Song Overview and Original Composition
"First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was written by Ewan MacColl in 1957 for his then-wife Peggy Seeger. The ballad became a global hit after Roberta Flack's 1969 version topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Record of the Year Grammy Awards. Jennifer Hudson later recorded the song for her debut studio album "Jennifer Hudson," released in 2008 by Arista Records.
Hudson's cover is a soul-driven arrangement that follows the original's slow tempo and intimate vocal phrasing. The track runs approximately four minutes and uses piano, strings, and light percussion to support the lead vocal. The song is registered with performance rights organizations, and Hudson is credited as a performer rather than a songwriter.
Chart Performance and Streaming Metrics
Hudson's version did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but appeared on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart following the album's release. The track also charted on UK digital download charts after the album's launch Billboard. As of the latest available public data, the song continues to generate streams on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Streaming totals for the track are not disclosed individually by rights holders, but the parent album has been streamed tens of millions of times across major services. Hudson's broader catalog, including this cover, contributes to her estimated net worth and ongoing royalty income from digital performance royalties collected by distributors and collecting societies.
Royalty Structure and Rights Holders
Mechanical royalties for the song are managed by publishers representing Ewan MacColl's estate, while performance royalties are collected by organizations such as ASCAP in the United States and PRS for Music in the UK ASCAP. Record labels and distributors receive royalties from streaming and sales, with splits defined by the contract between Hudson and Arista Records at the time of release.
Hudson's earnings from the track include a share of master recording royalties, which are collected by the label and passed through to her based on her agreement. Sync licensing opportunities for the song also generate additional income when the track is used in film, television, or advertising, with rates negotiated by the rights holders SEC Filings.