The Inspiring True Story Behind Song Sung Blue

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Coming out December 25th, the movie Song Sung Blue features Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as a married couple who perform together in a band that celebrates the music of Neil Diamond.

The film is based on the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a couple from Wisconsin who performed Neil Diamond covers as “Lightning and Thunder.” Director Craig Brewer tells the story of how they met, found success playing music in Milwaukee, overcame a serious accident, and eventually returned to performing.

The film is based on Greg Kohs’ documentary of the same name, Song Sung Blue, inspired by a popular Neil Diamond song. Brewer first saw Kohs’ documentary at the Indie Memphis film festival. Kohs, who also co-wrote the 2025 version of Song Sung Blue, allowed Sardinas to film behind-the-scenes footage for his documentary, and Brewer incorporated some of that footage into his own film.

Mike Sardina died in 2006. Claire, the real-life inspiration for Kate Hudson’s character in the film, recently discussed how the movie captured the ups and downs of her professional life in a Zoom interview.

The making of Lightning and Thunder

Mike and Claire both sang covers of popular songs around Milwaukee. One day, Mike – who went by the nickname “Lightning” – called Claire and playfully asked her to be his musical partner, calling himself “Lightning” and suggesting she be his “Thunder.”

It wasn’t easy to gain a following. As depicted in the film, they were actually booed off stage at a Chicago biker bar early on. However, after playing at large events like Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair, their fanbase began to grow. A real turning point came in 1995 when they shared the stage with Pearl Jam, opening for them and even performing “Forever in Blue Jeans” with Eddie Vedder – that’s when people really started to notice them.

The more Claire and her future husband performed together, the closer they became, eventually falling in love. They had a unique wedding at the Wisconsin State Fair, where Claire wore a white cowboy hat. Claire, who was raising two children – a son, Hudson Hensley, and a daughter, Ella Anderson – while receiving public assistance, has always considered their romance a dream come true.

Sardina fondly remembers singing “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” with Mike as a special moment. She describes how he would hold her hand and they’d dance together on stage while he sang the song, making it feel like they were the only two people there. It was a very intimate and cherished experience for her.

Thunder is struck

On May 10, 1999, Claire was gardening in her front yard when a runaway car struck her, resulting in the amputation of part of her left leg.

Mike promised to support Claire no matter what challenges they faced. In a documentary called Song Sung Blue, he explained, “I love Claire completely. I’ll be there for her in every way possible – I’ll help her with everything she needs.”

The movie shows a difficult time for Kate Hudson’s character as she battles severe depression. She becomes unable to function, struggling to even get out of bed and, at one point, neglecting her children. As she tries to manage her condition with medication, she experiences paranoia, hallucinations, and distorted thinking. Her family ultimately has her admitted to a psychiatric hospital after finding her singing outside late one night.

Although the scene is fictional, Claire says it’s her favorite because it perfectly reflects how she felt at the time. She describes watching it as if she were reliving the experience, and was deeply moved by how accurately the actress portrayed her emotions.

Once Claire recovered enough to perform again, she would sit in a wheelchair on stage, or pretend to play the keyboard even though she couldn’t. She described simply going through the motions, making keyboard sounds as if she were actually playing.

After receiving a prosthetic leg, she regained her mobility on stage during performances. She returned to events like Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair, and the film shows her performing with Mike, who was working as a karaoke host at a local Asian restaurant. The movie beautifully captures her spirit when she declares, “The accident took my leg, but I refused to let it silence my voice.”

Brewer titled his 2025 film Song Sung Blue to reflect a message of hope and resilience. He explains it’s not a song of sadness, but rather one of encouragement, meant to offer comfort during difficult times and remind viewers they can overcome challenges. He believes the film’s core theme is perfectly captured by the title, ‘Song Sung Blue.’

Where is Claire Sardina today?

She splits her time between two homes: a trailer in Wisconsin, where she’s close to her daughter, and a place in Apache Junction, near her son who lives in Phoenix.

You wouldn’t believe this woman! At 64, she’s still performing – and she actually broke into a rendition of The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” right over Zoom! She’s got this fantastic duo called Thunder After Lightning with a guy named Toney Luciano, who she affectionately calls her “Claire-giver” because he helps her manage everything. They do a lot of disco, but also covers of classics by Abba, Blondie, and even Patsy Cline. She’s a karaoke queen and loves jumping on stage with live bands whenever she gets the chance. Seriously, she’s a total pro and still has so much energy!

She still enjoys listening to Neil Diamond, finding his music comforting when she’s feeling down or stressed – she even sings along to ‘Sweet Caroline’! She met Neil in 2008, a couple of years after her husband, Mike, passed away, and he promised to visit her whenever he’s in Milwaukee.

Twenty-six years after the accident, and after a difficult period, she says she’s doing better now. When asked about the impact of her injury, she explains that it’s just become a normal part of her life, similar to managing a condition like diabetes – she simply removes her prosthetic leg each night.

She wants audiences who’ve faced challenges – whether physical or emotional – to leave the movie feeling hopeful and empowered, realizing they can overcome difficulties or learn from tough times.

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2025-12-25 16:09