Jennifer Hudson's Chicago Christmas

Deep dish Christmas.

We recently had a very brief phone with chat Oscar and Grammy winner (and American Idol sixth-placer) Jennifer Hudson about her new holiday special Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home For Christmas (tonight, 8pm EST on ABC) and about her seemingly-overnight success. Here's what she had to say!

Other than Christmas songs, what's the special all about?

Well, I'm excited that people will chance to get to know Jennifer a little better. And we'll go to different fun sites in Chicago. I'm giving you a holiday tour of my favorite city. I go to Michigan Avenue, I go to where I grew up as kid. There's a mall there, and it was my childhood dream to sing at that mall. So we'll do that. And I go to my high school, see my music class. It's a tour of the city and a history of Jennifer.

So Chicago is pretty evocative of the holiday season for you?

Well that's where I spent all my Christmases, my whole life. Every single year was in Chicago. This way, with the special, I'm taking everybody back home so they can share it with me. You'll get to see all those things. Family, friends, music. Chicago!

I know you sang with a church choir growing up. Will they make an appearance tonight?

Yes there's going to be a lot of that, with the choir. I'll sing with my big cousins who I've always admired. Growing up, I would sit on the pews in church and listen to them. Also there will be Soul Children of Chicago, a youth choir. I never made it into the Soul Children, so I invited them, and now I'll finally get to sing with them!

Your rise to success and fame has been pretty quick. Have you found it hard to learn the ropes of the industry so quickly?

Well, I have to beg to differ that anything came quick. Because, I've been on this path for so long. Ever since I was seven. But when I entered into the whole Hollywood thing? Well, I didn't expect it to hit so hard. And it hit hard. But, you know, I just take it one step at a time and when it comes. I don't try to mastermind anything. What's meant for you is meant for you. If it's meant to work out, it will.

Since you've made it big, is there any one thing you've let yourself splurge on?

Well, I don't really do that too much. I'm pretty basic. I do basic things. [Laughs] No, to be honest. I didn't splurge. I'd rather keep my money. So I can spend it at Christmas!

Can you tell us anything about the Winnie Mandela biopic you're rumored to be starring in?

Well, all I can say is that we're nowhere near starting the process of the film. That'll be the next interview.