Jennifer Hudson Doesn't Do Vocal Warm-Ups

Jennifer Hudson chats about kicking off NBC's upfront with a bombastic performance, joining The Voice as a coach and why Blake Shelton and Adam Levine better get ready for Team J-Hud.
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Jennifer Hudson Doesn't Do Vocal Warm-Ups- Late Night with Seth Meyers
• Jennifer Hudson Doesn'...
Late Night with Seth Meyers
/ latenightseth

Her makeup is stunning. That lip colour looks amazing on her.

[@aliciaward8662]

Siobhán Mooney yesssss!

[@AngelaG1998]

Ofcourse she doesnt warm up she "dont do oohs and aahs"

[@elijames7742]

itsAngela xoxo That's a good one! LITERALLY brought a smile on my face! 💯💯😃😃

[@DavidBerto]

Angela Ya'Nese HAHAHA Love this comment

[@shakidasent4566]

😂😂😂

[@kristianmcintosh432]

That's a good one😂😂😂😂😂

[@joemattmurphy5753]

That was great 😂!

[@BloodoperaBlackvomit]

Absolutely gorgeous.

[@TheJohnpandy]

She was a huge hit on the voice in the UK. Her singing and her duets with Sir Tom Jones were amazing. Johnx

[@obiwashere]

that's how you know you're gifted

[@threem1085]

obi was here Nah even the most gifted singers like Mariah, Whitney, and Celine do vocal warm ups. Not doing warm ups is not good for your voice at all

[@Zizzyyzz]

Loading . . . Yup.

[@georgeluis89]

@ Loading - I absolutely agree. That's why Celine can still sing with great acrobatics even with an aging voice and why Carey and Houston have/had to rely on backup tracks since their early 30s due to vocal nodules caused by the damage they brought to their voices due to the overwhelming pride (lack of humility) to let others know that you have very little to no vocal instruction because it's somehow better and more 'naturally-gifted' than a trained singer. :/

[@memoirsofanimperfectbaritone]

obi was here no...that’s how you know you’re not smart

[@XxQueenChristinaxX]

Being gifted isn't an excuse. You need to take of your voice, otherwise you're just taking it for granted and it'll start to become not as reliable.

[@timothyblack3322]

When Jennifer Hudson ask “Do you want to hear me sing?” : Shut up Seth and let her sing!

[@knijelsickles6596]

🤣🤭

[@LegionIvory]

Warming up is one thing, vocal training is another. I'm certain she trains her voice.

[@TheGamersGuide819]

Legion Ivory exactly

[@adedoyinawoyemi503]

Exactly! 😂😂

[@Ayesha_Michelle]

When the gift is a gift from God.

[@peculiarjazzj]

Ayesha Hoskins you still take care of it..and vocal warmups is how you take care of it smh.

[@XxQueenChristinaxX]

And God wants you to take care of the gift.

[@LCmonman]

@ayesha Michelle, you are so right! Have you heard her sing How Great Thou Art? It’s the reason God have her that voice 😇

[@janetboggs3004]

Ayesha Michelle Jennifer Hudson do Not Have to Worry About that,because She Does Not Have A Gift From God,this is just coyotes,hog calling she started on her own.

[@ramsestamayo2407]

Have you taken anatomy? If you do something wrong to your vocal cords You can lpse your voice. We are human at the end

[@NightEyeStudio1995]

Such a beautiful and talented woman!

[@MiniTrashCreations]

Thought she was going to sing on the spot

[@agbachisom4204]

Me too. She just wasn’t given the opportunity

[@123tube456]

I am so glad she was able to deal with the murders of so many of her family members. Hope time eases her pain more. Keep on succeeding Jennifer.

[@tyussheppard5391]

Singers, no matter if you are naturally gifted or not, always do vocal warm-ups.

[@thassable]

"get up and sing" thats a natural

[@2010kalex]

I'm a singer & my vocal coach tells me I need to do warm ups EVERYDAY and I'm still coming into & finding my voice! So I can imagine as a PROFESSIONAL & boisterous singer how much more important it is for her. Especially for how strong & powerful her voice is!!!!

[@dalespencer8694]

She is so gorgeous!

[@multimanjazzman8203]

Tea can help but the vocal warm up is really a must. well I'm no singer and no vocal coach but singing without vocal warm up can damage your voice. But dang her voice is powerful and amazing

[@vocalevolution.studio]

100% agree! It's like an athlete saying "I don't do warmups before my match"!

[@Joel-kn3ek]

Beautiful voice and spirit.

[@blackberrylady6025]

The way she sounds, seems like her voice stays warmed up......OUTSTANDING, FANTASTIC,...🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅🏅🖐🏽🖐🏽🖐🏽🖐🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽⚘⚘⚘⚘

[@massiellargaespada8430]

she is FiRE!

[@XxQueenChristinaxX]

She needs to be careful with what she's saying. This could mislead a lot of people and make them believe that if your voice is amazing then warm ups aren't necessary, which couldn't be further from the truth. I've seen it myself.

[@joaocarvalho4392]

Amo está mulher 😍😘😎❤

[@yuman8836]

I remember some soul legend was also saying he just wakes up and go to a concert hall to perform. Some people are born with good throats.

[@marcelolima9069]

I need that tea 😂😭

[@siddharthnaagar7028]

JHud is a legend

[@mussaqlover1]

There's an abundance of hate in these comments. Sheesh 😂😂😂

[@kingda117]

The vokes!

[@jel1187]

That's why she sounds the way she sounds

[@onedollarbleach6891]

Jon Elliott shade 😂😂😂

[@sentfromupabove]

That's why her vibrato is forced and gargled

[@kimmaira]

Jon Elliott she sounds great!! One of the best singers! No one can outsing her

[@deyoncehudson8554]

Excuse me

[@Capricornsaresuperior]

She sounds good

[@whateverLolitawantsLolitagets]

The black church choir is an Eternal warm up. 😆 (I realize everyone benefits from a warm up, however.) Example: Choir director: 'Attention everyone, here are your notes. Sing it right because Power comes on at 9, and I got thAngs to do.'

[@mtobrien1]

That's truly amazing. No warm ups?! Wow!

[@grossr2]

I dont warm up either. I cover a lot of Jennifer songs...she's amazingly talented!!

[@kaalen_wilson]

@@grossr2 Not you tryna flex-💀✋🏽

[@kaalen_wilson]

@@grossr2 You know you need to "Ooh" and "Aah" you ain't slick. 💀

[@bryanyokota7521]

She was born to sing..

[@gunnyking7890]

She was amazing on the Voice UK.

[@gregb7595]

she is gorgeous

[@Shashayaway]

looive jennifer

[@SergioTheOne]

I love Jennifer Hudson to death but not doing warm ups is definitely a huge mistake. That's very damaging for vocal chords & can cause her to lose her voice in the future, which I really hope doesn't happen.

[@heeyunniemusic]

Sergio The One yup, warm ups are for prevention

[@tallulah2]

Sergio The One I think some people just have more forgiving vocal cords. Ethel Merman never warmed up, either, and her voice was strong all her life.

[@SergioTheOne]

tallulah2 That can definitely be the case but I believe it's better not to risk it. Plus, i personally believe that people that don't 'need' to warm up would be ever more amazing if they did. It's like a dancer that doesn't stretch before a performance, it can be good but it would likely be better.

[@SergioTheOne]

Christina Park it can definitely be very boring, but necessary. It's part of the routine. 😅

[@CelestialGatez]

It may be true for SOME. But when you have a "real" gift, warm-ups are so not necessary. My mom is a BEAST and has never warmed up. She just SINGS and turns the church UPside DOWN. Still to this day she has pipes.......Shirley Bassey/Whitney pipes. :-)

[@Skinnychelle48]

Ppl who start singing as gospel singers in church choirs just sing, no warming up when ur raised singing in church. You show up at church, put ya robe on, get in the choir stand and sing. U go to choir rehearsals and u still don’t warm up, u just practice the song. May not be good for ur voice but that’s what happens. Vocal coach’s teach u to warm ur vocal cords.

[@Swanky723]

I think Karen and Kierra Sheard warm up. I can hear practicing in their voice. Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Dorinda dont sound like they warm up

[@dannysimion]

She looks fantastic and such a nice personality. :)

[@kemmien]

Love her! She's amazing!

[@eralove9350]

jennifer seem so humbled...

[@cakobe8]

It is the same as trying to lift 100 pounds before doing any warm up. Vocal chords are muscles too! That is so wrong!

[@Ignasimp]

lm fao Vocal folds aren't muscles but they are controled by muscles.

[@rydercdaniels4475]

Ignasi Martí Palet basically the same damn thing

[@SilentAssassin01234]

Gosh talk about exaggeration. Lifting 100 pounds is a bit more taxing than singing a couple of songs.

[@gunnermattern8537]

... 100 lbs is usually less than what I warm up with on most exercises.

[@DungForever]

Do NOT ever preform without warming up first! You will absolutely destroy your voice. There's a reason there are rehearsals and vocal warm up techniques. Use them!

[@Gmez759]

DungForever girl shut up, she still sounds as good as ever. Some people just have it. She has it.

[@JCole-fg3rr]

Dunder Mifflin and if she keeps performing and singing as heavily as she does, she won't have a voice.

[@Gmez759]

J. Cole she's has been singing 'heavily as she does' allll her life since she was a lil girl and she still sounds the best she has ever been

[@JCole-fg3rr]

Dunder Mifflin no she has not been singing heavily all her life. Her commitments as a kid compare nothing to what she has to do now. Her voice still needs work, but all that won't matter if she doesn't warm up. That's basic singing 101. Always warm up or you will pay the consequences. Don't argue with me, this is science not opinion.

[@Gmez759]

J. Cole that's your opinion. But at the end of the day, she said she doesn't warm up and shes still one of the greatest vocalists alive... she has never sounded better right now. So let's end with that lmao

[@alika207]

She should look up Dr. Lori Hicks. She’s a gospel vocal teacher. Her KZbin channel has lots of vocal warm-ups that are set to Gospel style backing tracks. That might motivate her! :-)

[@Platinum400]

I mean since she's a pro who does it almost every day her vocal muscles are conditioned to be ready for that, but it's still a terrible idea. Even legendary opera singers like Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne talk about how important it is to prepare the voice.

[@LynxFan10]

"I don't do ooooooohs and aaahhhhhhs."

[@terriongray955]

the regular voice or uk

[@freyaastrella]

Some people are just naturally blessed

[@bassclef06]

She needs to if she wants to have a long career.

[@juanmarcuslopez3018]

Well she already had for 14 years

[@valvalrox]

Seth you didnt let her sing smh

[@rebecaprat712]

Who is going on the voice USA Gwen or A.Keys?

[@JefersonSantos-bt1ef]

rebeca prat Miley Cyrus 😒

[@bryannemin]

Jeferson Santos Miley Cyrus😀

[@NiceButBites]

Aww I love J-Hud, she's so sweet, And her voice is Amazing,

[@PrettyInGrace]

Anointing don't need warm upZ

[@katehu7194]

Props. I definitely need them. It's habit and fun ;)

[@elopinionado]

Let her talk. Please!

[@jcribbs5819]

I wonder if she knows how awesome she is!! She is beautiful, inside and out.

[@Starfire7888]

All the hate man.... People talking about techniques and vocal warm ups. Thats all up to the person singing. You might got all those techniques and make the song sound pretty but you know why so many people love Jhud? She doesnt only have technique. She has soul, which isnt always the perfect technique, it doesnt always make the "perfect" sound But it is filled with real emotion and edge. All yall can just move aside. Jhud, you just keep doing you. And as far for the Patti Labelle and Aretha not singing as amazing.... I dont know what yall been listening to But for me Patti and Aretha is like wine, the get better, more complex with age. They dont sound like when they were young but they sound full of emotion and wisdom that only old voices can give.

[@spritualandhealthy7704]

Beautiful voice Jen Jen💃💃💃💃💃

[@popland1977]

No shade to Jennifer but vocal warm ups can really help your voice. There's this lazy attitude in singing where people don't go to vocal coaches or look after their instrument. Jennifer has a great voice but sometimes her mixing in her upper belts is so uneven she ends up with a damp thin sound and there are times when she shouts instead of belts. If she did her homework she could easily iron out those flaws

[@jerumaarnold]

Your detailed critique makes me curious. Could you please give some examples? Not because I need 'proof', would just like to hear what you mean. I usually really enjoy the way she sings. And when I stop analysing, it usually means good technique is used. But maybe we have been listening to other things...

[@theTruthSeekerishere]

Pop Land shes been to a vocal coach before and she sings not shouts. She has a very soulful voice, something most singers lack.

[@camillajrgensen9624]

That can be true, but you gotta keep in mind that her singing voice and speaking voice is the same, which means her vocal chords dont ever really struggle unlike many singers who strains their voice speaking so they have to warm up before they sing

[@dwightcanty5681]

Pop Land Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin do not warm up also

[@rangerange6108]

Vocal warm ups don't just develop the voice, but also helps strengthen, and maintain them. By doing vocal exercises/warm ups you'll be able to sing for years and years. I like Aretha and Patti but neither one can sing like they use to, it could be for the fact that they didn't take great care of their amazing instruments.

[@jacob9783]

I love her😂❤

[@Ricooo6]

she almost fell on tv still love her

[@edwardzurlo179]

DAMN MAN, I was waiting for her to sing like I don't know what!

[@kinglyyasin5985]

Did she say she is looking for a new swat?

[@ivo3185]

It's a misconception that warmups are necessary for your voice. Singing by itself will warm up the muscles that control the vocal cords. Remember that vocal warmups are just singing, and even if it weren't the case, we talk all day long. Source: Complete Vocal Technique

[@XxQueenChristinaxX]

CVT is debatable for reasons such as this. It's clear that singers who warm up are on average better than those who don't.

[@Niaakers100]

Jennifer Hudson is an amazing singer and vocalist. I love her strong vocals because it brings more life to the song she is singing. I really enjoy strong vocalists, they put more feeling into it. I love that about Jennifer Hudson. I believe with Jennifer hudson, that when she is just singing freely with no instruments just her vocals, those are basically her vocal lessons, those are her warm ups before she performs. I know I do not want her to damage her vocals because she is blessed with an extraordinary gift.

[@JefersonSantos-bt1ef]

Beautiful dress. I am so excited!!! I just watch The Voice USA when Xtina is there... Now I have 2 reasons to watch: JHud!!!! Welcome to the mainstream chair, gal!!! Lord bless you. (Best voice in the industry)

[@angelmclemore1785]

i dont do vocal watmups either. if you dont wear yourself out and sing in your range, you should be fine. people who abuse their voices lose their voices

[@tara1440]

i hate her hair. .love her

[@productions271]

The comment section has got some seriously ignorant folks who have no idea what they're talking about. This notion that someone has got a special gift & they don't need to warm up is just wrong. Shouldn't it be common sense to take proper care of your vocal chords during the length of your singing/music career. I've watched videos of Michael Jackson warming up his vocals ,or you think Beyonce doesn't warm up her vocals?

[@merdzky098]

Not trying to bring up anything, but was she being shady when she didn't mention Gavin? She said Will. I. Am and Tom, but not Gavin haha

[@ajisapiiscomeback]

maybe bcs Will and Tom was coaching more than a season so she'd be better said all of them than just Gavin (???)

[@TheObserver2]

Some people can get away with it. Sarah Vaughan, the greatest of all time, also did no warm ups, and she never did any vocal exercises. She also smoked and her voice only got richer and better. She had it all: range, tone, resonance, perfect pitch and timing. No equal yet.

[@Authorlatoyabelfon]

Some singers need a small warm up and some need a very thorough warm up and some don't. ......For me I can wake up and sing right away and my friend needs to warm up intensively before a note comes out perfectly...we dont know why. it is just like that...

[@everton7361]

Everyone needs to warm up, even her

[@rachelberrythegleequeen.3221]

@@everton7361 thank you, the amount of people in this comment section blindly saying no warm-ups are necessary no that’s nonsense warm-ups are absolutely necessary I’m not a professional singer by any stretch of the imagination I only sing around the house for fun but what do I do first I warm up because it vocal common sense it’s its vocal health

[@everton7361]

@@rachelberrythegleequeen.3221 Right! They only say it's unnecessary bc it's Jhud saying that, if it was Selena Gomez they would probably be laughing at her and saying that vocal warm ups are necessary

[@rachelberrythegleequeen.3221]

@@everton7361 oh I’m sure that’s exactly why they’re saying it no I don’t care who says that they’re necessary they’re absolutely necessary

[@bbxdawn]

Scrolling through the comments seeing every wannabe singing guru having a go at her....here we go *smh*

[@thesilentchile]

But when your whole voice IS a vocal warmup...

[@solodondolo5890]

Trying to die a legend, that voice is going to be shot, what's there to prove...but she's still beautiful...and her voice is amazing

[@adjusturcrown1549]

Love JHud since American idol 😍😍😍

[@DavidBerto]

She's one of my favorite singers - can't wait to watch Respect! But don't you have the impression she's always (somehow) acting? haha I often have this impression she's forever on a character haha

[@marypotts3261]

Jennifer truly is one of the most beautiful and talented women I've seen. And she is very real

[@IamKrypton]

If that is true then I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't do vocal warm ups. I am not saying I am on the same level as Jennifer Hudson because she's a professional in the business but I am similar in that regard. Like when someone tells me to sing, I sing. One time, during my high school's foundation day, we were watching a singing contest and one of my teachers approached me and said, "The representative from the third year backed out. We don't know other third years who can sing. Can you sing? Right now?" I was hesitant because I had no practice but no one was representing us so I got up and went straight to the back of the stage. The contestant before me had about more than 30 seconds before my turn and I didn't know what to sing. The teacher went to the audio to play the track immediately. So I climbed on to the stage, wearing my PE uniform, no vocal warm ups and I had no idea what to sing, I was just there waiting. Then, the track played, it was "My Heart Will Go On". Later that contest, I won first place. When I get up in the morning, I sing just about anything without any vocal warm ups, too. So, although, it would be better to do vocal warm ups, if she's always ready to sing then it's not so bad. It's not unprofessional if she doesn't do vocal warm up because they're just warm ups. They're aimed to wale the voice up but, maybe's just always ready to sing. She really just knows her capacity and she's confident about it.

[@kstylerz]

J hudson is so hot and beautiful

[@jerrybee566]

True talent don't need no gimmicks

[@howiewill]

If JHud doesn’t warm up it’s her choice. It’s not a “mistake”. Look how successful she’s become in the last 10 years and how successful are the so called professionals giving keyboard courage advice? Everyone’s different and she’s doing her. That’s not a mistake. Now we just need a Donna Summer movie with JHud playing the disco queen herself!

[@sexychocolate10049]

Naw I think Kelly Rowland we be better to play her in a movie

[@Official.tadiwa]

as a professional she that isnt professional. Vocal damage highly likely ahe could be so much better she looked after her voice more

[@setdrec]

Her skin is so beautiful.

[@juanmarcuslopez3018]

I think you guys misinterpreted what she said. I think the vocal warm-ups she means are the oohs and aahs kind of thing. She has a few videos doing warm-ups before a show by singing some songs, I think that's her kind of preparation! She already has full control of her voice that is why I think she can sing anytime she wants but of course that doesn't mean going big time immediately.

[@femafull]

Not warming up is dangerous:(

[@cartman42069]

She's amazing but even Lebron stretches before a game

[@jaydee4646]

Thank God she's listening to all of the people telling her she's making a huge mistake. Who's here in 2025?

[@agbachisom4204]

Am sure she wanted to sing for us 🥺

[@chadguindon6909]

As singers, we DO need to warm up no matter what.

[@mochsyaifulloh7612]

She is the expert, She does not need a warm up .....yeah you the best

[@inah4923]

Sarah Vaughan one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century didn't do warm ups, she found it amusing when others were doing oohs and aahs. From what I have read she didn't take care of her vocals but she used a perfect technique and was able to sing until she died age 66

[@SilentAssassin01234]

While warm ups are really useful and really help the voice, people seem to believe that if you don't warm up your voice then you're damaging it. That is simply not true. Don't give me the crap athelete comparison either; if we don't warm up our leg muscles and run round the block, we aren't damaging our legs (to a serious degree). Warming will of course only do nothing but imorove your vocal performance but if you sing with a good technique, then not warming up isn't going to cost you your voice and damage it heavily. Jennifer Hudson right here is prove for that, so is Ed Sheeran and singers who do warm up like Adele still get vocal damage. Warm ups are not what people make them out to be.

[@NicoleKe]

"I just sing when I'm told to sing." Girl, what?

[@thekaerichtexas]

Jen don't need a warm up. Her voice is powerful and she is a natural singer.

[@mayieza13]

ahh were so incredibly so opposite. everytime i sing people say do u sing seriously sometimes? id say.. nah i never tried that. i can warm up 4am 5am anytime. i already mastered warm up but never get to sing live for 31yrs.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@saetae9208]

She sings on the way, that's her warm up

[@iamshakuri]

People keep saying she will damage her chords. She has been singing for over 20 years! Mainstream. Couple broadway shows under her belt she is good

[@user-bv8wr3vw4x]

Warming up your voice is the biggest lie ever! After "warming up" (I tried 10 min and i tried 20 min warm ups) my vocal chords feel strained, and for me it's pretty hard to get the lower notes after that. And don't come up to me with that sh*t, that I'm not doing it right or I don't drink enough water. I just clear my throat drink water and I'm ready to go!

[@Zizzyyzz]

Мирич Lol. I'd love to hear your non-warmed up rendition of, well...anything.

[@Antonio-tx5ix]

I dont know, I dont believe her haha since american idol, she has improve a lot to like no doing exercises or had any technique

[@jennytorralba]

i think she meant that before her performances she doesn't do warm-ups. but it doesn't mean she does not do vocal exercises at all? i don't know. that's what i picked up from what she said.

[@Antonio-tx5ix]

Oh please shut up, and how do you think that you can get a good technique? Just wake up one morning with know it? of course not! you have to do exercises from that technique and improve it

[@Antonio-tx5ix]

TJGLJKG Yes, what I meant is that she has improve a lot like to not take care of her voice.

[@tara1440]

these comments,if she is naturally anointed maybe she doesnt need warm ups.Everyone is different. God not letting anything happen to that voice believe that.

[@corydewalt6186]

I totally believe her. Hell for us that sing. That dont have the professional training just get up and sing. who needs warm up. just making your vocals stronger

[@kenpaul895]

Everybody here was like, she must do vocal warm up bcoz it will damage her voice. Funny thing i dont see anyone of you on her level. And yet this woman was singing for almost all of her life. the best and magnificent.