In an interview with the Daily Mirror Hudson, 35, spoke about her Christian upbringing and her reliance upon God.
The singer, who will appear as a judge on the recently revamped talent show The Voice, said she developed a love of music after joining the choir as a child at her church.
She said: "I used to beg for a solo and then, when they gave it to me, I would be too afraid to sing."
Hudson first entered the spotlight after appearing on American Idol but was voted off in the early stages.
She became a household name after appearing in the 2006 film Dreamgirls opposite Beyoncé. Critics hailed her debut film performance and she even won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
But in 2008, Hudson's brother and mother were both found murdered in their family home in Chicago.
Her seven-year-old nephew, Julian King, was reported missing from the same house and his body was discovered three days later.
It soon transpired that the murderer was William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's older sister, Julia.
After going into hiding to recover from the heartbreak, Hudson said that her Christian faith was what helped her deal with grief.
"There would be no point in faith if it wasn't tested," she said, "My mother always told me no matter how negative your life seems to be, you must always look for a positive."
Hudson has previously said that she has been able to forgive Balfour, who is serving three life sentences for his crimes.
She told Oprah Winfrey: "I feel like, for the most part, it's not his fault. It's how he was brought up."
She went on: "I sing in church every Sunday. What's the big deal? I've been doing this my whole life. I'm still the same girl."
Hudson will appear on The Voice on ITV this Saturday alongside will.i.am, Tom Jones and Gavin Rossdale.
