It's an American Idol reunion!
When Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson guest stars this fall on NBC's Smash — premiering midseason — she'll do so alongside fellow American Idol alum Katharine McPhee.
Tapped to appear in a multi-episode arc starting with the second season premiere, 30-year-old Hudson — who placed seventh on Idol in 2004 — will guest star as Veronica Moore, a Tony Award-winning Broadway star who'll have scenes with both Karen (McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty). McPhee was crowned Idol's fifth season runner-up behind champ Taylor Hicks in 2006.
"This series is a showcase for some of the best musical talent in the business and that's a fitting description for Jennifer Hudson," NBC's entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement. "Her character will represent someone who reached their Broadway dream but also paid a price for it."
Smash's executive producer, Steven Spielberg, has high hopes that the Dreamgirls standout will make for must-see TV as she follows in the footsteps of season 1's guest star Uma Thurman. "First Dreamgirls, now Smash. I have no doubt Jennifer will continue to deliver even more inspiration to the audience responsible for giving us a second season on NBC," Spielberg said.
Hudson's casting comes one month after it was revealed season 1 regulars Raza Jaffrey (Dev), Jaime Cepero (Ellis), Brian d'Arcy James (Frank) and Will Chase (Michael Swift), would not be returning for the new episodes.
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