Kate Hudson's Nomination Reveals How the Oscars Work
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced, bringing a mix of surprises and snubs. Sandwiched between Rose Byrne and Renate Reinsve was Kate Hudson, nominated for Lead Actress for her turn in Song Sung Blue, a performance that generated Oscar buzz after its premiere at the AFI Film Festival last October.
Hudson first broke out in Almost Famous, winning a Golden Globe and earning a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, but her career never followed a straight path back to awards contention. In Song Sung Blue she plays Claire Sardina, part of a Neil Diamond tribute act, and many have called it her best work since Penny Lane; the film’s familiar emotional beats and clear “Oscar clip” moments make it quintessential Academy fare and especially appealing to older voters.
Narrative and campaigning played a clear role this season.