Jennifer Hudson has added another remarkable milestone to her already celebrated career. The powerhouse singer’s 2024 holiday album, The Gift of Love, earned a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Hudson’s ninth Grammy nomination and her first in the pop album category. The news carried a deeply personal significance, arriving on what would have been the birthday of her late mother, Darnell Donerson.

“I’m still living a dream, it’s blessed me,” Hudson said at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 8. “I’m a holiday fanatic, so to be able to be acknowledged in that way with the album… that is just so dear to my heart, it’s beyond a dream. And it was on my late mother’s birthday as well, which made it even more special.”

Honoring Her Late Mother

Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, was tragically murdered in October 2008 in Chicago. The incident also claimed the lives of Hudson’s brother, Jason Hudson, and her 7-year-old nephew, Julian Balfour. The perpetrator, William Balfour, is currently serving a life sentence for the murders.

This Grammy nomination represents not just recognition of Hudson’s artistry but also a moment of remembrance for her mother, whose influence shaped the singer’s life and career.

The Gift of Love: A Decade in the Making

Released in October 2024, The Gift of Love is Hudson’s first holiday album and her first studio album in a decade. She described the project as “done with heart,” emphasizing the personal connection she had to the music.

Throughout her career, Hudson has received multiple Grammy Awards. In 2017, she won Best Musical Theater Album alongside the cast of The Color Purple Broadway revival, in which she made her Broadway debut as Shug Avery. Earlier, at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, Hudson received the Best R&B Album Grammy for her self-titled debut.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Tribute

At the November 8 event, Hudson also performed a tribute to Sly Stone alongside legends like Stevie Wonder, Questlove, Maxwell, Beck, Flea, and fellow 2026 Grammy nominee Leon Thomas. The ensemble performed a medley of classic Sly and the Family Stone songs in honor of the late funk icon, who passed away in June at the age of 82.

“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is always an honor to be at,” Hudson said. “To sing and pay tribute to all the greats and the legends—my life is like a whole dream to be able to do that.”

2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class includes music legends Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, OutKast, Soundgarden, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker, while Warren Zevon and Salt-N-Pepa received the Musical Influence Award.

Hudson’s Grammy nomination, her heartfelt performance, and her continued contributions to music solidify her status as one of the most influential and versatile vocalists of her generation.