At a Glance
- Goldie Hawn says she and Kurt Russell cried while watching Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue
- Russell called Hudson “the greatest actress of all time,” a rare compliment
- The film marks Hudson’s first musical biopic, earning her a 2026 Golden Globe nomination
- Why it matters: The moment spotlights a multi-generational Hollywood family celebrating raw talent
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were moved to tears by Kate Hudson’s performance in the Neil Diamond tribute-band drama Song Sung Blue, Hawn revealed during a post-screening Q&A in Los Angeles.
A Private Screening That Left Them Crying
Hawn, 80, moderated the panel at AMC The Grove 14 on January 13, 2026, and told the audience she had not wept at a film since she was 11. She and Russell, 74, watched an early, unfinished cut.
> “The two of us held onto each other and cried,” she said, noting the version lacked final color and sound balancing.
Hudson, 46, appears as Claire, a singer who forms a Patsy Cline-inspired tribute act with Mike Sardina, played by Hugh Jackman. Their on-stage partnership turns romantic amid the glitter of 1980s lounge circuits.
Hawn recalled the exact moment the waterworks began:
> “From the minute you did the Patsy Cline song! I mean, literally cried.”
She added that Russell rarely doles out praise, yet turned to her and said Hudson might be “the greatest actress of all time.”
Parallels to Real Life
During the panel, Hawn compared Jackman’s character to Russell himself. She told Hudson:
> “He looked so much like Kurt… that’s what Kurt did, came into my life and took on our family.”
Hudson called the act “heroic,” referencing Russell’s decision to help raise her and brother Oliver after Hawn’s 1982 divorce from Bill Hudson. Russell and Hawn began dating in 1983 and share four children: Boston, Oliver, Kate, and Wyatt.
An Emotional Family Trait
Hudson, already known for easy tears, told News Of Losangeles in December 2025 that discussing Song Sung Blue makes her cry “every day.”
> “I cry really easy… I could look at an Instagram and start,” she admitted, adding the family stays in touch with their feelings.
Hawn confirmed the pattern:
> “We’re all criers… everybody but maybe Pa and Wyatt.”
Awards Buzz and Co-Star Praise
The musical biopic scored Hudson a Golden Globe nomination for 2026. At the Gotham Awards on December 1, 2025, she and Jackman praised each other’s craft.
Hudson described Jackman’s “superpower” as connection:
> “He wants to make sure that everyone’s happy… one of the greatest gifts you can give people is the desire to connect.”
Jackman returned the compliment:
> “I’ve done almost 50 films… the mixture of being prepared and instinctive-no one does it better than Kate Hudson.”
He concluded, “I think I became a better actor” by working with her.
Key Takeaways
- Hawn and Russell’s emotional response highlights Hudson’s breakout musical performance
- The film cements another high-profile collaboration between Hudson and Jackman
- The family’s shared tears spotlight a Hollywood clan unafraid to show vulnerability
