Ahead of the Season 15 premiere of The Voice, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson sat down to chat about their American Idol beginnings and what they can offer aspiring singers in the competition — but first, the two couldn’t help fan girling.
In a behind-the-scenes video from The Voice set, Hudson tells Clarkson, “I watched you win. You were my inspiration, and to think I did not win, and then to be able to sit here with you…”
“I think you won in life,” Clarkson finished for her.
Though they both got their starts on Idol, Clarkson and Hudson have each shared their wisdom and experiences with those with similar dreams on The Voice, with Hudson playing coach in Season 13 and Clarkson taking her place last season. The bold-voiced gals are now coming together for Season 15, and Hudson suggests that their different Idol experiences — Clarkson won Season 1 and Hudson finished in 7th place in Season 3 — will provide a perfect balance for Voice hopefuls.
“You can get a perspective of ‘Yes, you can win,’ and I can get the other perspective of ‘You don’t have to win, it’s a matter of what you take and do with your opportunity,'” she said.
Clarkson and Hudson will be coaches alongside Voice veterans Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Season 15 of The Voice will come back to television Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Check out the full conversation between Kelly and JHud, exclusively on Billboard, above.
