Neil Diamond misses ‘Song Sung Blue’ premiere, but sends ’emotional’ FaceTime message

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 home in Colorado.

Hudson told USA TODAY the video call from Diamond was “very emotional. We all wish that he could be here.”

“It was so sweet,” she said. “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.”

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Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster attend the world premiere of “Song Sung Blue” during AFI Fest on Oct. 26, 2025.

Introducing “Song Sung Blue” inside the TCL Chinese Theatre, Jackman referenced the FaceTime call with Diamond.

“I told (Diamond) that I might be mentioning that we spoke, and asked if he had a message for everyone,” Jackman said. “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 the 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 have been getting red-carpet official with recent outings, five months after the finalization of Jackman’s divorce from longtime wife Deborra-Lee Furness in May.

Hudson attended the premiere with her partner, Danny Fujikawa, and brother Oliver Hudson.

Watch the ‘Song Sung Blue’ trailer with Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson

What 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 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 Jackman advocated casting Hudson for the role.

“Hugh Jackman is a huge, huge Neil Diamond fan who actually had seen the original documentary,” Fox said. “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 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.”