Jennifer Hudson Honors Her 150-Person Team at Variety Power of Women

"The Jennifer Hudson Show" received the Variety Changemaker Award, presented by Waymo, at Variety's L.A. Power of Women event on Wednesday in Beverly Hills.

Waymo's chief marketing officer, Suzanne Philion, presented the award, honoring the show's cultural impact. In her introduction, Philion said the EGOT winner's talk show demonstrates what is possible when people "lead with empathy, authenticity and heart."

"In a world that can often feel chaotic and overwhelming, 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' offers that exact same sense of sanctuary," Philion said. "Every day, Jennifer and her extraordinary team turn daytime television into a space where people from all walks of life feel seen, feel safe and feel genuinely celebrated."

Hudson accepted the award alongside her production team. She called the honor "such an amazing representation of 150 producers that are standing right here. I always tell them, 'I could not live this life without you.'"

The singer and actress then invited co-executive producer Michelle Salemi to the microphone, stepping back to stand with the team.

"At 'The Jennifer Hudson Show,' we strive every day to make content that's creative, joyful and meaningful," Salemi said. "It makes you laugh. It makes you think. It makes you feel. In a world where our industry landscape is changing every day, we are steadfast in the pursuit of meeting people where they are."

The numbers back up the show's reach. Salemi told the audience that the program has donated more than $3 million and drawn more than 11 billion views online across its five seasons.

"Those numbers are incredible, but what they really tell us is that we're connecting. And standing up here with me tonight is an incredible group of women who represent the 150 people who come together every day to make this show," Salemi said. "Isn't that what our industry is about? It's about collaboration."

Salemi closed by thanking Hudson for building a show that makes a difference.

"From the beginning, Jennifer wanted this place to be where people could come together, be themselves and feel seen. And that's really the heart of the show," she said. "Jennifer, thank you for being that north star to us and standing alongside us every day."

"The Jennifer Hudson Show" premiered in September 2022. Its pre-show ritual, the Spirit Tunnel, went viral on social media and has since amassed more than 6 billion views across platforms.

The growth has continued into the current cycle. In the show's 2025-2026 season, its social media followers rose 90.7% to 17.5 million, impressions increased 242.8% to 7.5 billion and engagement jumped 164.1% to 537 million. The series ranks No. 1 among daytime talk shows on TikTok and Threads.

With those figures climbing across every platform, the Changemaker Award arrives as recognition not just of a host but of a production model built on a 150-person collaboration.