Simon Cowell Says ‘Everyone’ Thought He Got Jennifer Hudson Voted Off American Idol, But He’d Actually Tried To Warn Her

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The current version of American Idol is very different from its original seasons. The show’s judges today don’t react with the same strong disapproval or dramatic responses that Simon Cowell was known for. Cowell’s honest and often blunt critiques were a key part of the show’s initial success, even though judges like Paula Abdul sometimes found him difficult. Despite some criticism at the time, including the controversy surrounding Jennifer Hudson’s elimination, Cowell maintains he was justified in his critiques.

Simon Cowell recently discussed his new show, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, with Rolling Stone after the release of its first trailer. The show is already being seen as competition for established talent shows like Idol and The Voice. When questioned about the controversial elimination of Jennifer Hudson, Cowell clarified that the issue wasn’t due to any backstage manipulation, but rather what viewers saw happen on the show itself. He went on to explain:

It wasn’t a performance issue, but a song selection. I advised her not to sing that particular song, as I didn’t think it would connect with the audience. So, when she did sing it, there was a lot of negative reaction, even though she sang it well. Ironically, the controversy actually helped her land the role in [Dreamgirls].

In the early days of singing competition shows, before social media influenced things, a contestant’s song could really make or break their chances. We’ll never know for sure how far Jennifer Hudson would have gone on Season 3 if she hadn’t chosen Barry Manilow’s “Weekend in New England,” but Simon Cowell believes she would have definitely advanced past the Top 7.

Even if she’d been cut early on the show, she likely still would have gotten the part in Dreamgirls, considering it took over a year for the casting to be finalized. Regardless, both American Idol and Dreamgirls were major turning points in her incredibly successful career, ultimately leading her to become one of the very few people to achieve EGOT status.

Around the time of American Idol‘s third season, some people claimed Simon Cowell was responsible for Jennifer Hudson’s elimination, despite the fact that the judges didn’t have the final say in who was voted off. He went on to explain:

It was ridiculous that people assumed I had something to do with her getting voted off. I didn’t even have a vote! I went to the Oscars party that year, and with her being nominated, everyone kept looking at me like I was going to be upset. But then she actually won! People continued to stare at me, and I was just thinking, ‘Of course I’m happy for her! Why would you think I’m unhappy? It wasn’t my doing!’

It’s possible Simon Cowell’s critical comments could influence viewers’ votes, but it would be impossible to blame him for any contestant’s elimination. Unless, of course, someone found out he was secretly rigging the votes with an army of robotic monkeys – which is highly improbable.

Simon Cowell is well-known for finding talented people on America’s Got Talent, and he’s about to launch a new show in a similar vein. You can watch the trailer below!

Will Jennifer Hudson appear on Simon Cowell’s new show, just as he recently appeared on hers? It’s unlikely, but you can find out when Simon Cowell: The Next Act starts streaming on Netflix this Wednesday, December 10th.

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2025-12-01 01:10