s renditions help the film to soar. Respect relies so heavily on music, you could argue it traded its script for a songbook. In its most compelling moments, Respect gives us insight into Franklin’s extraordinary song-writing process. The scenes between Franklin and her Muscle Shoals supporting band are all-timers in the musician biopic genre. And the journey of the song “Respect” from the piano keys in Franklin’s apartment to the stage at Madison Square Garden is exhilarating.

Sometimes, I wish Respect injected a little more flair into its storytelling. At the same time, if Liesl Tommy decided her movie didn’t need more pizzazz because it already had Hudson, it’s hard to argue against that point.

Jennifer Hudson’s angelic voice and powerful acting is coming back to the big screen next weekend with the release of Respect, a biopic about the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Hudson’s last movie was also led by music, but became rather infamous. Remember Tom Hooper’s Cats? The adaptation of the popular Broadway musical horrified audiences, which was especially due to its distasteful CGI cats. Almost two years removed from the universally panned movie, Hudson is sharing her experience as Grizabella, which she says was "emotional and heavy."

Jennifer Hudson had a show-stopping number in the film, as she belted out the musical’s most iconic song “Memory” and became the eerie cat world’s “Jellicle Choice.” The singer and Dreamgirls actress had this to say about her time on Tom Hooper’s movie:

Hudson’s scene is beautifully performed, and she gives it her all as the abandoned kitty who wistfully sings about her past before being banished from the weird cat cult Cats seems to focus on. She absolutely crushes those notes, but we’re also a bit distracted by the oddly placed CGI around her face for the performance. Hudson continued to Empire Magazine:

Jennifer Hudson had some challenges with Grizabella in terms of how outwardly emotional she was in the film (especially while belting out those notes). Relive the memory:

Like I said, Jennifer Hudson was absolutely giving it her all and it’s chill-inducing but, as far as the production design is concerned, there’s no forgiving the Razzie winner. Thankfully, Hudson has a good outlook on it, and no defunct CGI cat character can take away from her incredible talent.

The actress’ next role was blessed by the iconic singer who she is playing, the late Aretha Franklin. Before the Queen of Soul passed away, Hudson met with Franklin and she was chosen to play her in the biopic that would take 14 years to complete. At the time Hudson signed on to play the icon, she had just won her Oscar for Dreamgirls.

Respect hits theaters on August 13 and check out what other movies are coming out this year with CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie release schedule.

For an actor, playing a real-life person has to be both exciting and daunting, and this was the task set before Jennifer Hudson, who portrays music icon Aretha Franklin in the upcoming biopic Respect. The Oscar winner is certainly stepping into some massive shoes, but her biopic casting is a bit more personal than that of other actors. This is because Hudson was actually hand-picked by Franklin herself to play the role. Just thinking about it is enough to give you chills, and Hudson reflected on the moment.

Jennifer Hudson recently spoke to CinemaBlend and other news outlets during a Q&A for Respect, which also featured director Liesl Tommy. During the discussion, Hudson spoke about when and how the Queen of Soul asked her to play, well… the Queen of Soul. And based on how the actress and singer describes it, it was a sweet exchange:

Getting a call from Aretha Franklin sounds crazy enough, but the fact that she personally called to tell Jennifer Hudson the news is just so special. And like Hudson did, I’m sure most of us would have absolutely heeded Franklin’s words and not told anyone. Hudson would go on to discuss the sweet way Franklin has influenced both her life and career and how it helped inform her portrayal:

Jennifer Hudson’s comments are a true testament to the impact Aretha Franklin had on so many. The late singer, actress and activist was so many things to so many people, but it’s nice to hear that Hudson had the privilege of knowing her as a friend and mentor. And based on what we’ve seen of her in the role so far, Hudson is channeling every aspect of the beloved songstress. You can check out the new trailer down below:

It goes without saying that Jennifer Hudson will continue to hold those memories of Aretha Franklin close to her heart. And while Franklin sadly won’t get to see the actress play her on the big screen, it’s safe to say she’d be proud of the work Hudson has put in.

Respect opens in theaters on August 13, 2021.

Few celebrities have had the impact and reach Aretha Franklin had during her time on this Earth. The singer, actress and activist was a true force and, though she’s no longer with us, many continue to pay tribute to her and her legacy. One way she’ll be honored is through the upcoming biopic Respect, which sees Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson take on the role of the iconic diva. Like many films over the past year, Respect has been delayed but is now set to hit theaters soon. With this, a new trailer has been released, and it further proves just how pitch perfect Jennifer Hudson is as the Queen of Soul.

Last year, fans were treated to the teaser trailer for Respect, but the new trailer manages to dive deeper into the life of the late, great Aretha Franklin. The new footage shows more of Franklin’s early life as a young woman growing up in the church before she eventually found her way onto an even larger stage. Based on the new trailer, Jennifer Hudson manages to capture the different sides of Franklin, including her boldness and sincerity. The trailer also showcases a bit more of Hudson’s castmates, particularly Forest Whitaker (who plays Franklin’s father C.L. Franklin) and Mary J. Blige (in the role of Dinah Washington).

The trailer, of course, also shows off more of Jennifer Hudson’s incredible vocals. By now, many of us know how masterful a singer Hudson is, but Respect seems to be a true showcase for her talents. She seems to gracefully channel Franklin’s sweet sounds while also trying not to copy her. And the actress and singer certainly does justice to the film’s titular song.

Like Aretha Franklin’s, Jennifer Hudson’s road to music stardom was an interesting one. Many surely remember that she first made her way into the public eye as a contestant during the third season of American Idol. While the skilled songstress wouldn’t win the competition, she did strike a chord with viewers and ultimately earned a place in Hollywood and within the ranks of the greatest Idol contestants of all time.

Respect is a production that’s personal for Jennifer Hudson for a few reasons. Not only does she serve as an executive producer but, years ago, Aretha Franklin herself hand-picked her to play the role. While it can’t be easy to step into the shoes of an icon, Hudson seems more than equipped to take on the role.

There’s a lot to love about the latest trailer for Respect, and music fans and biopic lovers are sure to be excited to see Aretha Franklin’s story told on the big screen. It can definitely be said that so far, Jennifer Hudson and director Liesl Tommy are hitting all of the right notes.

Respect is set to grace theaters on August 13, 2021.

At long last, Anthony Mandler’s legal drama Monster is finally here more than three years after it made its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. But now that you can watch the story of a high school honor student falsely accused of murder in a robbery gone wrong on Netflix, you are probably wondering where you’ve seen the Monster cast before. And while names like Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, and John David Washington are easy ones to figure out, some, like the film’s star, Kelvin Harrison Jr. might have you stumped.

Below is a quick breakdown of the major players on the Monster cast, who they play, and where you’ve seen them in the past. With both established and rising stars in the acting world, as well as some of the best hip-hop artists of yesterday and today, taking up residence on the cast, there’s a lot to unpack here…

Kelvin Harrison Jr. - Steve Harmon

Kelvin Harrison Jr. portrays Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student at a private New York City high school who dreams of one day becoming a filmmaker, a dream that this is cut short when he goes on trial for a robbery and murder he did not commit. Prior to Monster (which initially premiered in 2018), Harrison appeared in 12 Years a Slave, Ender’s Game, and The Birth of a Nation before becoming relatively well known with It Comes at Night. In the past couple of years, Harrison has shown up in Waves, The High Note, and most recently The Trial of the Chicago 7, playing the late Fred Hampton.

Jennifer Hudson - Mrs. Harmon

Taking on the role of the Mrs. Harmon, Steve’s successful and devoted mother, is Academy Award, Golden Globe, and two-time Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. The talented singer-turned-actress has appeared in a number of well-regarded movies since making her big screen debut with 2006’s Dreamgirls. In the 15 years since her award-winning performance as Effie White, Hudson has gone on to show up in movies like The Secret Life of Bees, Chi-Raq, and Sing, to name just a few. Hudson is also set to portray the late, great Aretha Franklin in the upcoming biopic Respect.

Jeffrey Wright - Mr. Harmon

Portraying the character Mr. Harmon, Steve’s supportive father, is Emmy Award winner Jeffrey Wright. One of the most established stars featured in the Monster cast, Wright has appeared in everything from limited series like Angels in America (which netted him the aforementioned Emmy), shows like Westworld, and countless movie titles including Cadillac Records, W., and various James Bond films as Felix Leiter, with another, No Time to Die, on the way. And then there’s the whole business of Wright taking on the role of Jim Gordon in The Batman.

John David Washington - Richard ‘Bobo’ Evans

Taking on the role of Richard “Bobo” Evans, one of the men accused of the robbery and murder who then testifies against Steve Harmon for a lighter sentence, is John David Washington. At the time of Monster’s initial premiere, Washington had yet to make a name for himself with memorable performances in BlacKkKlansman, Tenet, and Malcolm and Marie, though the few credits to his name at the time included some heavy-hitters like Monsters and Men, Love Beats Rhymes, and the HBO series Ballers. As a child, the future leading man, had small roles in several films featuring his father, Denzel Washington.

Rakim ‘A$AP Rocky’ Mayers - William King

Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky is featured heavily throughout Monster as William King, a fixture of the Harlem streets who is also charged with robbery and murder alongside Steve Harmon. Despite his explosive performance leading you to think otherwise, this is only A$AP Rocky’s second acting role in a movie (he previously appeared as himself in a few others), with the other being the 2015 coming-of-age story Dope. The Grammy-nominated rapper remains one of the leading voices in today’s hip hop scene with a slew of hit singles, albums, and mixtapes released in the past decade.

Jennifer Ehle - Katherine O’Brien

Stepping in as Steve Harmon’s cold yet pragmatic defense attorney Katherine O’Brien is Jennifer Ehle. With credits going back to her theatre work back in 1991, Ehle has remained a major player in film, television, and the stage with memorable roles in everything from the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries to the pandemic thriller Contagion in 2011. If neither of those titles ring any bells then you’ll surely remember Ehle from the Fifty Shades franchise, in which she plays Carla Wilks.

Tim Blake Nelson - Leroy Sawicki

Tim Blake Nelson plays Leroy Sawicki, Steve Harmon’s high school film teacher who inspires him to document the world around him. Over the years, the actor/writer/director has appeared in everything from Coen brothers movies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs to entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Incredible Hulk, as well as the the HBO series Watchmen. Nelson has also written and directed his fair share of movies over the years including Leaves of Grass, Anesthesia, and Kansas.

Nasir ‘Nas’ Jones - Raymond ‘Sunset’ Green

Legendary rapper and producer Nasir “Nas” Jones takes on the role of Raymond “Sunset” Green, a fellow inmate who helps Steve Harmon navigate life behind bars and is more like a spiritual leader in the sense that he works with the young high school student to help him learn how to put his mind at ease and not let the system get him down. Largely known for his rap career, which kicked off with 1994’s Illmatic, Nas has made several film appearances including Hype Williams’ 1998 hidden gem Belly where he shared the screen with the late DMX.

Paul Ben-Victor - Anthony Petrocelli

Leading the prosecution against Steve Harmon in Monster is Paul Ben-Victor’s Anthony Pretrocelli, who is hellbent on proving that the high school student and aspiring filmmaker isn’t as innocent as he claims. Probably best known for his portrayal of Greek crime boss Spiros “Vondas” Vondopoulos on The Wire, Ben-Victor’s career in film and television goes back more than 30 years. Over on the film side of things, Ben-Victor has shown up in staples of the early ‘90s like Tombstone and True Romance as well as more recent movies like The Irishmen and The Banker. He’s also had roles on shows like Entourage, NYPD Blue, and Monk to name a few.

Jharrel Jerome - Osvaldo

Jharrel Jerome is seen in Monster as Osvaldo, a Harlem teenager who despite being an accomplice in the robbery gone wrong, hopes to get a full acquittal based on his age and testimony. Prior to the filming of Monster a few years back, Jerome came on the scene with a memorable performance in Moonlight, in which he appeared as the teenage version of Kevin, Ciron’s (Ashton Sanders) longtime friend and romantic interest. Since then, Jerome has gone on to win an Emmy and multiple other awards for his portrayal of Korey Wise in When They See Us and recently appeared in Concrete Cowboy.

Jonny Coyne - Detective Karyl

Detective Karyl is one of NYPD detectives investigating the bodega robbery gone awry in Monster and the investigator who is determined that Steve Harmon is involved in the murder. Over the years, Coyne has appeared in a number of movies including Nightcrawler, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and even Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life. The English actor, however, is more known for his various television roles over the years which include everything from The Blacklist to Preacher and Turn: Washington’s Spies to Mom, with dozens upon dozens of smaller roles and one-off appearances mixed in.

Lovie Simone - Renee Pickford

Relative newcomer Lovie Simone appears as Renee Pickford, Steve Harmon’s love interest in Monster. The new Netflix movie was Simone’s first film production at the time but has gone on to show up in Share, Selah and the Spades, and the 2020 supernatural horror film The Craft: Legacy, portraying Tabby. Simone got her first big break in the acting world with a recurring-turned-main role on Greenleaf from 2016 to 2020. She has since shown up in Orange is the New Black, Blue Bloods, and Social Distance.

Mikey Madison - Alexandra Floyd

Mikey Madison shows up in Monster as Alexandra Floyd. Prior to landing a role in the Netflix crime drama, Madison made a name for herself on the FX comedy series Better Things. She has had a few more film appearances in the years since filming Monster with the most notable being as “Sadie” one of the members of the Manson Family who decide to target Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) instead of Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In case you’re wondering, yes, she was the cult member who was incinerated in Dalton’s pool. She will next appear in the 2022’s Scream though her role has yet to be revealed.

This is just the main cast from Monster and there are tones of other great actors who appear in the gripping legal drama throughout its duration. If you’ve finished the movie and now want to see what else is coming to theaters this year (especially those featuring Jennifer Hudson and Jeffrey Wright), check out CinemaBlend’s list of 2021 movie premiere dates.

Being one of the most significant figures in 20th century music, Aretha Franklin has long deserved the honor of a biopic telling her story on the big screen – but it has taken quite a while for that to actually happen. It was all the way back in 2007 that Franklin herself made it known that she wanted Dreamgirls Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson to play her in a movie, but the project was stuck in development for more than a decade. Thankfully, that time spent in limbo is finally almost over, as Respect is finally coming out at the end of this year, and now we have our first real look courtesy of this brand new trailer:

The BET Awards were held this evening, featuring a performance from Jennifer Hudson, and tied to that special appearance is this exciting Respect trailer. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the film features an outstanding cast including Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald and Mary J. Blige, and tells the story of how Aretha Franklin went from singing gospel in Detroit, Michigan to becoming one of the most beloved musical talents in history. The legendary diva already has an awesome big screen legacy, not only with song contributions to various films, but also her role in the brilliant comedy The Blues Brothers, and now we have entered a new era with this movie.

You probably noticed that this is a surprisingly short debut trailer, clocking in at a little over a minute long, but one could argue that it's pretty perfect. With a film like Respect, what is going to hook audiences and get their attention is the music of Aretha Franklin, and a taste of what to expect from Jennifer Hudson's performance, and that's exactly what this preview delivers without overstaying its welcome. Obviously there will be more footage from the movie posted online between now and December, giving us a longer look at how the movie is approaching the story, but for right now it's easy to appreciate this first look as a great tease.

It seems like a lifetime ago that Jennifer Hudson was competing as a contestant on American Idol, but that was just a couple of years before Dreamgirls and her win at the Oscars for Best Supporting Actress. While she has certainly kept busy, her big screen work in the years since 2007 hasn't earned her the same kind of attention as her breakout role, but Respect looks like it could be a performance that is given a lot of consideration by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Admittedly it's partially because of everything that is presently going on in the world, but just this snapshot of her performance in this trailer is powerful, so one can only wonder and anticipate what she will be bringing to the table when the full thing arrives later this year.

On that note, the current plan for the film is for MGM to release it during one of the most high-profile times of the year: the holiday season. To qualify for awards season, Respect will be getting a limited release on Christmas Day, and then will get a wide release on January 15, 2021. Stay tuned for more news and updates about the film here on CinemaBlend!

Tom Hooper's Cats is finally in theaters, and is getting quite the reaction from those who have seen see the movie musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic Broadway musical (based off T.S. Eliot's poetry) has been adapted for film by Les Miserables director Tom Hooper, and the critical response has been wild. The movie is unlike anything that has hit theaters before, with bonkers source material and digital fur technology creating a moviegoing experience that will leave you dizzy. But what happened during Cats' movie ending?

Cats: It's All About The Jellicle Ball

While Cats might be a somewhat confusing moviegoing experience, the plot is actually simple. Just like the Cats musical, once a year the Jellicle Cats (that's just their name, go with it) assemble for the most exciting of days-- appropriately named The Jellicle Ball. It's a grand contest, where one cat is chosen for the Jellicle Choice. See a theme here?

In the Cats musical and movie, the winner of the Jellicle Choice is given a new life. That lucky kitty ascends to the Heaviside Layer, where it transforms into everything it ever wanted to be. The stakes are high for the cats of Cats, and plenty of colorful characters show up to compete for the affections of Judi Dench's Old Deuteronomy. O.D. (as call her for short) is the one who makes said Jellicle Choice, and picks the most deserving candidate from the group of cats.

That's it. Every cat wants to win, and only one will. The runtime of Cats is made up of various cats showing up to join the competition, and hopefully go to the Heaviside Layer. Each of the starring cast members pop up and sing a song, allowing for the Cats movie to function as a true ensemble project. But every competition has its winner, and for Cats that is Jennifer Hudson's Grizabella, the glamor cat.

For some reason, Grizabella is an outcast from the rest of the kitties in Cats. Life has treated her badly, with Griz being an outcast. But once she eventually is welcomed to the Jellicle Ball by Francesca Hayward's protagonist Victoria, Jennifer Hudson is able to shine by singing the 11 o'clock number of the musical "Memory."

What Happens At The End Of Cats?

Since Cats is all about the Jellicle Ball, Tom Hooper's movie ends the same time as that mythical kitty event. While plenty of cats appear to sing their songs and compete for the Jellicle Choice, there's one cat who seems to want the victory at all costs. That's Idris Elba's villainous Macavity, who somehow has magical abilities the other cats do not. (They're talking cats, it's best not to think too hard about it.) Macavity spends most of the movie lurking around, and kidnapping (catnapping?) the starring cast after each actor finishes their big number.

Eventually the kidnapped cats (including Judi Dench) manage to escape in the Cats movie's third act, through some magic by Laurie Davidson's Mr. Mistoffelees, who also has magic. The quirky characters of Cats make it back to the Jellicle Ball just in time. Judi Dench's Old Deuteronomy decides that Grizabella is the one who deserves a new life the most, with the ensemble cats all moved by her life story. And as such she gets the honor of ascending the Heaviside Layer. Jennifer Hudson jumps into a chandelier, and flies out of the Jellicle Ball and into the sky to her destiny, bringing an end to the main story of Cats.

Of course, Idris Elba's Macavity can't help making one last ditch effort to steal the spot from Grizabella in the final moments of the Cats movie. He uses his magic and nearly manages to get aboard the chandelier, but comes up short. We last see him stranded on top of a statue, and seemingly without the powers he used to teleport around for the entirety of the movie. I call that kitty karma.

How Is Cats' Ending Different From The Musical?

Cats director Tom Hooper clearly has love for the original musical, as his movie is a fairly accurate adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking show. Yet, there are a few changes made to the source material. The most obvious is that the director attempted to give the film adaptation more of a linear narrative than the musical. The cats no longer break the fourth wall, with their stories all told through Victoria's eyes. This choice makes sense to give Cats a more film feel, although it is startling when Judi Dench finally addresses the audience in the closing number. It was a moment that got an audible reaction from the audience during my Cats screening.

As for for Judi Dench, her role is actually gender-swapped from the usual casting of Cats the musical. Old Deuteronomy is usually played by a man, with a high baritone voice. Dench's songs were adjusted to fit her voice, and she sounded killer in the role. If you didn't already know Cats, you wouldn't know any change was made. She has the necessary gravitas and wisdom for the role, and has had a long tenure in the theater.

Regarding Cats' ending itself, it pretty closely follows the musical, although Macavity's plot to become the winner goes by a little differently. He doesn't spend the Cats musical slowly kidnapping the Jellicles, but instead focuses solely on Old Deuteronomy. Once he kidnaps that powerful cat, Macavity returns disguised as O.D. in an attempt to crown himself the winner. But he's found out, and is forced to flee the stage. From there, Mr. Mistoffelee uses his magic to return Old Deuteronomy in time for the Jellicle Choice-- just like Tom Hooper presented in the movie.

Grizabella is the one chosen in both the Cats movie and musical, as Jennifer Hudson's character is given a new life after her years of suffering and isolation. But the way she ascends to the Heaviside Layer is a bit different. In the Cats movie she rides an old chandelier, a la another musical, Phantom of the Opera. In the stage version, Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy ride a flying car tire to the heavens, where she makes her exit into the sky. The tire moment is an iconic Broadway visual, as the musical version of Cats ran for nearly two decades, and was the longest-running show on the Great White Way.

What Does Cats' Ending Mean?

So what exactly does the ending to Cats mean? Well, it's fairly straightforward... kind of. Regardless, it's an ending that strikes true to the original, complete with Judi Dench's final number "The Ad-Dressing of Cats" Basically Grizabella lived her life and suffered, and was rewarded with a new life. Whether or not this is literal or metaphorical is never quite clear, even in the musical Cats. The plot of the movie hints that the goal is for the cats to be reborn, this time as exactly who they've always wanted to be. For some this means young and beautiful, and for others it means some new power. But Griz is the winner of the Jellicle Choice, so the happy ending is for her to enjoy.

Since Cats premiered as a show on Broadway, the show's ending has been discussed by musical fans. Many consider the Heaviside Layer to simply mean heaven-- I mean, they sound similar. Since Grizabella was an old cat, Cats' ending could represent the natural circle of life and death.

There are also darker theories about what the Heaviside Layer could symbolize. Some of these include a ritual sacrifice, which certainly makes Cats' ending less happy. Another is that the kitties in Cats are actually in purgatory, and that the Heaviside Layer is the real heaven. Clearly it's up for interpretation, which is why moviegoers may be puzzled by the ending of Tom Hooper's Cats movie.

Cats is in theaters now, so you can check out the wild musical blockbuster and judge its ending yourself. Plus, CinemaBlend's official review is up here. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Movie musicals have had a long history in the film world, originally helping to shape moviemaking, and still remaining a tried and true genre. Usually around this time of the year a movie musical will arrive in theaters hoping to accrue some Oscar nominations in the coming awards season. This year's entry is Tom Hooper's Cats, based off the record-breaking Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway musical of the same name. However, while Hooper scored a whopping eight Oscar nominations and won three with 2012's Les Miserables, Cats won't have the same impact on voters or audiences.

Cats is based on the 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. The story takes place over one special night a year when the Jellicle Cats assemble and compete to become the winner of the Jellicle Choice. That lucky kitty will get a new life, ascending to the Heaviside Layer a.k.a. Heaven. And as you probably guessed, the words "Jellicle" and "cat" are uttered countless times throughout the course of the story.

Cats is a show about dancing, and in that respect the movie version really delivers. The main ensemble of dancers kill it, making each of the big names look better as a result. But the movie went viral ahead of its release thanks divisive digital fur technology used to transform the cast into their feline alter egos, and the final result is just as bizarre as expected. You won't be able to look away, but you might wish you could forget the "memory" of Cats by the movie's end.

Despite its flaws, Cats is a fascinating visual experience. There's a strange cognitive dissonance happening, as human faces and forms are given digital fur. The actors also play with giant set pieces, meant to give them smaller appearances of cats. But the scale isn't quite right, and the digital fur technology is inconsistent depending on the scene and character involved. In fact, it ends up being the most distracting aspect of the new movie musical.

Cats’ Fur-Like CGI Is Inconsistent And Distracting,

In some shots, the transformation truly happens. An actor's face properly becomes more cat-like, allowing for a unique visual experience. But it really depends on which scene and which character is involved. Newcomer Francesca Hayward plays protagonist Victoria, one of the characters whose visual effects always look completed. As for the bigger names in the Cats cast, they didn't all fare as well. Jennifer Hudson's transformation never quite clicks. Taylor Swift's appearance is another that appears unfinished. That, or they want to give the pop star's fans ample times to connect with her during the character's brief role and didn't want the CGI to completely hide her.

With the digital fur technology so inconsistent, audiences will likely spend much of the time in theaters trying to figure out exactly what is off about Cats' visuals. It's a disservice to the cast, who are each trying to sell their respective solo songs in the movie. One has to wonder if doing the traditional Broadway makeup would have been a better choice. While this would obviously take a toll on the skin of the cast, it might have allowed the Broadway magic of Cats to properly translate to the screen.

The All-Star Cast Of Cats Fails To Become An Ensemble,

Tom Hooper assembled a killer group of actors to play the iconic roles in Cats. While Francesca Hayward will be a new (cat) face for moviegoers, there are plenty of big names attached, each with their own musical number. There are legendary talents like Judi Dench and Ian McKellen alongside Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, James Corden, and Rebel Wilson. Pop stars Jason Derulo and Taylor Swift round out the group for some extra star power. But despite all the talent, the group fails to ever truly become an ensemble.

It appears that it was a scheduling nightmare to get such big names together in the same room to film Cats, so it appears like Tom Hooper and company might have avoided this task altogether. Each big name shows up and introduces themselves, gets a song backed up by the dancers, and then fades back into the background. A subplot about kidnapping (catnapping?) is added to remind the audience that those names are even in the movie, as the various cat origin stories continue at the Jellicle Ball.

While it looks like Judi Dench was present during the big ensemble scenes, Cats' theatrical cut makes it seem like the majority of the starring cast recorded their numbers in private. As a result, the group of all-stars fail to gel together. The group mentality is vital to what Cats is as a Broadway show, and while the movie version keeps the dancers as a unit, the starring cast didn't have that same dynamic.

Cats The Musical Just Isn’t Right As A Movie

As I sat watching the movie version of Cats, I was struck by how difficult it was to connect to the material. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a legendary Broadway composer who has other hits such as Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sunset Boulevard. The Broadway run of Cats lasted a whopping 18 years, and was the record holder for the longest running show. Clearly there's something special about the story that resonates with audiences, so why does it feel so strange in film form?

It's because it simply doesn't work in the medium. Cats has no real plot; each principal cast member pops up and sings a song-- eventually one of them is chosen to ascend into cat heaven. There's no real story to follow on the big screen. And while its not usual for dancers to wear flamboyant costumes and transform into a cat on stage, seeing people act like cats just isn't as effective here. The cats break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience in the show, although Tom Hooper abandons this framing device and tries to craft a linear narrative out of the film. It's changes how the story is told, and creates some dissonance. Is this supposed to be a drama or comedy?

The main issue with Cats seems to be that it's a movie at all, as the task of adapting such a stylized and iconic Broadway musical into a film would be a challenging task for anybody. The cast, however separate from each other, puts on spirited performances-- and there are some moments of magic and joy throughout the course of the movie's 110 minute runtime. Jason Derulo is arguably the scene stealer of the movie, while both Judi Dench and Ian McKellen prove why they're legends. But overall, Cats is a wild theatrical ride that as bizarre as you'd think... and perhaps more.

While some folks were losing their minds over Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's world premiere last night, there were others who were experiencing the other major motion picture of the holiday season. Director Tom Hooper's Cats was unveiled to an eager audiences at its very own world premiere last night, and now we have some reactions to a film that's been the talk of the town for some time.

Surprisingly enough, the reactions have been colorful, but even handed, with people who witnessed the CGI fur extravaganza for themselves speaking up on Twitter. As you'll see in the following series of tweets, there's varying opinions on what this film has set out to do; and we'll start with a pretty hugely positive note.

So while Cats isn't exactly the serious hard hitting drama that some might expect from the director of Les Miserables, it's definitely a fun time musical if that reaction is anything to go by. One does not invoke Grease lightly when speaking of musicals these days, and if that's the high water mark, this film could be more fun than frightening.

Though if you thought Cats wasn't going to still bewilder or confuse some audience members, then your memory of such prospects will live again. You can thank this ultimately confused reaction to the film's rather unique source material for that:

So far, Cats is sounding like a weird experience, but not a totally off-kilter masterpiece of crazy. Which means it's time to vary things up with some good old-fashioned sex appeal, as our next reaction promises something that suggests you may want to see the film before bringing any children to view its charms this holiday season.

Considering that Cats has a PG-rating attached to its film adaptation, the claim that the film is "way too horny for its own good" is a rather odd one. Though, that could just mean there's quite a bit of overt seduction and enticement these cats throw about to one another. Still, one has to wonder if anything was cut to avoid a PG-13 rating in the process of bringing Cats into its final form; especially if Jason DeRulo's claims about the film shrinking his manhood are true.

But if we're going to talk about a musical, surely the music in the film is noteworthy, right? Well, one fan seems to have not only enjoyed the music for Cats' theatrical incarnation, they've also taken a particular shine to the original song written for the film's awards season prospects:

So there's some good news and bad news for you folks hoping to see Taylor Swift dominate Cats with her fierce personality. The good news is, according to the tweeter above, her original song with Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Beautiful Ghosts," is something that should totally be considered for awards consideration.

The bad news is, according to other reactions to the film, she doesn't appear in too much of Cats' finished product. Some are even saying it's roughly a 5-8 minute portion of the film, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

That being said, if you're looking to be blown away by one of the historically big moments in this show's historic canon, the final tweet we're about to show you is very reassuring.

Cats hasn't always been the most accessible show, but that's never stopped it from being a hit. It is, after all, one of creator Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest hits, and since "Memory" is one of the stand out tracks from Cats' decades-spanning legacy, that's one of the tracks you have to nail to call yourself a proper adaptation.

So if you're looking for Jennifer Hudson to knock it out of the park with that particular song, it sounds like you're not going to be disappointed in the slightest. And it's not long until you'll actually get to see the film for yourself, as Cats hits theaters this Friday.

If you’re one of those folks who thought that had a field day with first trailer to Cats, thinking it was creepy at best, and nightmare fuel at worst, you’re officially in the wrong place. The Tom Hooper directed film has dropped a new trailer for audiences to behold, and if anything, it doubles down on that crazy energy that we saw in the first, more restrained look at T.S. Eliot’s famed feline frolic come to life.

So prepare yourself to read and write more wild comments about this film’s CGI creatures, but not before you dive head first into the world of Cats yet again, with the trailer below:

This Cats trailer has it all: Idris Elba’s Macavity showing off more of his sneaky ambitions, Judi Dench playing a god-like elder cat who will grant a lucky soul a new life, and Taylor Swift’s Bombalurina shaking it off in true Swiftian fashion. If you watched that last trailer and thought, “Geez, Tom Hooper, you’re holding back aren’t you?”, then James Corden hissing at another cat and grooming himself only shows that the challenge you dropped has been accepted.

But in the middle of the CGI work that Cats has shown off yet again, it all feels a little more… routine. True, nothing’s changed, and it’s still kind of frightening to see this world of singing and dancing cats in Cats, but it’s starting to feel more normal than outlandish.

This isn’t another Sonic The Hedgehog where the internet said something, and then the folks behind the film tried to strike a compromise in the edit. Cats is here to do only one thing: be the best Cats movie it can be. That includes crafting a new song with Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber joining quills to knock that tune right out. In that respect, you kind of have to respect this movie, and the people behind it, for not wavering from such a vision. It might be a fever dream, but it’s their fever dream; and they aren’t letting it go.

It’s a dream that looks to be opening to the tune of $10 - $20 million at the box office its opening weekend, though monetary success is probably the least of the concerns to the powers that be behind Cats’ finished product. If anything, this film is more than likely being groomed for an awards season pedigree, and the claws will come out when it comes time to be considered for that trophy.

Above all else, Cats is proof that no matter how crazy, heightened, or downright bizarre the vision is, there’s always a market that’ll buy it. And there’s no such thing as bad buzz on the internet, because at least there’s only one crazy cat movie that folks are talking about at this moment. Sorry Nine Lives, you just got kicked out of the litter box.

Cats curls up into theaters, and knocks the audience’s drinks from their holders, on December 20th. It should be safe to open a movie on that day, right?

At this year's Academy Awards ceremony, Lady Gaga walked home with her first Oscar. But she almost found herself with two gold statues that night. The musician won Best Original Song, alongside Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, for the undeniable smash hit, "Shallow," which has rocked the core of nearly every person who has listened to it these past several months. However, Lady Gaga was also in contention for Best Actress, although she ultimately lost to Olivia Colman.

Like many musicians, Lady Gaga has proven that her talents expand beyond her music. Though she was already a star when A Star Is Born made its way into theaters, Bradley Cooper's acclaimed remake of the classic Hollywood tale showed that Ms. Gaga had what it takes to be a bonafide movie star, in addition to being a world-renowned musician. She's not alone in that respect. There are plenty of musicians out there who have gone on to become movie and television stars as well, including Miley Cyrus in Netflix's latest controversial season of Black Mirror.

Of course, they aren't alone in spreading their talents, so I'll take a moment to list a few of the talented singers and musicians who made that leap.

Lady Gaga In A Star Is Born

As we mentioned above, Lady Gaga was well-accomplished as a singer. Beyond appearing in a season of FX's anthology series, American Horror Story, the singer's acting experience was limited — at best. It was not clear to some producers if Gaga had the acting chops to pull off playing the lead role — the title role, to an extent, no less — in this latest retelling of the iconic love story, A Star is Born. Nevertheless, director/co-star Bradley Cooper believed in her, as you probably heard throughout various press tours from Lady Gaga herself, and the results proved the first-time filmmaker was right.

Actually, that's putting it mildly. Lady Gaga's performance in A Star Is Born is an absolute powerhouse, an emotional rollercoaster that is astonishing for an actress with relatively limited experience such as Gaga. Both vulnerable and confident in a way that makes you believe that this incredibly famous musician could be a lowly, hard-working blue collar woman trying to make a name for herself as a singer someday, Lady Gaga's brazen performance is, at once, mild-mannered and electrifying, and capable of capturing the lengths our lead characters journey through throughout the tragedy that unfolds.

It became one of the year's best performances, and it proved that — in the right hands —Lady Gaga has what it takes to be a movie star in addition to being a beloved musician. Because, like she has often said, there can be a hundred people in the room, and 99 don't believe you, but if one does...

Miley Cyrus In Black Mirror

Having gotten her start on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus can often be considered an actress and a singer at the same time. Still in recent years, away from Sofia Coppola's holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas, Woody Allen's Amazon mini-series, Crisis in Six Scenes, and a a handful of Saturday Night Live guest appearances, Miley Cyrus has opted to focus more on music than building an acting career. At least, that was the case until the famous musician made a controversial appearance on Netflix's British anthology sci-fi series, Black Mirror.

In the third episode of the fifth season, Miley Cyrus plays popstar Ashley O, who finds that a doll made in her likeness, Ashley Too, paves the way for some sinister outcomes. Having Miley Cyrus prominently featured in an episode of Black Mirror obviously garnered a lot of attention. When that episode premiered, the responses were mixed, particularly given the subject matter. However, there were many folks who praised Miley Cyrus for this darker, more mature turn, proving the actress has the dramatic range to expand herself into non-comedic roles, if she desires to go in that direction.

Flea In Baby Driver/Boy Erased

As part of the rock 'n' roll scene, Michael "Flea" Balzary has proven himself many times over as the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. What some music fans might not know, however, is that he has been working as a character actor throughout these past couple of decades on the side, turning in the occasional supporting turn or noteworthy appearance in films such as Back to the Future Part II, The Big Lebowski, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, to only name a handful. Yet, it was his most recent work in two notable different films, Edgar Wright's Baby Driver and Joel Edgerton's Boy Erased, that really proved his talents as an actor.

In Baby Driver, Flea's turn as Eddie was maniacal-yet-transfixing. He brought that same heightened, extreme energy that he is often known to show on stage and brought it the cinema, giving audiences a taste for what the musician can do in action-comedies. Meanwhile, his most recent acting turn in Boy Erased showed a whole other side of Flea, one who could be menacing and unrelenting, brutal and vengeful, while also layered and dimensional. If you didn't know better, you may not think these two were the same people, let alone a musician who only acts occasionally. I hope Flea is given more opportunities to act. He's really quite good at it, by musician standards or otherwise, and it would be neat to see him play a bigger, meatier role.

Jennifer Hudson In Dreamgirls

It's a story of Hollywood dreams. Jennifer Hudson first made her way into the public spotlight as a contestant on the third season of American Idol. She didn't win, ultimately placing seventh overall. But that didn't stop her from hitting the big time. The singer made her acting debut in Dreamgirls, the 2006 musical directed by Bill Condon. Even though she had never appeared in a film prior to that, she made a hell of an impression. So much so that, when it came time for awards season, Hudson walked away with the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her absolutely incredible turn as Effie White.

Since then, Jennifer Hudson has continued to develop an acting career. She starred in Sex and the City, Winnie Mandela, The Secret Life of Bees, The Three Stooges, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete, Black Nativity, Sing and Sandy Wexler, to name a few, but she never quite reached the heights that she hit with her first movie. No matter. You can't ask for a better rise-to-fame, especially in the movie business, and Jennifer Hudson will get another chance to showcase her music and acting talents when she appears in Tobe Hooper's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Cats this year.

Justin Timberlake In The Social Network

Ever since he first appeared in 2006's Alpha Dog, moviegoers have been quick to remark, "Oh, wow. So he can act!" Critics at the time were ready to write off the musician as yet another example of a music-maker trying to overstep their boundaries as an actor. Ultimately, though, he proved to be a surprisingly sincere, intuitive actor, and that resulted in the performer earning a few more acting gigs down the road. Including his most prominent to date in David Fincher's 2010 masterpiece, The Social Network, where Timberlake played Sean Parker, the co-founder of Napster who takes an interest in Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin's (Andrew Garfield) new business venture, the social media network we know as Facebook.

While Justin Timberlake was able to hold his own as an actor in Alpha Dog, The Social Network proved Justin Timberlake could deliver a truly great performance. With some regrettable acting turns in lackluster movies such as The Love Guru and Shrek the Third, Timberlake's fans were starting to wonder if perhaps his acting promise was limited to one exclusive role. Nevertheless, in this prestigious role in this award-winning drama, Timberlake more-than-prove himself as an actor, and it's a shame that many of his follow-up films haven't quite captured that same high level of potential and possibility.

Acting is a competitive business. You are never guaranteed to succeed, no matter how famous you might be in other creative fields. Therefore, it's a credit to the expendable talents of these actors that each of them have proven themselves as actors as well as musicians. And they aren't alone. In addition to the musicians listed above, we could've also talked about Jared Leto, Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Willie Nelson, Tom Waits, Eminem, Common, Ludacris, Beyonce Knowles, Chance the Rapper, Yasiin Bey (formally known as Mos Def), Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and many, many more.

There are no shortage of talented musicians out there, and we were only able to list a few of them who successfully made the leap into acting. For example, we'll see Queen Bey do some voice acting in the live-action The Lion King later this year. But you can be sure to list your favorite musicians-turned-actors in the comment section below, and remind us of any actor/singers we missed.

As The Voice Season 16 presses on at NBC, the reality singing competition is faced with the loss of one of its former contestants. Janice Freeman, one of the show's more talented competitors and a crowd favorite in Season 13, has passed away. Freeman died in her home in West Covina, California, at the age of 33.

Janice Freeman's death was the result of a blood clot, which caused her to have difficulty breathing while at home with her husband Dion. TMZ reported Dion called 911, and performed CPR on Freeman until paramedics arrived on the scene. Freeman was taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead early Saturday evening. She is survived by her husband, as well as her 12-year-old daughter Hannah.

The blood clot was said to be tied to Janice Freeman's ongoing battle with Lupus as well as a bronchial infection. Janice Freeman has a history of documented medical issues, and was noted to be a survivor of cervical cancer. News of her death spread throughout Hollywood, and reached the ears of her former Voice coach Miley Cyrus. Cyrus took some time to pay respects to Freeman, and posted a tribute to the singer in her Instagram story.

Miley Cyrus and Janice Freeman first met in the blind auditions, when the young singer managed to get her for her team after a showdown with fellow coach Jennifer Hudson. Freeman was a strong competitor in the early rounds, and handily got herself into the later stages of the game with her strong voice and commanding stage presence. Unfortunately, Freeman's ride stopped just short of the top 10, as she was eliminated when America voted to save Adam Cunningham over her.

Though she didn't end up coaching Janice Freeman on The Voice, Jennifer Hudson also shared a tribute to the departed singer. Hudson offered prayers to the family of Freeman, and shared a video of the blind audition that hooked her and Miley Cyrus back in 2017.

Miley Cyrus and Janice Freeman remained in contact after The Voice, and in early 2018 Cyrus arranged for Freeman to have a place to stay when her family struggled financially. Freeman openly thanked Cyrus for the support, and mentioned what a big heart the former Voice coach had that those who only see her on television may not appreciate.

After The Voice, Janice Freeman continued to sing, sometimes professionally, and other times for worship. A video from Freeman's Twitter page showed her performing at Mariners Church in Irvine, California a little over a month before her untimely death, and putting her powerful voice to work in a rendition of "How Great Thou Art."

CinemaBlend would like to offer its condolences to the family and friends of Janice Freeman, and wish them well during this trying time.

Last night was the 2019 Academy Awards, wrapping up this year's Awards Season and celebrating the best and brightest the film industry has to offer. Aside from the musical performances and acceptance speeches, there are usually a handful of moments where celebrities go viral due to their reactions during the ceremony. There were quite a few to choose from, from both the Oscars proper and the red carpet coverage that preceded the event on ABC.

One of the most viral figures to come from the 2019 Oscars is American Idol alum and singer/actress Jennifer Hudson. Hudson was invited to sing "I'll Fight" from the documentary RBG, which was one of the tracks nominated for Best Original Song this year. While her performance may have hit a few sour notes, J Hud's most publicized moment from the Oscars came from reacting to Lady Gaga's acceptance speech for "Shallow." Just check it out below.

With just a head nod and mouthing the word "Yes", Jennifer Hudson has become one of the most popular memes to come from this year's Academy Awards.

This quick GIF comes to us from Twitter, showing the big reaction that captured the nation's attention as Jennifer Hudson watched Lady Gaga's emotional Oscar acceptance speech. As Gaga preached about adversity and hard work, the American Idol seems to really vibe with her statements, agreeing whole heartedly b the sentiments. But since a camera was on Hudson, that reaction quickly grew to break the internet.

Jennifer Hudson's enthusiasm for Lady Gaga's speech was especially powerful because she was competing in the same category with her fellow singer. Still, the Oscar winner didn't seem to bitter about "Shallow" taking the prize, especially once Lady Gaga started her tear-filled speech. While thanking those who helped her career and turn as Ally in A Star Is Born, Gaga spoke to the importance of perseverance and hard work. It took blood, sweat, and tears for Lady Gaga to earn her first Oscar. So while you may have a big dream that haters are trying to put down, ambition isn't enough. You need to put the hours in.

You can check out Lady Gaga's speech, complete with the Jennifer Hudson reaction, below.

Lady Gaga might not have won the Best Leading Actress Oscar for her performance as Ally (that honor went toThe Favourite's Olivia Colman), but her hard work in A Star Is Born still earned the singer turned actress her very own golden statue. Overcome with emotion, she offered sage advice to the hopefuls out there, who might want to end up on that stage one day.

CinemaBlend's will continue rolling out Oscar footage. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next rip to the movies.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical Cats is one of the most successful and well-known musicals ever, so it seemed inevitable that it would get the feature film treatment at some point. However, while such a film has been long discussed, development has been slow going. That has changed though, as the casting process has begun, with the film lining up several big names with the kind of serious singing chops you would want for such a famous musical. Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen and James Corden have all been cast in Cats.

Variety reports that Jennifer Hudson will play the major part of Grizabella, a former glamour cat that has fallen on hard times. Assuming it will be in the film (it will be), Jennifer Hudson's character should get the honor of singing "Memory," Grizabella's showstopper song that is considered to be the most famous and best song from the musical. The roles for Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen and James Corden have not yet been revealed.

Cats is set to begin shooting in Britain in November and it is already off to a marvelous start with this cast. In these four names, the film has lined up talented singers, actors and stage thespians with plenty of experience to their credit. Jennifer Hudson has already proven her singing and acting talents countless times before, winning an Oscar for her performance in the musical Dreamgirls. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular singers alive, with ten Grammy awards to her name, and she is also a documented cat enthusiast. James Corden is an increasing presence in films having been in the musical Into the Woods, and he is also the host of the inexplicably popular Carpool Karaoke segment on his Late Late Show. And of course, Ian McKellen's stage and screen credits are too many to name, and his addition to this film only elevates it.

Cats tells the story of a group of felines called the Jellicles who have to decide which among them will find redemption by ascending to the metaphorical "Heaviside layer." Lee Hall, the screenwriter behind War Horse and the upcoming Elton John biopic Rocketman, wrote the screenplay for Cats based on Andrew Lloyed Webber's musical, which itself was based on a book of children's poems by T.S. Eliot. The King's Speech and Les Misérables director Tom Hooper was brought on board to direct the film two years ago and is still set to direct, although not everyone is thrilled about that.

Those needing their singing and dancing fix now can check out Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in theaters now. Check out all of the biggest movies hitting theaters this year in our release schedule. For all the latest in movie news, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

The Voice is gearing up for Season 15 in a big way! It has announced the judges/coaches for the next season of the reality singing competition and fans should be pleased. Blake Shelton and Adam Levine will be back for their fifteenth consecutive season of the show, alongside some familiar faces. So who are they? Season 14 judge Kelly Clarkson will return alongside Season 13 judge Jennifer Hudson.

While Blake Shelton and Adam Levine have been a part of The Voice since the beginning, the other two judges' seats have seen a revolving door of activity. For Season 15, one of those revolving slots will remain the same. The announcement comes while new judge Kelly Clarkson is still in the midst of her first season. Fans will have to watch to see if Clarkson will be a defending champion in Season 15. Whether she coaches a singer to victory or not, it should be fun to see how Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson work together with Shelton and Levine.

Jennifer Hudson returns to The Voice after being a coach on two seasons of the UK version of the series. She was a coach in Season 6 and Season 7 on the British side of the pond. Hudson won her very first season on the show. In between her stints on the UK version of The Voice, Hudson was a judge on the U.S. version in Season 13. Blake Shelton ended up winning that season while Kelly Clarkson was a key advisor for the teams.

The fact that Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson both appeared on American Idol will not be lost on fans. The singing sensations did not star on the same season of the reality series. Kelly Clarkson was in Season 1, while Hudson was in Season 3 of the show. Since then, they have both went on to have enormously successful careers. Here is hoping fans will get a duet between the singers. Can you think of something more marvelous?

While Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson will both have one season of the U.S. version of The Voice under their belts when they return as coaches in Season 15, Hudson has also been a coach twice on the U.K. version and won. That legacy could give her an edge over Clarkson. Of course, both of them will have to contend with series veterans Blake Shelton and Adam Levine for the win. The competition between coaches should be nothing less than fascinating. Fans will have to see how it all plays out when Season 15 premieres on NBC, this fall.

Season 14 of The Voice continues with new episodes that air Mondays and Tuesdays, starting at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. When you are done singing the show's praises and need to know what summer has in store for television, we have you covered with our summer premiere schedule.