Song Sung Blue closed out AFI FEST on Sunday night, and reactions have poured in. This is said to be a real crowdpleaser with a little bit of everything. The first half charms as a sunny, lighthearted jukebox musical, while the second veers into melodrama and tragedy. If you know the story of Lightning and Thunder, the Neil Diamond tribute act, you'll understand why.
It's the sort of reception which indicates general audiences will love it. After all, Focus Features has it slated to open Christmas Day. Meanwhile, it's received a tepid response from critics. Some casted it as overstuffed and melodramatic, even silly. Others praised it as joyful and sincere. My guess is it lands a 3.2 on Letterboxd, between 60 and 70 on Rotten Tomatoes, and between 50 and 60 on Metacritic.
Since a Best Picture nomination seems to be a long shot, it looks like the only nomination this film will contend for is Best Actress, where Kate Hudson looks like a serious prospect. Prior to the film's premiere, we saw major outlets like Variety sticking her in the predictions, apparently having received word from the studio that they're trying hard to get Kate Hudson a nomination. Following the premiere, there's been no shortage of praise for her performance.
Kate Hudson's Oscar Narrative: 1. Career-Best Performance; 2. Comeback Narrative; 3. In a Musical Biopic
A nomination for Hudson would fit into a "comeback" narrative we've seen fuel Oscar campaigns in the past. Her last and only nomination was 25 years ago for Almost Famous. Her most recent work on awards voters radars was her supporting role in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which received a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. And it's easy to forget that she received a Golden Globe nomination in 2021 for Sia's Music, which was one of the most surprising Golden Globe nominations ever. That said,her role in Song Sung Blue is easily her most significant in recent years and many are saying it's the best performance of her career, period.
It's hardly too late to crash the Best Actress race this year, as there are only three performances that feel secure in the category -- Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Cynthia Erivo for Wicked: For Good. Other contenders include Emma Stone for Bugonia, Amanda Seyfried for The Testament of Ann Lee, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, and Chase Infinity for One Battle After Another. It's difficult to be nominated for a film not in Best Picture, and especially so if you're the film's only prospect. But not for biopics -- music biopics especially. Examples include Cynthia Erivo for Harriet, Ana de Armas for Blonde, Renee Zelwegger for Judy, and Jessica Chastain for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. In that sense, Hudson has a leg up on her competitors (though Amanda Seyfried is technically in a music biopic, just not a conventional one).
Song Sung Blue's performance at the box office will be important for Kate Hudson stay in the conversation as voting occurs in early January. Expect her to show up at the Golden Globes and perhaps Critics Choice and SAG. Her nomination on Oscar morning will depend if her competition is strong enough, but given two slots in this category are anybody's game, it's looking good for her.
Predictions from Award Expert users
Best Actress
2026 Academy Awards
4,638 usersNov 8, 4:29 AM
1
Jessie Buckley
Hamnet
WIN:89%
3%
change over 30 days
NOM:97%
1
Jessie Buckley
Hamnet
WIN:89%
3%
change over 30 days
NOM:97%
2
Renate Reinsve
Sentimental Value
WIN:3%
2%
change over 30 days
NOM:93%
1%
change over 30 days
2
Renate Reinsve
Sentimental Value
WIN:3%
2%
change over 30 days
NOM:93%
1%
change over 30 days
3
Cynthia Erivo
Wicked: For Good
WIN:2%
NOM:85%
3%
change over 30 days
3
Cynthia Erivo
Wicked: For Good
WIN:2%
NOM:85%
3%
change over 30 days
4
Amanda Seyfried
The Testament of Ann Lee
WIN:1%
NOM:64%
4
Amanda Seyfried
The Testament of Ann Lee
WIN:1%
NOM:64%
5
Emma Stone
Bugonia
WIN:1%
NOM:57%
11%
change over 30 days
5
Emma Stone
Bugonia
WIN:1%
NOM:57%
11%
change over 30 days
6
Chase Infiniti
One Battle After Another
WIN:1%
NOM:43%
13%
change over 30 days
6
Chase Infiniti
One Battle After Another
WIN:1%
NOM:43%
13%
change over 30 days
7
Rose Byrne
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
WIN:1%
NOM:31%
1%
change over 30 days
7
Rose Byrne
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
WIN:1%
NOM:31%
1%
change over 30 days
8
Jennifer Lawrence
Die My Love
WIN:0%
NOM:9%
1%
change over 30 days
8
Jennifer Lawrence
Die My Love
WIN:0%
NOM:9%
1%
change over 30 days
9
Kate Hudson
Song Sung Blue
WIN:0%
NOM:5%
4%
change over 30 days
9
Kate Hudson
Song Sung Blue
WIN:0%
NOM:5%
4%
change over 30 days
10
Julia Roberts
After the Hunt
WIN:0%
NOM:2%
4%
change over 30 days
10
Julia Roberts
After the Hunt
WIN:0%
NOM:2%
4%
change over 30 days
What users are saying
Zohaib
@slayingfashion7502
She's a tricky one for me this year! I feel like I can see her sliding into Globes, then potentially a BAFTA and SAG nom! When I say potentially, I mean potentially.... not in a huge potential but a small potential dependent on how award se …
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
2
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Peter Rabbits Award Buzz
@peterrabbit_4dx
Don’t worry, people.
Kate Hudson will be there no matter what and she has a stronger narrative than last season’s Zoe Saldana. 😁
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
1
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5
Dormtoons
@dormtoons
I remain the same feeling as I did before the AFI premiere, Kate Hudson or bust but she could get in, probably just Golden Globes and SAG though at most
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
2
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6
Scott Kernen
@scottjkernen
About what we thought it was gonna be.
Could get in but my gut says her film lacks passion
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
3
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7
Jack Murphy
@oscarfilmforecast
She is the films only awards prospect. Audience applauded quite loud for her name in the credits. She is actually quite good in it, it’s a baity role. I could see GG & SAG noms and I could see her maybeee being a sole nominee, but for now I …
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
2
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5
6
Adam Hakimi
@adamhakimi05
People who saw it said it’s career best from her but I need to see more reviews before I even consider her in top 5.
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
5
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leastcap
@leastcap
Hudson is getting raves. I’m sure Buckley is good but Hudson is the veteran and in tight races the veteran always wins
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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5
Ava Saks
@ava_saks
I’m not taking it too seriously until reviews but it seems pundits are
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Dormtoons
@dormtoons
Golden Globe cause there’s 6 slots, maybe SAG? And then Critics Choice could do it if they so want to but BAFTA will reject her
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Keaton
@goofyname
I finally found out what happens to her character and you know what actually maybe
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
4
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Rory Glynn
@rorybobglynn
The buzz is good apparently. We’ll see.
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Eren Arda
@erenarda
It’s been 25 years since her first and only nomination and I can see there are a lot of people who’ll be happy to see her getting a recognition which she absolutely deserves. So let’s see..
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
4
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Maxwell Robinson
@mrboyman
I better not be getting gaslighted here. I have no clue what about this performance would have the sauce to make her get in, but everyone seems to be predicting it so fuck it why not.
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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KC
@vamborella
This just seems so on par with the actors left field noms: celebrity, singing, dancing, accents, sequins, feel-good. Plus actors love Hugh Jackman so they will watch this movie 🎭
Actress
2026 SAG
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leastcap
@leastcap
The only reason people don’t want to consider this is because they don’t want to admit Matt Neglia is right! The more I read about the story of her character the more convinced I am that this is baity as fuck and the exact slight eye roll n …
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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5
Mishi Sharpe
@skimblesharpe
I’m doing it… sorry Rose Byrne.
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Joel Melendez
@joelmv06
I’ve seen lately that she might happen? For now 7 makes sense to me.
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Mikey Madison is Anora
@mikeymadisonisanora
I don’t know, I could be wrong about it and I get that the category is very undefined, but I think this is that slow bit of the year before the critics awards that we start to overthink and look for things that never end up happening anyway …
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
5
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Aayush
@aayushdhurka
Unknown commodity but I’m down to see Hudson make an awards campaign run after 25 years ago for one of the greatest films OAT, Almost Famous
Actress
2026 Academy Awards
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Leo Tennison
@leotennison
This could be a really weird/bad movie but her performance could be something
