Song Sung Blue is a biographical musical drama now streaming on Peacock, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Mike and Claire Sardina, who is nominated for Best Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Based on the documentary of the same name, Song Sung Blue follows the real-life couple who rose to fame in the ’80s and ’90s with their Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline tribute band, Lightning & Thunder. The pair married in 1994.
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They regularly performed in the Midwest and opened for major acts like Pearl Jam.
In 1999, Claire was seriously injured after being struck by a car while gardening, resulting in the loss of her leg. Despite the life-changing injury, she continued performing with a prosthetic. In 2006, Mike passed away after suffering a head injury from a fall.
Claire went on to perform solo under the name Thunder After Lightning, and earlier this year, she and the band’s legacy were honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI).
She is still performing and has several shows in Milwaukee in the coming months, including a performance at a Neil Diamond tribute show.
Was Kate Hudson really singing in Song Sung Blue? Find out here.
