It was a Bronx reunion as former “American Idol” judge and multifaceted entertainer Jennifer Lopez posed beside “Scandal” star Kerry Washington on the red carpet at the Hollywood Reporter’s Women In Entertainment gala on December 3, 2025.
Lopez became an “American Idol” judge for the long-running hit talent show’s 10th season, which aired in 2011, alongside Steven Tyler. She departed two years later, but came back to judge season 13. She then took one last turn on the judges’ panel for season 15, which was “American Idol’s” last season to air on Fox.
GettyThe two stars joyfully grinned at each other as the cameras flashed at the star-studded event. Lopez was dressed in a chic brown pencil skirt suit, while Washington wore a uniquely textured strapless black dress with a sweetheart neckline. The “Django: Unchained” actress completed her look with a pair of the pointy-toed pumps she is known for rocking in a silver metallic color.
Jennifer Lopez & Kerry Washington Work the Camera
The two beauties were captivating as they posed on the carpet, and more A-list women were out as well. Attendees at the event included “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress Dakota Johnson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Paulson, and more.
Kerry Washinton & JLo Both Made The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment 2025” List
Both stars were honored with a spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s roundup of this year’s most powerful women in entertainment, which was revealed the same day of the gala.
The magazine cited Lopez’s status as a triple-threat who has made waves in music, Broadway, and acting as reasons for her inclusion on the list. They congratulated her on producing “Kiss of the Spider Woman” before going on, “A single feature in a year is rare for the prolific Lopez, so she’ll follow up with two (plus a Las Vegas residency) in 2026: ‘Office Romance,’ opposite Brett Goldstein, and Robert Zemeckis’ “The Last Mrs. Parrish’.”
As for Washington, the publication highlighted Washington’s domination of the 2024 Christmas season with her historical war-themed Netflix drama “The Six Triple Eight” before recognizing her 2025 roles in “Shadow Force” from Lionsgate and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
The feature also asked Washington about her Hollywood prediction for 2026, and she revealed that she predicts people will “finally stop underestimating” Kim Kardashian.
