Kate Hudson called Rob Marshall the architect of her musical journey, crediting him for sparking her passion for film musicals — a revelation that resonates deeply as she prepares for Golden Globe contention in her new role in Song Sung Blue.
Kate Hudson is not just a star — she’s a musical artist in the making, and she’s publicly credited director Rob Marshall for being the spark that ignited her love for musical theater. At the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s glamorous awards gala on January 3, 2026, Hudson received the Icon Award for her performance in Song Sung Blue, and she used the moment to thank Marshall — the man who directed her in the 2009 film Nine — for giving her “the movie musical bug.”
“You are directly responsible for giving me the movie musical bug,” Hudson told Marshall, a sentiment that underscores how deeply his work shaped her artistic evolution. The actress, 46, didn’t just speak to Marshall’s influence — she detailed the physical and emotional toll of her role as Vogue fashion journalist Stephanie Necrophorus in Nine, recalling six weeks of rehearsals, three giant fans for dramatic hair, and a 15-pound crystal costume she danced in for two days — losing five pounds in the process.
“It was a lot of performance, full performance takes, and it made me think that I wish I could do this forever,” she told Marshall. “Yes, Song Sung Blue is a very different kind of sparkle, but somehow this feels very full-circle. So thank you, and I love you.”
Marshall, who directed the romantic musical drama loosely based on the stage musical of the same name, was clearly moved by her words. The film’s legacy — and Hudson’s role within it — has become a cornerstone of her career, and now, with her performance in Song Sung Blue, she’s proving that her musical journey is far from over.
In Craig Brewer’s Song Sung Blue, Hudson and Hugh Jackman play the real-life Claire and Mike Sardina, a Milwaukee couple who formed the hit Neil Diamond tribute band, Lightning & Thunder. The film, which is now in theaters, showcases Hudson’s ability to blend heart, grit, and musical confidence — a skill she attributes, in part, to her time working with Marshall.
“Working with you was one of the great joys of my career,” Hudson told Marshall during her speech, a sentiment that resonates with fans who have followed her journey from her breakout role in Almost Famous to her fearless turns in romance, comedy, and drama.
After her award win, Hudson will be a contender at the January 11 Golden Globe Awards for her lead performance. “Kate Hudson’s turn in Song Sung Blue is deeply moving, bringing warmth, vulnerability and musical confidence to a role that demands both heart and grit,” Palm Springs International Film Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a December 9 statement.
Her performance has already been lauded as a career-defining moment — a full-circle moment that ties back to her early days in musical theater. And while Marshall’s role in Nine was a turning point, Hudson’s work in Song Sung Blue proves that her musical journey is just beginning.
During her acceptance speech, Hudson also thanked Neil Diamond for “his generosity and allowing us to explore his catalog of music,” as well as Jackman and the rest of the Song Sung Blue cast. Her gratitude extended to the entire ensemble, and her words resonated with fans who have followed her career for decades.
Other honorees at the Palm Springs International Film Festival included Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Sandler, and Michael B. Jordan — a testament to the festival’s commitment to celebrating the most talented artists in film.
As Hudson prepares for the Golden Globes, fans are eager to see if her performance in Song Sung Blue will earn her the recognition she deserves. And with her heartfelt tribute to Marshall — and her acknowledgment of how his work changed her life — it’s clear that her journey is far from over. She’s not just a star — she’s a musical artist in the making, and she’s just getting started.
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