Feel like a real-life Neil Diamond tribute performer. meant Hugh Jackman wore a lot of sequins, and sometimes less.
“I had 51 suits,” star Song Song Blue, which just hit theaters, Yahoo reports. “I’ve never owned so many suits in my life.”
In our conversation, Jackman looks subdued in a white T-shirt with a black button-down—a far cry from the slick, larger-than-life persona he brings to the screen as Mike Sardina, the Milwaukee singer who rose to fame performing in the Diamond tribute duo with his wife Claire Sardina, played by Kate Hudson.
Song Song Blue adapted from the 2008 documentary of the same name about a real-life Milwaukee couple. Lightning's wife, Claire “Thunder” Sardina, is played by Kate Hudson. (Courtesy of Focus Features)
The film, directed by Craig Brewer, is a musical love story adapted from Greg Kos's 2008 documentary of the same name. It follows a down-on-his-luck couple—a working-class mechanic and a barber cast as Lightning and Thunder—who gain a following locally, from dive bars to the Wisconsin State Fair.
Despite serious problems and adversity – health crises, financial difficulties and addiction – the couple continues to unwaveringly pursue their dream.
“Mike is never embarrassed by anything in life,” says Jackman, whose costumes include american flag style vest that he wore a wig. – I know, but he doesn’t.
This is especially true when Jackman's Mike records the video in his kitchen, dressed in his underwear, telling his stepson to shoot from the waist up while casually strumming his guitar.
“When you look [Mike] in the documentary, he doesn't apologize for anything about himself,” Jackman says of the real-life Lightning, a Vietnam veteran. “He often wears white briefs. He's just happy with who he is, trying his best, and he's just not going to do anything that others tell him to do. This is only if he wants to do it. I like that about him.”
Hudson, who received a Golden Globe nomination for my performance I was able spend time with the real Claire. She tells Yahoo that the couple lived their art — and “they loved that about each other.”
“They enjoy their shine, their fabulous clothes and things that make them feel radiant,” Hudson says. “At the same time, they are struggling to stay warm. In the documentary, Mike lights the stove to warm them up.” [home]. I think this struggle is very real for [a lot of people]and something that, unfortunately, is very relevant for [many]”
Jackman says playing Mike reminded him of how “lucky” he has been in his career. Many artists chase their dreams, but few manage to live off them. He likes to think that if he hadn't achieved fame in films like X-Men franchise and The Greatest Showman he would still be working, just like Mike.
Jackman had 51 suits for the role, more than ever in the film. (Focus functions)
“Both [Kate and I] We have fame and opportunity and we get to work with amazing people,” he says. “Incredible things are happening. But we'd both be like Michael. We would still do it. I'd be at some community theater [as] teacher or something like that. I would do it.”
If she hadn't found fame and grown up as Hollywood royalty, Hudson says, she would still be singing somewhere – “all night long” with a man playing a “Casio keyboard” in an inconspicuous place.
“We are so lucky to be able to do this art… [and] I actually do this for a living,” she says. “And when you honor people like Mike and Claire, you really think about all the people who are so talented that don't get the same opportunities.”
Song Song Blue press tour turned into a mini-musical tour, in which Jackman and Hudson Diamond singing sports anthem “Sweet Caroline” at many stops along the way.
“She's so cool,” Jackson says of her co-star, who previously showed off her singing abilities in Almost Famous And Nine and released a studio album in 2024. “We were like, 'How about we go to the pub?' We just went down and sang a few songs.”
He adds, “And that’s the crux of the story.”
