If I am being honest, outside of Sweet Caroline, you could write what I know about Neil Diamond on the back of a postage stamp! Despite this, Song Sung Blue was a movie I was a little interested in, as I am a big fan of Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. I decided that I would go and give it a shot, and I ended up really liking the movie, even if it was not exactly what I thought it was going to be.
Where to Watch Song Sung Blue
Song Sung Blue was released on December 25, 2025. You can stream the film from Peacock.
The Movie Review
What I Expected From the Trailers
Well, I saw a few trailers for this, and I thought that I was in for a movie about a man and woman who fall in love and work as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Hey, I was partially right, but this is way more of a roller coaster than that, and it is a movie that has several gut punches that I was not expecting.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson Carry the Film
A huge part of the reason the movie clicked with me the way that it did was the fantastic performances by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
The Characters
Hugh Jackman plays the role of a Don Ho tribute singer called Mike, and Kate Hudson is a Patsy Cline tribute singer called Claire. Both Mike and Kate are due to perform at the state fair, and after this chance meeting, Claire suggests to Mike that he become a Neil Diamond tribute singer. After a great scene where they listen to some Neil Diamond, they become a tribute act.
Building the Act
Mike and Kate form the tribute act, Lightning and Thunder, with Mike being Lightning and Claire being Thunder. They build up quite a following, but they fall in love, start a family, and have a great thing going.
Why You Root for Them
You can tell every time that Mike looks at Claire that he really does love her, and in the early part of the movie, it is impossible not to love both of these characters and want to see them succeed.
Spoiler-Safe Thoughts
Now, as I write this, I cannot remember what the trailer does and does not show, so I am going to write on the side of caution and not spoil anything.
The Emotional Gut Punch
Well, there is a tragedy that happens, and it puts their singing careers on hold, but the personal toll and fallout are so hard. Kate Hudson’s performance here as Claire starts to unravel is just amazing, and it is so easy to see why she is getting so much acclaim for this.
Hugh Jackman Deserves Just as Much Praise
However, on the flip side of this, I think that Hugh Jackman deserves just as much attention as Kate Hudson as far as the acting goes, as you can tell that it was not singing he loved to do, but the fact that he was singing with Claire that he loved. Also, he has his own personal demons that he is dealing with as the movie progresses as well.
Final Verdict
Even if you are not a huge fan of Neil Diamond, this is just a fantastic story that is very easy to get wrapped up in. If I am being honest, I do not think Song Sung Blue is the kind of movie I would look to add to my collection or even watch again anytime soon. But I had a great time while watching this, and it was way more emotional and hard-hitting than I was expecting.
