Kate Hudson Plays Real Musician Claire Sardina in Song Sung Blue

Kate Hudson earned her second Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Claire Sardina in Song Sung Blue, a film based on the real-life Milwaukee tribute act. Hudson is nominated in the Actress in a Leading Role category alongside Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone and Rose Byrne.

The movie follows husband-and-wife duo Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as a Neil Diamond tribute called Lightning & Thunder. The couple began performing in 1989, married at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1994 and covered artists from Neil Diamond to Blondie, ABBA and Patsy Cline through the early 2000s.

Directed by Craig Brewer, the feature adapts Greg Koh’s 2008 documentary and recreates the 1999 freak accident that changed Claire Sardina’s life, as well as the injury to her husband seven years later that led to his death at 55.

kate hudson, claire sardina, song sung, academy award, neil diamond, tribute act, craig brewer, greg koh, milwaukee, jessie buckley