J-HUD SETS WEDDING DATE, GETS GIFT FROM ELLEN: DeGeneres surprises singer with tandem bike; takes Hudson on a ride around studio.

     *During her taped performance Wednesday night following the live broadcast of "American Idol," Jennifer Hudson told host Ryan Seacrest that she and her fiancé, David Otunga, have finally set a wedding date.

      "But it’s a secret,” said Hudson, who placed 7th during "Idol's" third season. “I can’t tell anybody.”

      Sporting a black dress, a blazer, and leggings, Hudson, 27, who won a Grammy for best R&B album earlier this year, gave a rousing vocal performance of her single “If This Isn’t Love.” Fellow "Idol" alum Ruben Studdard also pre-taped a performance on Wednesday that aired last night.

       Hudson, who will be touring with Robin Thicke to promote her self-titled, debut album starting March 31, told Seacrest, “It feels great” to be back on the stage where she started her singing career.

      On Thursday's "Ellen DeGeneres Show," the comedic host presented Hudson with an engagement gift: a tandem bike.

       "David is going to love this," Hudson said, adding that bike riding is one of their favorite activities.       

       "We're like big kids, so we like to ride bikes," she says. "One thing I like to do is put my dog in her little basket and put her on my back and then we ride the bike to the dog park," added the singer, who has three Pomeranians.      

       Hudson also talked to DeGeneres about working at a Burger King in her Chicago hometown back in the day. She says she quickly learned she could make more bucks belting out songs than flipping burgers.      

       "When I was 17-years-old, I worked at Burger King, and I found that I was making more money singing one show [for] $75," the Oscar winner said. "I thought it was a lot of money, so I decided, 'I'm quitting this Burger King - I'm going to make my living using my talents and gifts.' So my first option was to be, what I am now, a singer."      

       She says if singing didn't work out, she always had a back-up plan. "My second choice was to be a tattoo artist because I also draw," said Hudson. Asked if she had any body art, Hudson cringed. "No," she told DeGeneres, "I don't have any."