NEED TO KNOW
Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman made a surprise appearance at Old Mates Pub in New York City on Monday, Dec. 1The Song Sung Blue costars covered three Neil Diamond songs: “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Crunchy Granola Suite” and “Sweet Caroline”Sutton Foster also supported Jackman at the pop-up show right after their date night at the 2025 Gotham Awards
Good times never seemed so good until Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson had a full bar singing along to “Sweet Caroline.”
Straight after attending the 2025 Gotham Awards in New York City on Monday, Dec. 1, Jackman, 57, and Hudson, 46, brought the party to the Australian bar Old Mates Pub with creators network Syndicate11.
The costars, who play members of a Neil Diamond tribute band in the upcoming movie Song Sung Blue, surprised patrons with a performance of three Diamond hits: “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Crunchy Granola Suite” and “Sweet Caroline.”
Still in his awards show attire, the Greatest Showman actor joked, “Guys, it’s black tie, you didn’t get the memo?”
He continued, “We’re gonna sing a few songs. Well, when I say we, we all are going to sing a few songs, but I have a very special guest here tonight. Please make her welcome: the one, the only Kate Hudson!”
Sutton Foster, Jackman’s girlfriend, also joined the fun at Old Mates after the couple’s date night at the Gotham Awards. The Tony winner, 50, looked on and recorded the pair as they got the crowd going to “Sweet Caroline.”
During the song, the Wolverine actor made his way through the audience to climb atop the bar counter, asking everyone to “raise the roof.” Amid chants for an encore, Jackman closed out their impromptu show by engaging in the Old Mates’ tradition of allowing VIP guests to ring a bell.
Earlier in the night, Jackman and Hudson accepted the inaugural Gotham Musical Tribute award for their roles as Mike and Claire Sardina, the husband-and-wife musical duo who formed Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder.
According to a press release from the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the award honors the stars “for their outstanding musical performances that capture the heart and soul of Neil Diamond’s timeless music on the big screen.”
Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
Dia Dipasupil/WireImage
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Hudson is earning Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Claire, but she told PEOPLE on the Gotham Awards red carpet, “You never know with these things. I’ve been around now long enough to know just to enjoy that people are really loving the movie.”
The film — which also stars Michael Imperioli, musician King Princess, Jim Belushi and more — depicts “two down-on-their-luck musicians” who “form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams,” per a synopsis.
Song Sung Blue is in theaters Dec. 25.