Overview
- American Idol announced Monday that Jennifer Hudson will serve as a guest judge and first‑time mentor for Disney Night on April 20.
- She will join Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood to guide the Top 9 as they sing Disney songs for places in the Top 7.
- The live episode airs from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next‑day streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
- The visit is her first on the Idol stage in more than 10 years since a 2015 performance of Trouble with Iggy Azalea.
- Hudson’s return comes as her talk show secures a fifth season and after new projects including a Grammy‑nominated holiday album, summer concerts with Josh Groban, a voice role in the film Goat, and a producing role on a Fall 2026 Dreamgirls revival.