Jennifer Hudson is ready for the holidays: 'It's just a beautiful synergy in the air'

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Jennifer Hudson is ready for the holidays. EGOT winner stars Old Navy The 'Love is In the House' holiday campaign launched last month and she recently released her first holiday album, The Gift of Love.

The campaign features Hudson's cover of “Winter Wonderland,” from her holiday album. Hudson will start one tickets%2Fartist%2F1298715″>four city tour at The Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York on November 24.

The tour stops at The Chicago Theater in Hudson's hometown on Dec. 13, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, and concludes at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Dec. 21 and 22.

The Gift of Love The album will also be available for purchase at select Old Navy stores on the tour.

Old Navy's “Love Is In the House” campaign highlights holiday style staples — from embellished and metallic jeans to puffer coats, fleece zip-ups, holiday sweaters and Jingle Jammies. The holiday ad features Hudson hosting a holiday party wearing Old Navy's Rockstar High Rise Jeans in Gloss Black, Long Sleeve Sweetheart Velvet Topand black faux fur jacket — at present 40% discount during Old Navy's limited sale (sale ends November 11).

last week, Bulletin board caught up with Hudson to talk Old Navy, her holiday album and all things holiday.

What do you love most about vacations?

What I'm most excited about this holiday season is the venture with Old Navy, the holiday album, and doing a holiday ad. My biggest goal is to add to everyone's holiday traditions, that would be like the perfect Christmas present for me. I feel like Old Navy is a part of all of us. For me, growing up and seeing the Old Navy commercials and now having one? This is crazy! This is the gift.

What took you so long to put out a holiday album?

I could never figure out what songs to do! And I also wanted to really put the time into it, and I feel like there was no better time than now. With the Jennifer Hudson ShowI feel like my family has expanded. Why not take my family holiday traditions and share them with the world? That's why it's called my album The Gift of Love. My son named the album. I love holiday music and carols and stuff like that and I'm like “where do I start narrowing down the songs?” I was going with this for a long time and finally reduced it [15] songs.

How did you narrow down the songs?

I decided to make it really personal. “Oh Holly Night” is my favorite holiday song, “Hallelujah” is the reason I wanted to do it [the album] First off, it's the heart of the album. My grandma used to listen to “The Christmas Song”, I grew up listening to that so it had to be on the album. I can relate to all the songs on the album in a personal way.

What are some of your favorite things to wear this holiday season?

Old Navy Jingle Jammies! I love things like this because we like to be [cuddled] rises during the holiday season. It's just the coziness, I love the mold, the fuzzy socks or even the fancy stuff like Faux fur zip-up jacket that I wore in the Old Navy ad, which I took home with me. We always do the glitz and glam, but what do you wear when you're snuggled up by the fire or when you're at home? It is the time when we can relax and rest. It's getting comfortable. I'm from Chicago where it's cold outside, you want to be at home and drink your hot chocolate and all that.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Being with family. Everyone agrees, it's just a beautiful synergy in the air. I'm a big family man, so [the holidays are] a moment when we all come together. There is a song on my album [called] “Make Christmas”. Sometimes we spend the whole year working and the only time we stay home and are together is during the holidays.

Do you enjoy throwing parties?

Oh my god, yes! If you're not on vacation, by the time I'm done with you, you will be! Especially having a child and making sure there are presents and different holidays for all the children. We ice skate, give out gifts, have holiday parties. We do a bunch of different festive things leading up to it [Christmas].

How early do you start decorating?

I'm ready for my decorations right now. My tradition is usually that the lights are revealed right after Thanksgiving dinner, but now that I have a holiday album, my holiday season officially started on October 18th, the day I released my holiday album. I'll call that “comeback day,” officially kicking off the holiday season. I started my Christmas music from that day on.

Where are you planning to spend the holidays?

Right now I'm in Los Angeles, but like my song says, “I'll make it home by Christmas.” i will make it [home to Chicago] at Christmas time.

How early do you start decorating?

I'm ready for my decorations right now. My tradition though is normally that the lights are revealed right after Thanksgiving dinner, but now that I have a holiday album, my holiday season officially started on October 18th, the day I released my holiday album. I'll call this “comeback day,” officially kicking off the holiday season. I started my Christmas music from that day on.

Where are you planning to spend the holidays?

Right now I'm in Los Angeles, but like my song says, “I'll make it home by Christmas.” i will make it [home to Chicago] at Christmas time.

I love the 'spirit tunnel' that the guests go through on your show, where did the idea come from?

I may be the “Princess of Christmas” and the “Princess of Soul,” but I call myself the “Queen of Spirit.” The staff and crew are amazing for coming up with this big, bright idea. I don't know [how] they thought of it, maybe they invented it knowing that I like to celebrate everything and sing about anything. They were like “how about we combine this idea?” and now, when you come to Jennifer Hudson Show We want you to know that you are loved and celebrated.

By the time you leave you should leave in a better mood. What better way to hit them with the spirit tunnel when you go through the door? [The staff] he even sings to me. They make each verse personal to each guest. They have dance steps, I'm like when is the rehearsal? This is the energy that we have around us and the environment that I think everyone should have, no matter where you are. It should be full of love and celebration, and we should lift each other up. That's why we call it the “happy place”. This is the environment we created.

Watch Hudson's Old Navy ad below.