Hugh Jackman’s Song Sung Blue: Neil Diamond’s Emotional Reaction To Tribute Biopic Revealed

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Hugh Jackman shared how Neil Diamond felt after seeing the movie Song Sung Blue, a film inspired by the real-life story of a band that performed covers of his songs, including “Sweet Caroline.”

In 2008, a documentary followed Mike and Claire Sardina, the duo behind the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder. More recently, a scripted movie based on their story, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, premiered in theaters on Christmas Day 2025.

Hugh Jackman recently shared on The Graham Norton Show how Neil Diamond responded to hearing his song Song Sung Blue.

He actually called me right after seeing the movie with his wife, Katie, and he was genuinely emotional – he was crying! He told me he absolutely loved it and was deeply touched by Mike and Claire’s story. It really resonated with him, and it meant a lot to me to hear how much the film affected him.

He called me right after seeing the movie with his wife, Katie, and was really emotional. He was deeply touched by the film and especially loved the story of the characters, Mike and Claire.

While talking with Diamond on the phone, Jackman asked if he could visit the singer and his wife sometime.

Hugh Jackman was asked by Neil Diamond’s wife, Katie McNeil, if he knew they lived in Colorado. He did, and happily traveled there to spend the night with the couple.

I saw a chance to visit, so I offered to stop by for a chat and a drink. Neil seemed okay with it, but then I didn’t hear back from him. Katie answered the phone and mentioned they were in Colorado. I reiterated that I’d still like to visit, and she asked if I wanted to stay overnight, which I happily accepted. She simply said, ‘Okay.’

When Diamond and Jackman finally met face-to-face, Diamond, visibly moved, approached the actor and simply said, “You did good, kid.” Later that evening, during dinner, Diamond invited Jackman to join him for karaoke. “I immediately said yes! We ended up doing karaoke together,” Jackman shared, still surprised by the experience.

Neil approached me and gave me a pat on the back, telling me I’d done well. He seemed really moved by it, so I ended up staying over. Later that evening, Neil Diamond asked if I wanted to do some karaoke, and I definitely said yes! We had a great time singing.

Diamond performed “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Misérables (a film Jackman appeared in), and then she and Jackman sang a duet of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Diamond’s famous song, “Sweet Caroline.”

Jackman concluded his story by explaining a quirky rule in the Diamond family: whenever someone says “so good” – a line from the song “Sweet Caroline” – two other people are then required to say it too.

I recently spoke with Hudson while on the Graham Norton show, and he shared a really interesting experience with Diamond and McNeil. He described it as simply fantastic – one of those moments that just clicked, you know? He used the phrase ‘so good’ to capture how positive the whole interaction was.

In the film Song Sung Blue, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson portray the couple Mike and Claire. The movie also features performances by Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mistafa Shakir, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, King Princess, Hudson Hensley, John Beckwith, Jackie Cox, Cecelia Riddett, Sean Allan Krill, Beth Malone, Jayson Warner Smith, and Erika Slezak.

Kate Hudson is up for a Golden Globe award for her performance in Song Sung Blue. The ceremony, hosted by Nikki Glaser, will be broadcast live on CBS on January 11th. A win would give Hudson her second Golden Globe, following her previous win for Best Supporting Actress in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous.

Hudson could also be nominated for an Oscar when the Academy releases its shortlist on January 22nd. While she hasn’t won an Oscar yet, she was previously nominated for her work in the film Almost Famous.

Hugh Jackman was an Oscar nominee for Les Misérables, but he hasn’t won an Academy Award yet, similar to Kate Hudson. If he receives a nomination for Song Sung Blue, it would be only the second of his career.

The movie Song Song Blue has earned $16 million in theaters and has received positive reviews, boasting a 77% rating from critics and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

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2026-01-02 21:29