Neil Diamond misses 'Song Sung Blue' premiere, but sends 'emotional' FaceTime message
- - Neil Diamond misses 'Song Sung Blue' premiere, but sends 'emotional' FaceTime message
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYOctober 27, 2025 at 6:01 AM
0
Neil Diamond, inspirational lifetime achievement award recipient, is seen onstage during the 39th Annual Carousel Ball at Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center on Oct. 11, 2025, in Denver.
LOS ANGELES – Singer-songwriter legend Neil Diamond was not physically able to attend the world gala premiere of "Song Sung Blue" that closed the AFI Fest 2025 on Sunday, Oct. 26.
But Diamond, 84, did the next best thing to show love for the musical drama filled with his classic songs – the "Sweet Caroline" singer FaceTimed stars Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson and writer-director Craig Brewer on the premiere red carpet from his Colorado home.
Hudson told USA TODAY that the video call from Diamond was "very emotional. We all wish that he could be here."
"It was so sweet," she added. "He said that he wishes he could be there, but he can't. And that he loves the movie. He even said that he wishes his mother and dad could have been here tonight."
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster attend the world premiere of "Song Sung Blue" during the AFI Fest on October 26.
Introducing "Song Sung Blue" inside the TCL Chinese Theatre, Jackman referenced the Diamond FaceTime call.
"I told (Diamond) that I might be mentioning that we spoke, and asked if he had a message for everyone," said Jackman. "He said, 'Yeah, tell everyone, 'I love them and keep on singing.'"
Kate Hudson sharpens her singing chops in new 'Song Sung Blue' trailer
"Song Sung Blue" stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson on the Oct. 26 AFI Fest world premiere red carpet.
There was plenty of singing at Sunday's world premiere, which saw Diamond's wife of more than a decade, Katie McNeil Diamond, represent the couple.
Jackman stepped out with new partner Sutton Foster, the Broadway powerhouse and his costar in the 2022 Broadway revival of "The Music Man." The couple has been getting red-carpet official with recent outings, five months after the finalization of Jackman's divorce from longtime wife Deborra-Lee Furness on May 28.
Hudson attended the premiere with her partner, Danny Fujikawa, and brother Oliver Hudson.
'Song Sung Blue' trailer with Hugh Jackman, Kate HudsonWhat is 'Song Sung Blue' about?
"Song Sung Blue" is based on the true story of Milwaukee couple Mike Sardina (Jackman) and his wife, Claire (Hudson). The real-life couple formed a tribute band, Lightning & Thunder, dedicated to Neil Diamond's music in 1987. The two formerly hard-luck performers, each previously divorced with children, blended their families and achieved enough professional success to open for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder in Milwaukee.
The movie is based on the 2008 documentary "Song Sung Blue" directed by Greg Kohs.
The world premiere audience enthusiastically received the musical. The first star duet between Jackman and Hudson – a perfect, tender Milwaukee living room version of Diamond's love song, "Play Me" – prompted spontaneous audience applause in the theater.
Hudson shows powerhouse vocals alongside the tested Broadway performer Jackman. Producer John Fox said that Jackman advocated casting Hudson for the role.
"Hugh Jackman is a huge, huge Neil Diamond fan who actually had seen the original documentary," said Fox. "And he loved that documentary so much, he just said, 'I'm in!' and it was his idea to cast Kate. And she is lights out."
Producer John Davis said that Diamond, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018 and retired from touring, granted full access to his song catalog for the movie. The movie includes "Sweet Caroline," which has been reborn as a stadium anthem in Europe and with the Boston Red Sox, as well as hits such as “Song Sung Blue," "Forever in Blue Jeans," and “Cracklin' Rosie."
"Neil saw the movie about four weeks ago in a private screening with his family, and loved it," Fox said. "This movie is a love letter to Neil Diamond. He's still in Colorado tonight, but he's with us in spirit."
When will Hugh Jackman's 'Song Sung Blue' premiere in theaters?
"Song Sung Blue" opens nationwide on Christmas Day, December 25.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hugh Jackman brings Sutton Foster to 'Song Sung Blue' premiere
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
