Christina Aguilera Says Don’t Wait Unreleased Material From the Vault, But Definitely Hang In There For a ‘Really Personal’ Next Album

Christmas came early on Tuesday (Dec. 9) when Christina Aguilera dropped by the Jennifer Hudson Show, where the host wasted no time spreading good cheer to the “What a Girl Wants” singer. “Whitney Houston said she loved your voice, one of the greatest voices that she knows,” Hudson told Aguilera of the high praise she received from the late R&B/pop superstar who died in 2012 at age 48.

Hudson said she had to second that emotion, and the holiday cheer kept a-rollin’ as Xtina bounced the compliment right back to the Oscar- and Grammy-winning host, who wondered what Aguilera remembered about meeting Houston.

“She was always just always so kind and just down to earth and it’s so wonderful when you get to meet an icon of yours,” Aguilera said of Houston, who she studied and was fascinated with growing up. Aguilera recalled bumping into Houston once backstage at a European MTV awards show where the “I Will Always Love You” singer came right up to her and said, “‘how you doin’ girl?’ She was always just chill and just real and good energy.”

When Aguilera casually mentioned that time she sang Whitney’s “Run to You” at a 2001 BET Awards tribute to Houston — a moment Hudson said she remembered with crystal clarity — she praised her mentor’s generosity and kindness. “She made my life with her complimentary moment of her receiving her award… just positive energy [and] extending her hand to younger generations of singers who she knows we all idolized [her],” Aguilera said.

Hudson wasn’t there to just talk old times, though. She also pressed Aguilera — who hasn’t released an album of new material since her second Spanish language LP, 2022’s Aguilera — on whether she has any unreleased music in the vault. “Yes, there’s some… there are things along the way, but probably will always remain in a vault,” Aguilera said.

The good news is that Aguilera said there “is new music” in the works, though admittedly she does “take a minute” to make sure she’s being thoughtful about what she releases. “I’m not like someone that’s just like, ‘Oh let me just keep pumping it out,’” said the singer who dropped 2018’s Liberation LP after an six-year gap following 2012’s Lotus.

“Integrity matters to me. I’m a message girl and I really like to absorb what’s happening in the world, things that are really moving me and affecting people to really put thought into it,” Aguilera said, promising that her untitled next album will be a “really personal project” that will tie-in with an equally personal documentary she’s been filming for the past few years.

In the meantime, fans can check out her new Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris holiday special, which will screen in theaters in the U.S. on Dec. 14 and 21.

Watch Aguilera talk Whitney Houston and unreleased music below.