Jennifer Hudson Explains The Difference Between 'Jennifer Hudson' And 'JHud'

Jennifer Hudson is one of the hardest working singers and actresses in the business, which has earned her tons of recognition in the industry. However, the Oscar winner doesn’t let the attention go to her head.

Appearing on this week’s episode of ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl! podcast, Hudson discussed being true to herself and encouraging others to do so as well. She also broke down the difference between “Jennifer Hudson” and “J Hud.”

“It’s all me at the end of the day, I am who I am ,” she said. “I refer to Jennifer Hudson as, like, everyone from jump has always known me as Jennifer Hudson. The celebrity Jennifer Hudson. And, from that everyone comes up with their own persona or perception or whatever they think that is. That’s not the person. And, that’s not who the person is. A lot of the time people get that twisted.

“I want people to know that I’m human. J Hud is the girl, Jennifer Hudson is the celebrity.”

Hudson brings that same realness to The Voice, where she mentors aspiring singers seeking a shot at stardom. She added, “I love to see people be who they are to the fullest, that’s one of my favorite things.”

“Be your best self and don’t let anybody tell you who you are not. No one knows your potential the way you do. And, if I could leave anybody with something, that’s what I would say.”

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Acknowledge the positive, and help groom that. And so, again, that's what makes the difference, and that's what I wanna do for others. And then I just love to see, I don't care who you are, be your best self. Don't let nobody tell you Who you're not, and what you can and cannot do. No one knows your potential the way you do. And if I could leave anybody with something, that's what I would say. Uh-uh, don't shy away from being you. Don't let somebody discourage you from being who you are. I love to see people be who they are to the fullest.