Jennifer Hudson is in awe of her collaborative work with her boyfriend Common despite the challenges it brings.
The singer and actress, 43, was promoting her new holiday album The Gift of Love during the Thursday episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she gushed about a song Almost Christmas that she and Common, 52, collaborated on together.
“I mean, we’re both very musical,” Hudson told host Seth Meyers of the track. “Two Chicagoans, and I was like, ‘Where’s the poetry and the storytelling in the holiday albums?’ And who better to do it than him? To do, like, spoken-word poetry for the holidays? And so that’s where the song came from.”
The Dreamgirls star noted that despite their fondness to work with each other, the couple’s musical partnership can come with a little complication. “He’s a bit bossy when it comes to being Common,” she said of Common.
“Common and Rashid are two different people musically, but he’s a musical genius, so it’s an honour to be able to work from him, work for him, work with him, and on his album and my album,” Hudson said on the show.
Hudson and Common have collaborated previously too on musical ventures, particularly the song A GOD (There Is), from Common’s album The Auditorium Vol. 1., which was released in July.
The rapper could not help but gush about Hudson’s vocals. “When I played it to musician friends, they were like, ‘Who is that singing?’ I’m like, ‘That’s Jennifer!’ It doesn’t sound like things you’ve heard from her before,” he told People at the time.
“I love that we were able to utilise her gifts in a new space. She brought it, man.”
The two first sparked dating rumours in 2022 after the announcement of their movie Breathe and then seemingly confirmed their relationship in January on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
What are some of the challenges Jennifer Hudson and Common face when mixing their personal and professional lives?
## Balancing Love and Work: An Interview with Jennifer Hudson
**Host:** Jennifer Hudson, welcome back to the show! It’s great to have you. Your holiday tour just kicked off, and you’re sharing the stage with your boyfriend, Common. We saw some gorgeous photos from the opening night! [[1](https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/732290/jennifer-hudson-milestone-common-photos-tour/)]What’s it like working alongside your significant other?
**Jennifer Hudson:** Oh, it’s truly special. You know, there’s an undeniable magic when you get to create art with someone you love. The energy is just different.
**Host:** But surely there are also challenges, right? Mixing personal and professional life can be tricky.
**Jennifer Hudson:** Absolutely! There are definitely moments when we have to separate “Jennifer and David” from “Jennifer Hudson and Common.” We have to be mindful of boundaries and make sure the work comes first.
**Host:** How do you manage those challenges?
**Jennifer Hudson:** Communication is key. We’re open and honest with each other about our needs and expectations. And we also make sure to have fun!
**Host:** You recently mentioned being in awe of the collaborative process with Common. Can you elaborate on that?
**Jennifer Hudson:** Seeing David’s talent up close every night is just incredible. He brings so much passion and creativity to the stage. It inspires me to be better, to push my own boundaries.
**Host:** That’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing those insights, Jennifer. We wish you all the best on your tour!
**Jennifer Hudson:** Thank you so much!
