Jennifer Hudson is getting candid about what it’s like working with her boyfriend, Common.
During her recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the EGOT-winning star, 43, shared details about collaborating with the Grammy-winning rapper, 52, on her new holiday album, The Gift of Love.
The project includes the track Almost Christmas, which she and Common collaborated on.
“I mean, we’re both very musical,” Hudson told Meyers. “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.”
But even with their undeniable chemistry, the Dreamgirls star admitted that working together wasn’t always smooth sleighing.
“He’s a bit bossy when it comes to being Common,” Hudson joked, adding that his studio persona can be intense.
“Common and Rashid are two different people musically,” she explained. “But he’s a musical genius, so it’s an honor to be able to work from him, work for him, work with him, and on his album and my album.”
This isn’t the couple’s first time teaming up musically.
Hudson also lent her powerhouse vocals to A GOD (There Is) from Common’s July release, The Auditorium Vol. 1. Reflecting on the collaboration, Common told People how much he loved working with her.
“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 said. “I love that we were able to utilize her gifts in a new space. She brought it, man.”
As for their off-stage relationship, Common couldn’t help but gush about Hudson.
“This relationship is a happy place for me,” he shared. “Seeing her happy actually makes me really happy. So, I’m very grateful. I thank God each and every day, and I’m just letting God guide this relationship.”
