Jennifer Hudson stars on the September cover of REAL SIMPLE. In her interview with Editor in Chief Lauren Iannotti, the multihyphenate opened up about returning to the talk show grind with a lot to prove in her sophomore season, her son starting his freshman year of high school, and juggling both of their busy schedules as life gets busier than ever. See more inside…
- On raising her teenage son: “My son goes to a predominantly white school and he has giant hair, a whole afro. And he loves to walk in there with the big old ‘fro and the pick in his hair. And I’m like, ‘Do you realize the statement you’re making? Know that just wearing your hair like that is a statement alone.’ He’s very rooted in who he is and okay with that. I didn’t grow up like that.” “It’s a completely different time. And being a mom of a black son, there are certain things you have to make him conscious of and aware of. And who he is within the world. And there’s so many layers he has to learn, but now he’s at an age where he can fully understand it. And he’s so evolved beyond what I could ever imagine.”
- On taking care of herself: “We sometimes forget about ourselves. I was just at home, and I was like, ‘I got this big old house, but the only space I have in it is my bedroom.’ That’s like life: We give so much to everybody that we end up, as women and mothers, in a little corner of our own lives. Why not give ourselves space, grace, compassion, and consideration? That’s something I’m working on. I’m always trying to get better at life.” “I also make a point to have my David walks. A little walk in the morning with my son to Starbucks. It helps me gather myself by finding even little moments, because everything is in little small windows. It’s stealing the mini vacations for yourself. I’d like a real one, though. One of my birthday wishes, when I turned 40, was to have a one week off. I’m still waiting for that and I’m about to be 42.”
- On her foundation’s impact on back-to-school season in Chicago: “My sister and I started the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in honor of my late nephew and dedicated it to him, my mother, and my brother. It’s how we stay connected to them. It gives back to the youth of Chicago, making sure they have their school supplies. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about where their book bag going to come from, if people going to laugh at their shoes, or if they don’t have the tools they need to learn. We’ve had parents that say, it was either pay my rent or buy my kids school supplies. We also do a holiday toy drive. We want the kids to know: Your positivity is highlighted and we encourage it and we support you all to keep going.”
- On kicking off season two of her talk show: “I feel like the show is every bit of who I am and how I connect with people. The only difference is the cameras are rolling. I want it to be a platform where everyone can sit on the couch and tell their story and be celebrated. Everyone has a superpower, a talent—not only playing an instrument or acting or dancing or singing, but whatever you’re passionate about. I get to be around people who specialize in something. And because they’re so into what they’re into, I’m intrigued.”
“The September issue of REAL SIMPLE is on sale August 18.”
Photo Credit: “Chrisean Rose/REAL SIMPLE”
