Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson's Song Sung Blue: Early Oscar Contender

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s upcoming film Song Sung Blue is generating plenty of Oscar buzz after its film festival debut. The Australian actor is most famous for starring in such films as X-Men and The Greatest Showman, while Hudson has starred in several romcoms, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bride Wars.

Jackman and Hudson’s next film is a musical biopic called Song Sung Blue, which will be released on December 25, in which they play Mike Sardina and Claire Sardina, a couple who form a Neil Diamond tribute band in the 1980s. The film is based on a true story, which was recounted in a documentary, also called Song Sung Blue.

Song Sung Blue just premiered at the AFI Film Festival on Sunday, October 26. Early reviews from critics are pegging this film as a possible Oscar contender, with Hudson, in particular, receiving plaudits. Her performance is being compared to the likes of Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line, Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby and Frances McDormand in Fargo.

After Song Sung Blue debuted at the film festival, several critics and other audience members took to X to give their early reactions. There’s a “real emotional depth” in the film, which is largely due to Hudson’s “heartfelt” and “moving” performance, according to @OscarFilmFC.

In fact, Hudson has received most of the praise on social media, even when some reviewers were more critical about other aspects of the film.

Meanwhile, @JoeyMagidson didn’t expect to “be as moved” in the way he was while watching Song Sung Blue, which he called both “heartbreaking” and “heartwarming.”

Speaking of major praise, @ryanmcquade77 claimed that Song Sung Blue has “major CODA vibes.” The Apple TV film won three Oscars in 2022, including for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor.

If Hudson receives a Best Actress nomination at the 2026 Academy Awards, it will be her first Oscar nomination since being recognized in 2001 for Almost Famous. While she didn’t win that year, she did walk away with a Golden Globe for the same role.

After winning an Emmy, Grammy and two Tony Awards, Jackman is just one Oscar win away from EGOT status. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Actor category for his role in the musical Les Misérables.

Several musicals and music biopics have won Oscars over the years, including West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Walk the Line, Ray and La La Land. Song Sung Blue could join the ranks of these prestigious films if it wins even just one Oscar.

If Hudson gets nominated for Best Actress, her competition will likely include Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) and Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee). Jackman, meanwhile, would likely be facing Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) in the Best Actor category.

Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, 2026, with the awards show itself airing live on March 15.

Song Sung Blue will be released in theaters on December 25, 2025.