Jennifer Hudson has never been one to separate her personal life from her artistry, and as she prepares for her biggest tour in years, the bond between love and music has never felt more alive.
The star of Dreamgirls is gearing up for a joint North American summer tour alongside Josh Groban, and she says the creative fuel behind it comes from two people closest to her — her 16-year-old son David and her partner, rapper and actor Common. Hudson spoke about the upcoming tour at the 30th ABFF Honors held at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles in February, sharing how her home life has quietly become her greatest source of artistic energy.
A family affair behind the music
Hudson has long celebrated her son’s musical abilities, but heading into this tour, his contributions have taken on a new dimension. The teenager has been reimagining some of his mother’s existing songs, adding a fresh production layer that has clearly left a mark on the singer. She described her voice as a tree with many branches, hinting that fans can expect new material alongside familiar favorites when she takes the stage. The idea that her own child is helping reshape her catalog adds an intimacy to this tour that feels both genuine and rare.
Common has also played a significant role in stoking her creative fire. Moving through a household that breathes music every day, Hudson says simply being in their presence has pushed her artistry in directions she did not anticipate.
Inspired by the people around her
At 44, Hudson appears to be in a creatively energized chapter of her life. Between her son stepping into the role of producer and a partner who lives and breathes music, she has described feeling inspired in layered and unexpected ways. It is less about outside pressure and more about the organic creative energy flowing through her home on any given day.
Hudson offered a tender glimpse into that dynamic last November when she shared a series of studio clips with her son on social media. The two were caught mid-session, with Hudson gently coaching David through a vocal run before stepping back to watch him find his footing at the microphone. Between takes, the pair dissolved into laughter, with David playfully teasing his mother after she stumbled over a note. It was the kind of unscripted, joyful moment that often becomes the emotional core of an artist’s most resonant work.
The mother and son clearly share something special beyond bloodline. In August 2024, Hudson marked David’s 15th birthday with a rare public photo of the two of them, beaming side by side. Now 16, he is no longer just his mother’s biggest fan but a genuine collaborator.
Hudson shares David with former WWE star and ex-fiancé David Otunga Sr. The two were together for a decade before separating in 2017, and she has remained a devoted and visible presence in her son’s life ever since.
What to expect from the tour
Hudson and Groban will kick off their 16-date North American run on June 2, 2026, in Montreal, Canada. The tour wraps on July 3, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with joint performances at every stop along the way.
For Hudson, this is more than a seasonal tour. It is a statement about where she stands as an artist right now, shaped by the people who know her best and built on a creative foundation she has cultivated at home. If the energy she is describing translates to the stage, audiences are in for something deeply personal and unmistakably alive.
