Grammys 2026: Jennifer Hudson Reveals the Inspiration Behind Her Show’s Spirit Tunnel
We’ve all seen the joyous clips from The Jennifer Hudson Show of celebrity guests strolling, bumpin’ or otherwise vibing down the hall, the talk show’s crew lined up on either side to pump them up before they sit down with host Jennifer Hudson.
As it turns out, every guest—ranging from Ron Funches to Gordon Ramsay—is truly getting the VIP treatment.
“They originally did it for me,” the 2026 Grammy nominee for The Gift of Love exclusively told Zuri Hall on Live From E!: Grammys 2026, explaining how the show’s signature “spirit tunnel” tradition got started. “Then I was like, ‘We should do this for our guests,’ and now it’s taken a life of its own.”
And yes, they still line up to hype the host, because who couldn’t use that energy before showtime?
“Even when I come out,” Hudson said, “they still do it to get me amped.”
Doing the amping on the Grammys red carpet, however, was Hudson’s black leather dress with a sky-high slit. (See all the daring red carpet fashion at the 2026 Grammys.)
