> At a Glance
> – Kate Hudson, 46, received the Icon Award at Palm Springs on Jan. 3 for Song Sung Blue
> – She publicly thanked director Rob Marshall, 65, for inspiring her love of movie musicals
> – Hudson stars opposite Hugh Jackman, 57, as half of a Neil Diamond tribute duo
> – Why it matters: The win positions Hudson as a Golden Globe contender and spotlights her musical range
The Palm Springs International Film Festival’s awards gala on Jan. 3 turned into a love letter to movie musicals when Kate Hudson accepted the Icon Award and singled out director Rob Marshall as the spark behind her vocal ambitions.
The Award Night Tribute
Stepping onstage, Hudson recalled filming Marshall’s 2009 musical Nine:
> “You are directly responsible for giving me the movie musical bug.”
She remembered:
- Six weeks of rehearsals
- Dancing in a 15-lb. crystal costume and losing 5 lbs. during two days of filming
- Full-performance takes that made her wish she “could do this forever”
Calling the experience “one of the great joys” of her career, Hudson told Marshall she loved him and said the moment felt “very full-circle.”
The Film Behind the Honor
In Song Sung Blue, Hudson and Hugh Jackman portray real-life Milwaukee couple Claire and Mike Sardina, whose Neil Diamond tribute act, Lightning & Thunder, became a local phenomenon.
Festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi praised Hudson’s performance as “deeply moving,” noting her ability to balance “warmth, vulnerability and musical confidence.”
Hudson also thanked:
- Neil Diamond for granting access to his catalog
- Hugh Jackman and the cast
- The film’s crew
| Awards Season Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Palm Springs Icon Award | Jan. 3, 2026 |
| Golden Globe nomination | Jan. 11, 2026 |
Key Takeaways
- Hudson’s musical passion traces back to Nine, directed by Rob Marshall
- Song Sung Blue expands her range into biographical musical drama
- The Palm Springs win boosts her visibility before the Golden Globes
- The film is in theaters now
Her on-stage gratitude underscored how one earlier musical role continues to shape a career now celebrated for its versatility.
