Wait, can Kate Hudson actually sing? Honestly, if you asked that a few years ago, most people would point to Glee or her Oscar-nominated turn in Almost Famous and say, "Sure, she’s got a vibe." But things changed. Fast.
When Kate Hudson the voice finally met the stage of NBC’s The Voice in May 2024, it wasn't just another celebrity cameo. It was a pivot. Dressed in a white mini-dress with a flowing cape, surrounded by a literal garden of flowers, she performed "Glorious," the title track of her debut album. Social media, predictably, lost its mind. People were genuinely shocked. "Kate Hudson can hold a note?!" became the refrain of the night on X (formerly Twitter).
It’s wild how we pigeonhole actors. We decide they are one thing and stay there. But Hudson had been writing these songs in private for years. Decades, actually. She just didn't tell us.
The Performance That Changed the Narrative
The Season 25 finale of The Voice was packed. You had Lainey Wilson blowing the roof off with pyrotechnics. You had Reba McEntire being, well, Reba. But Hudson’s performance was different. It was stripped back but high-drama. The lyrics to "Glorious" scrolled behind her in romantic script, and the whole thing felt less like a PR stunt and more like a woman finally exhale-ing.
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She wasn't just there to promote a product. She was there to claim a new identity.
Critics and fans alike have compared her sound to a mix of Adele and Sheryl Crow. It’s got that slightly husky, rock-and-roll edge. It’s grown-up music. On The Voice, she proved that she didn't need the "movie star" safety net to command a room. She stayed on pitch while the audience swayed, and for those three minutes, nobody was thinking about How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
From "Band-Aid" to Battle Advisor
Fast forward to 2025. Hudson didn't just walk away from the show after one song. She returned to The Voice for Season 27, but this time, she sat in the advisor chair. Specifically, she joined forces with her old friend Adam Levine.
The two have a weirdly long history. They actually went to high school together—well, neighboring schools in Los Angeles. Levine (Brentwood School) and Hudson (Crossroads School) have been in the same orbit since they were teenagers. In an interview with Kevin Frazier, Levine joked that Hudson is "annoying" because she’s good at literally everything.
Why she’s a controversial pick for some
Not everyone was thrilled about her role as a Battle Advisor. If you lurk on Reddit or fan forums, you’ll see the salt. Some fans argued that mentors should be "grounded in the music industry" and that Hudson’s late-stage pivot felt like a hobby rather than a career.
"I don't tune in to a show about music to see random celeb opinions," one user wrote.
But here’s the counter-argument: Hudson has spent more time around rock stars and music production than most "pure" singers. She grew up with a front-row seat to the industry. Her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa, was in the band Chief. She co-wrote her album with Linda Perry—the powerhouse behind Pink and Christina Aguilera. If anyone knows how to craft a "moment" on stage, it’s her.
The Reality of the "Glorious" Era
Let’s be real about the music. Glorious isn't a bubblegum pop record. It’s a 12-track collection (14 on the deluxe version) that wanders through rock, soul, and Americana.
- "Gonna Find Out": This was her TV debut on Jimmy Fallon. It’s sultry. It’s got a heavy guitar riff that feels very "cool girl" rock.
- "Live Forever": A more vulnerable track that shows off her range.
- "Right on Time": This one is actually about her mother, Goldie Hawn. Hudson kept it a secret from Goldie until it was finished.
She recorded the album independently. That matters. She didn't sign a massive soul-crushing deal with a major label that would have forced her into a certain box. She worked with Fujikawa, Perry, and Johan Carlsson at their own pace. Sometimes they wrote three songs in a single day.
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Does the "Voice" factor actually help?
Singing on The Voice is a high-risk move for an actor. If you miss a note, it’s a meme forever. But Hudson used it to bridge the gap between "actress who sings" and "recording artist."
It worked. After the performance, her album Glorious hit #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. It wasn't a world-dominating #1, but for an independent release from a 45-year-old first-time artist? That’s a win.
The Future: Song Sung Blue and Beyond
As we move through 2026, Hudson is leaning even harder into the music-acting hybrid. She’s currently gaining massive buzz for her role in the film Song Sung Blue, where she stars alongside Hugh Jackman. They play a real-life couple who formed a Neil Diamond tribute band.
She’s also hitting the road. Her 2025/2026 tour dates are intimate. We’re talking venues like the Belly Up Tavern and The Roxy. She’s not trying to play stadiums yet; she’s playing the clubs she missed out on when she was busy being an A-list star in her 20s.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Artists
If you’re following Kate Hudson’s journey or trying to make your own pivot, there are a few things to take away from her time on The Voice and the release of Glorious.
- Don't wait for "the right time." Hudson said her biggest fear was regret. She waited until her mid-40s because she was afraid of rejection. The lesson? The fear doesn't go away, you just eventually get tired of it.
- Leverage your network. She didn't do this alone. She leaned on Linda Perry and Danny Fujikawa. If you have talented people in your circle, use their expertise.
- Vulnerability is a brand. The reason her performance on The Voice resonated wasn't because it was technically "perfect"—it was because she looked like she actually cared about the words.
- Diversify your appearances. She didn't just do an interview; she performed. Then she advised. Then she acted in a music-centric movie. Every move reinforces the same narrative: "I am a musician."
Hudson is proving that you can rewrite your own script. Whether she’s sitting in the red chair or standing at the mic, kate hudson the voice is finally being heard on her own terms. It’s not just a side project anymore. It’s the main event.
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Check out her live performance of "Glorious" on YouTube if you haven't seen it yet. It’s the best way to understand why people finally stopped talking about her movies and started talking about her range.
Next up, keep an eye on the 2026 awards circuit. With the momentum from Song Sung Blue and the success of her touring, she's likely to be a staple in both film and music conversations for the foreseeable future. Just don't expect her to go back to "just" being an actress anytime soon.