“It hurts me so when I see people like, ‘Whatever, Christmas is just another day,’” Hudson told People magazine. “I’m that person who’s going to go over there and get you into the holiday spirit. And that’s how I’ve always been.”
The singer will get some help on that front tonight at 8 p.m. EST/PST when she hosts her first holiday special on ABC.
“Jennifer Hudson: I’ll be Home for Christmas” features the “Dreamgirls” Oscar winner returning to her hometown of Chicago to share places that are special to her with fans.
“The first thing you do for the holidays is go back home, so I went back home, and the next thing you do is spend it with all of your family and your friends in those familiar places, Hudson explained. “That’s why I chose to go back home and share it and make it personal.”
In addition to the church where the singer discovered her gift and Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, her high school, viewers will get a chance to see some of Chicago’s most famous locations dressed up for the season.
Monday, December 14
Brad Wollack, Steve Marmalstein, Arden Myrin – “Chelsea Lately”
50 Cent – “Lopez Tonight”
Alicia Keys – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Tom Arnold, Adam Lambert – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Wolfmother – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Chevelle – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Snoop Dogg – “The Colbert Report”
Reba McEntire – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Natasha Leggero – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Tuesday, December 15
Snoop Dogg – “The View”
Fergie – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
John Mayer – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Boyz II Men – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Leona Lewis – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Nick Lachey – “The Jay Leno Show”
Norah Jones – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Michael McDonald – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Alicia Keys – “The Colbert Report”
The Broken West – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (1000th episode)
Ben Gleib – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Wednesday, December 16
Alicia Keys – “The View”
Selena Gomez – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Adam Lambert, Ross Mathews, Randy Sklar, Jason Sklar – “Chelsea Lately”
Martin Short, Kris Allen – “Late Show with David Letterman”
John Mayer – “The Jay Leno Show”
Wanda Sykes – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Norah Jones – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Raekwon – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
The Gossip – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Thursday, December 17
Robin Thicke – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Boyz II Men – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Josh Wolf, Matt Braunger, Jen Kirkman – “Chelsea Lately”
Matisyahu – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Mary J. Blige – “The Jay Leno Show”
Allison Iraheta – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Boyz II Men – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Ray Romano, Mariah Carey – “Lopez Tonight”
Franz Ferdinand – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Friday, December 18
Craig Ferguson – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Foreigner – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Mary J. Blige – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Ronnie Spector – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Ryan Stout, Whitney Cummings, Jo Koy – “Chelsea Lately”
Snoop Dogg – “Last Call with Carson Daly”