Actress Kate Hudson is perhaps best known for her roles as the enigmatic Penny Lane in “Almost Famous” and stubborn Andie Anderson in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” However, before experiencing commercial success, Kate was already a recognizable face. As the daughter of actress Goldie Hawn and musician Bill Hudson and being raised by action figure actor-turned-mom’s-boyfriend Kurt Russell, she grew up in the relative limelight. Kate continues to draw comparisons to her star-studded parents, even though she crafted her own path through Hollywood.
Kate made her film debut in 1998 with the drama “Desert Blue,” followed by plenty of supporting roles in the following years. Soon after, she began landing roles that helped make her the leading actress she is today, including films such as “You, Me and Dupree,” “Fool’s Gold,” and “Bride Wars.” It’s clear that Kate has a knack for comedy, especially romantic comedies, as she has shown success in this genre, displaying charm and wit.
While the mentions of her parents still come, Kate remains unoffended. She often mentions her mother, in particular, as a source of inspiration and strength. Kate also speaks fondly of Russell, whom she considers to be her father. The three, along with siblings and fellow actors Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell, form one of Hollywood’s most beloved families.
Although she made her name as an actress, the star has branched out into another passion – singing. After debuting her powerful vocal on stage in early 2024, fans had a lot to say about Kate’s career pivot at the age of 45.
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While Kate has praised Hawn for her success in the entertainment business, she told E! News in September 2022 that she isn’t planning on imitating her mother’s stellar career.
“Contrary to how I guess it seems from the outside in, for me, our family is much more focused on emulating who we are as people. Emulating the good and maybe not necessarily wanting to carry on some of the challenges, like any child growing up in the world.”
Kate said growing up in the Hawn-Russell household helped mold her into the hard-working actress she has become, which she described to CNBC in 2021 as follows:
“My personality profile is perfect for an overachiever based on my family of origin. We grew up privileged, but our parents made sure we understood it. It was like, ‘Hey kids, none of this belongs to you. You didn’t earn any of this. You were just born into it.’ So at a really young age, our parents were all about work ethic.”
In early 2024, Kate carried on this work ethic to branch out into another sphere of the entertainment industry – singing. In announcing the release of her debut album titled “Glorious” on May 17, 2024, Kate told The Associated Press it was a natural transition for her as she felt she would “die without music.”
As for the late-stage pivot at the age of 45, Kate said she asked herself, “‘What is the next half of my life going to look like in terms of my connection to the arts?’ One thing that kept circulating for me was that if I didn’t make an album, it would be a great regret.”
The topic of age came up again in a conversation with CBS Sunday Morning, where she revealed she was told she was “too old” when she first considered singing years ago.
Kate told CBS Sunday Morning:
“There was someone who said to me, and it kind of jarred me a little, it was in my early 30s and they basically said, ‘It’s done. Past. You’re too old. And for me it wasn’t just about being a performer, it was about wanting to write music. So it kind of resonated for a bit, and then I was like, ‘Nah, f— you. No, no one tells me what to do!’”
As for why she waited so long to jumpstart her singing career, she said:
“I guess I wasn’t ready for it until now. … It was never right whether it was my own stuff or feeling afraid to mess up my movie career. It just never felt right…until now. I’m just doing it.”
In January 2024, Kate made her live stage debut, and her powerful vocals surprised many long-time fans. In a clip shared on her social media, fans flooded the comments section with words of encouragement.
“Wow girl!!! Where were you hiding that voice all this time?! 😍😍😍 cant wait to hear more!!! 👏👏👏,” one user wrote, while another said, “In a world of Beyoncé and Taylor, Thank God Kate can sing something that really moves me and the grit and soulful sounds! LOVE! WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG.”
However, not everyone was impressed. One user wrote:
“This is the third actor/actress THIS week that’s become a singer or musician or has an album coming out. I get “being in the business” so it’s like a jack of all trades type deal but no. It’s a no for me. I’m a huge cinema fan. And actors and actresses should just stick to what they’re good at.”
On another clip of Kate singing in the studio, one user remarked, “When you have too much money and buy yourself a singing career.”
What do you think about Kate Hudson’s career change to singing at this stage in her life? Were you surprised by her vocal talent? Let us know, and then pass this along to friends and family, too!
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