VIDEO: 'COLOR PURPLE's Jennifer Hudson 'Hopes to Return' for 'IDOL' Finale

E! caught up with former AMERICAN IDOLcontestant Jennifer Hudson at the opening of the acclaimed musical THE COLOR PURPLE, in which she makes her Broadway debut.

Hudson shared that while she feels sad the long-running FOX singing competition is coming to an end, she hopes to make an appearance in the final season.

"I hope to return!" she told E! adding, "I hope to be a part of the Idol finale, the final show. I'm kind of sad to see it go because it's been a part of our homes. Each of us in America, you know what I mean? So, it's going to be sad to see it go but I hope to be a part of the farewell."

The Oscar winner also shared that some of her "Idol family", including producer Nigel Lythgoe was in attendance for the show's opening performance. Watch the video!

The final season of AMERICAN IDOL will premiere on FOX on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 8 PM/ET, followed by a second episode on Thursday, January 7th. The series finale will air in April, 2016.

The Color Purple began preview performances November 10, at theBernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street) and officially opened on Thursday, December 10. Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner Jennifer Hudson making her Broadway debut opposite Cynthia Erivo, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimedMenier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's Danielle Brooks, in this fall's highly anticipated production.

Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel and the Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment motion picture, The Color Purple is adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner MarSha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

THE COLOR PURPLE is an unforgettable story of enduring love and triumph over adversity. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life.

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