Kate Hudson’s Song Sung Blue performance has received mixed reactions ahead of the 2026 Oscars.
The musical drama puts the spotlight on Wisconsin couple Claire and Mike Sardina, who founded the Neil Diamond tribute band, Lightning & Thunder.
While Hudson’s performance as Claire earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars, one member of the Sardina family has been outspoken about his disapproval for the project.
“Everybody thinks it’s such a wonderful film [and] it’s so touching. It’s all lies,” Claire and Mike’s son, Michael Sardina Jr., told the Daily Mail in December 2025. “It steals all the hard work that my father put in his entire life.”
Hudson doesn’t appear to have any regrets about participating in the film, however, describing the project as rewarding.
“This family has been through it. But playing a part like that is a thrill for an actor,” she explained on a January 2026 episode of “The Awardist” podcast. “That’s kind of why we love the challenge of getting inside of characters that are so full, that bring so much for us to be able to tackle. There’s certain versions of it that you get, but this one was like, wow, you get to run the spectrum.”
Keep reading to learn more about the controversy surrounding Song Sung Blue.
What Does Mike and Claire Sardina’s Family Think of ‘Song Sung Blue’?
Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina, Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection
In a December 2025 interview with the Daily Mail, Mike and Claire Sardina’s son, Michael Sardina Jr., spoke out against Song Sung Blue.
“My father’s rolling in his grave right now,” he claimed. “[They] completely destroyed the one thing my father worked his entire life to pass on — his legacy.”
Michael claimed his existence was “purposely cut out of the film” and said he was paid a “pathetic” $30,000 to serve as a consultant.
Mike and Claire’s son also expressed disappointment that Hudson and Hugh Jackman — who plays Mike Sardina in the film — allegedly didn’t contact him prior or during the making of the film.
“Every interview that those monsters have been on national television don’t even mention my existence at all,” he also alleged to the Daily Mail. “Even though I was the most prevalent force in my father’s life, even when I wasn’t in Wisconsin, because I’m his only son.”
What Does Kate Hudson Think About the Sardina Family’s Comments?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kate Hudson was asked about the criticism from one family member.
“Honestly, I don’t even know — out of respect for our filmmakers, I’m not the right person to speak to it,” she told the publication in January 2026 before sharing her current status with Claire Sardina. “I’m so happy that I got to know Claire, who’s such a wonderful woman, and she’s so happy with the movie.”
The Academy Awards are supposed to be the pinnacle of the movie industry, but not every Hollywood superstar dreams of winning an Oscar. Katharine Hepburn holds the all-time record for most acting wins at the Oscars, having received the Best Actress trophy four times. However, the Hollywood icon never once showed up to collect her […]
What Was Kate Hudson’s Reaction to Her 2026 Oscars Nomination?
Kate Hudson celebrated her second Oscar nomination with her mom, Goldie Hawn, and family by her side.
“What a beautiful morning,” Hudson wrote via Instagram after the nominees were revealed. “Oh my God, you guys! Oh my God, I’m so happy!”
Hudson was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Penny Lane in the 2000 movie Almost Famous.
What Did Mike and Claire Sardina’s Family Think About Kate Hudson’s Oscar Nomination?
Mike Sardina Jr. was quick to criticize the Academy for giving Kate Hudson a nomination for her role in Song Sung Blue.
“’I thought her performance was weak. I have no idea why everyone is kissing her rear over it,” he told the Daily Mail in January 2026. “The story was weak and the acting was not pleasant on the eyes or ears.”
Mike Jr’s sister Angelina, however, had a different point of view on the nomination, praising Hudson’s portrayal.
“I think Kate did a great job,” Angelina said of the actress’ ability to channel her stepmom, before describing Hudson’s nomination as “well-deserved” and her work in the movie as “outstanding.”
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images If Kate Hudson’s dreams come true, she’ll one day be playing Stevie Nicks in a biopic. “I think for all girls who love rock, Stevie’s just our No. 1,” Hudson, 45, told Rolling Stone in an interview published on Sunday, June 2. “Her whole life experience and the music. Fleetwood Mac, that […]
What Do Critics Think of Kate Hudson’s Portrayal of Claire Sardina?
Before Oscar nominations were announced, both Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman received positive reviews for their portrayals of Claire and Mike Sardina.
“The chemistry between Jackman and Hudson makes you root for their characters as a couple and as a music act,” The Hollywood Reporter stated in October 2025.
Variety added, “Jackman, with his scuffed fortitude, and Hudson, radiating a stubborn wholesomeness, have an easy-listening camaraderie, to the point that when Mike and Claire fall in love and get married, it feels both casual and inevitable.”