Jennifer Hudson feels like she has "one up" on the other judges on 'The Voice' as a former contestant on 'American Idol'.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson

The 36-year-old singer-songwriter - who first found fame on the TV singing competition in 2004 - has brought in former talent show contestants Leona Lewis and Mo Jamil as mentors for her acts on this year's show, and Jennifer feels it gives her advantage over fellow judges will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Olly Murs.

She explained: "I have Leona [Lewis] and Mo [Jamil] as my mentors, which ... I think we have a triple power, because all of us have been in the shoes of the contestants. I think we have one up on everyone."

Jennifer feels able to empathise with her contestants, because she's been through a similar experience herself.

The Oscar-winning star said: "I know just how life changing this can be. Whether they win or whether they don't. It's like, 'Do you realise this platform that's for you? Okay, let's get it.'"

Despite winning last year's show with Mo, Jennifer insisted she's retained her enthusiasm to triumph again in 2018.

Asked whether her previous success has put pressure on her, Jennifer told ITV's 'Lorraine': "It does, because I feel like you can never run out of a passion for it. But it does add more pressure on it, because it means all eyes are on you for the next season.

"So I feel those pressures, but I'm there because I love it. And I just want ... it doesn't matter who wins. I just want to see them all succeed."