Key Highlights
- Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman play real-life couple Claire and Mike Sardina in the film “Song Sung Blue.”
- The movie is based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, following a Neil Diamond tribute act.
- Hudson and Jackman sang live for their performances, with Jackman noting that they recorded everything live.
- They bonded over studio sessions, with Hudson praising Jackman’s ability to connect and vice versa.
The Real-Life Couple on Screen: Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman in “Song Sung Blue”
In the upcoming biographical musical drama “Song Sung Blue,” actors Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman bring to life the real-life couple Claire Stengl and Mike Sardina, who were part of the Milwaukee-based Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder. The film premieres on Christmas Day 2025, based on a 2008 documentary that details their early days together and their musical journey.
The Musical Duo’s Bond
According to Jackman, Hudson and he bonded over studio sessions before filming began. “It’s become a bit of a joke because I remember when we first met,” Jackman shared on CBS Sunday Morning in December 2025. “She has no recollection.” Hudson added, “I don’t remember meeting him, which is so weird, because it was in my mom’s house.”
A Hybrid Performance
Hudson and Jackman took their roles as Claire Stengl and Mike Sardina seriously, committing to live recordings for their performances. In a December 2025 interview with The Howard Stern Show, Jackman revealed that they recorded everything “live.” Hudson echoed this sentiment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, calling it the best experience of her life.
Preparation and Collaboration
The duo spent considerable time in the studio, not only rehearsing but also building a strong connection off-screen. During an appearance on Today show, Hudson recalled their first recording session: “We sat down on a sofa… with two microphones, and we had that moment of like, ‘How’s this going to work?’” Jackman added, “You seemed very at home. I’m a bit nervous in the recording studio, more nervous there than onstage, but you were very at home, I thought.”
Trust and Chemistry
Jackman spoke about how their mutual trust and chemistry translated on screen: “It felt easy to just inhabit these characters,” he said. “The word that comes to me is trust. All of the scenes, particularly in that darker period, we could just live in that — the frustration, the paranoia, the anger, the loss, the fear.” Jackman also highlighted Hudson’s preparedness and instinctiveness: “As much as I could see it and feel it, nothing prepared me from day one of rehearsal through ’til the end, until I saw the movie, of Kate’s performance. I could feel it.
You just know, I’m like, ‘She’s going to be perfect, she’s amazing, and I love her, and I love her as an actress.’ But then when there’s somehow an alchemy of a part to an actress, at that time, when that all comes together… magic.”
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Stay tuned for the latest updates on “Song Sung Blue.” The magic is about to unfold!
