Entertainment Music Jennifer Hudson Celebrates Her People of the Year Cover: 'What a Way to End the Year!' Jennifer Hudson joins Mila Kunis, Matthew McConaughey and Quinta Brunson as PEOPLE's People of the Year By Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis is a staff writer on the music team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2019, and her work has previously appeared in Entertainment Weekly and the New York Daily News. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 30, 2022 01:55PM EST Jennifer Hudson is basking in the glory of being named one of PEOPLE's People of the Year! The singer, actress and producer celebrated her new PEOPLE cover on her self-titled syndicated talk show on Wednesday, starting with a thank you to her audience for their support. "I've been so fortunate this year with having a talk show, having this journey with you guys," she said. "Thank you so much for sharing your stories, for sharing your time, for sharing your hearts, your love, and coming to see about little old me. I love and appreciate you so much for that." Hudson, 41, then expressed her joy at being recognized as one of four cover stars featured in the annual People of the Year series. "This has been a year full of surprises and I cannot believe that PEOPLE magazine has put me on the cover as one of the four People of the Year," she said. "What a way to end the year! Thank you, thank you." Obidigbo Nzeribe The American Idol alum went on to give a shoutout to Mila Kunis, Matthew McConaughey and Quinta Brunson, the three other cover stars. For more on PEOPLE's 2022 People of the Year issue, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. "Congratulations to everyone who was featured in this issue," she said. Jennifer Hudson on Her Talk Show, EGOT Win and Facing Fears Head On: 'You Will Always See Me Try' It's been a year of exciting milestones for Hudson, who in June became the youngest woman to ever EGOT when she won a Tony Award for her production work on the musical A Strange Loop. "It's a huge honor and has been an ongoing celebration," she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "I feel like it opens the space for me to be able to pick and choose more of what I want to do, but that's been my whole career. I like to lead by my heart and what I'm passionate about." Jennifer Hudson. Obidigbo Nzeribe 5 Reasons Jennifer Hudson Had an Incredible Year in 2022 The Dreamgirls star also launched her syndicated talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, in September. Though she says the show, just like everything she does, makes her "anxious," she's been enjoying the learning process, as diving into things that scare you is "how we grow." "I can't say I knew what to expect. I'm still learning as I go," she says. "I think seeing how huge of a machine it is, how many departments it has, meeting the crew and the staff. I've been a guest on a show like this, but to come in from a host perspective and see the entire production, I think that's the most surprising part."