The wide theatrical release of Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s new movie Song Sung Blue is on Christmas Day. It chronicles the story of Claire and Mike Sardina, a real-life couple from Wisconsin that formed the popular Neil Diamond tribute band, Lighting & Thunder, in 1989. So far, it’s gotten generally positive reviews from critics. My favorite quote about SSB comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which describes it as “a sweet serve of feel-sad, feel-glad corn done right.”
On Monday night, Kate and Hugh attended the Gotham Awards, where they became the first recipients of the Gotham Musical Tribute award. After the awards, Hugh, Kate, and reportedly some of their other famous friends stopped by an Australian pub that’s near where the awards were held. While there, they put on a little “impromptu” concert, singing three Neil Diamond songs: “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Crunchy Granola Suite,” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline.” At one point, Hugh even jumped up on top of the bar to encourage the whole pub to join in. Amazing.
Hollywood actors Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson have surprised pub goers at the Australian bar Old Mates Pub in New York City with an impromptu live performance. The co-stars, who play members of a Neil Diamond tribute band in the upcoming movie Song Sung Blue, sung three hits including crowd-pleaser Sweet Caroline, Forever in Blue Jeans and Crunchy Granola Suite.
During Sweet Caroline, Jackman made his way through the crowd to climb on top of the bar counter, asking everyone to “raise the roof” and “make some noise”.
At one point, he even took someone’s phone to film the performance.
The song is about Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy who was the ambassador to Australia from 2002 to 2024.
Jackman was also given the honour of ringing the Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro trophy donated to the venue by Mick Fanning.
The pub has become a regular spot for Aussie celebrity sightings since comedians and TV hosts Hamish Blake and Andy Lee opened it earlier this year.
I mean, do you even bar, mate, if you don’t loudly belt out Sweet Caroline when it starts playing? It’s one of those things that’s both a staple and a rite of passage. Old Mates Pub posted pictures and videos of Hugh and Kate’s performance to their Instagram page, and it looked like a lot of fun. I love a good singalong, though, and am always game, even if I don’t know all of the lyrics. Yes, I am that person! If I were promoting a movie like this, I’d totally have my publicist set me up with fun stuff like karaoke rather than having to sit through a daylong press junket.
If you listen to the video (also embedded below), it sounds like Kate is really feeling it at one point and going for the harmony. She’s actually been getting a lot of praise and Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Claire. Hugh even said while accepting the Gotham award earlier in the evening that he thinks Kate’s going to win an Oscar for this performance. Speaking of the Oscars, I don’t think Song Sung Blue has an original song that would make it eligible for a Best Song award, but I wonder if this year’s ceremony will incorporate a duet by Hugh and Kate anyway. We shall see if they’ve oversaturated the demand for one or not, but they’re both performers who could bring down the house with a singalong a la “I’m Just Ken.” Just saying! Oh and even if Kate doesn’t get Academy Award recognition, I’d like to nominate her for whatever award exists for swaying around and singing with a full pint of beer while wearing a white dress and not spilling one drop of it. That really is quite impressive.
Photos credit: Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages, Thomas Floyd/Avalon, Imago/Avalon, Getty
Kate looks great but she’s always had the access to. No hate but I would love her take on being one of this gens OG nepo babies. Afterwards maybe the film is great but these two are so just so theatre kid thirsty I have a hard time wanting to give them their flowers.
She’s cute but something about her rubs me the wrong way.
I’ve always liked her. I really stopped liking him when he left is wife of almost 30 years.
I love Hamish Blake on Lego Masters, so I would go to to that pub if I was in Australia.
I am finding both of them highly unlikable now
Same, Rani Wood. Can’t stand him now. True p.o.s.
I’m just back from seeing Knives Out at the cinema and the trailer for this came on, we were torn as neither of us is interested in watching him but we enjoy her and the story looks interesting.
Hugh was just in Milwaukee promoting this movie. He was everywhere! Kopp’s, Kegel’s, Milwaukee School for the Arts! He attended a premiere at The Oriental theater. I might actually go see this in the theater to support him.