'Idol' odds 'n ends: Jennifer Hudson gets Christmas special on ABC

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>It was announced this week that Jennifer Hudson will have her very own Christmas music special in December on ABC. Per Reuters:

"Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas" will air in December and feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed in locations specific to her youth: the Oscar winner's church, music academy and other Chicago locations.

No word yet on when the special will air.

>Former Idol judge Paula Abdul has been keeping up appearances, this week sitting in the audience at Dancing with the Stars for the performance episode on Monday. Watch Marie Osmond interview Paula backstage for Entertainment Tonight below:



During the live broadcast, co-host Tom Bergeron chatted with Paula for a few seconds, and she managed to suggest she and judge Carrie Ann Inaba make out in that short time frame. Needless to say, it didn't happen.

>Chris Daughtry revealed that he is helping out another Idol alum on his debut effort. Chris tweeted about his songwriting with Kris Allen for his upcoming release, saying:

So as you know...the rumor about me writing with Kris Allen for his record is true! Fingers crossed it makes the record:) It's a good one!!

As for what Kris had to say about working with the big D, he told EW.com's Michael Slezak in an interview published Wednesday:

Chris is great. He reached out to me early on, during the show, I think during top-4 week. He gave me his number and was telling me if I needed anything to just give him a call. He was a really, really nice guy, and he kind of knew what I was going through, and was just kind of rooting for me. And now we have the same manager, so that makes it easy.

Kris wouldn't go into detail about what the song sounds like, but it isn't hard to imagine the kind of material Chris could come up with for the most recent Idol winner.

>Kelly Clarkson took time out during her busy tour schedule to chat and perform at The View yesterday. Kelly had lots to say regarding some of her more outspoken comments as of late, including her "letter" to Kanye West immediately following his outburst at MTV's VMA Awards last month. Watch the segment below:



Kelly also performed her current single "Already Gone," once again opting for the stripped version rather than the "Halo"-esque one that stirred up controversy this summer.

>David Archuleta sat down with former 80s teen idol Rick Springfield for People.com's "Up Close" segment in which they discussed what it's like to be a teen heartthrob. Watch the segment below:



Rick's advice to David? As long as he stays true and has a good family life, he should be all set. Words to live by, those are.