He is a world famous actor. Yet he still asked, like an excited kid, if he could visit the man whose songs he loves. One bold question turned into a night he will never forget.
It all started after Neil Diamond watched a film that moved him to tears. He was so touched that he picked up the phone and called Hugh Jackman. Most people would freeze at a moment like that, but Hugh did the opposite. He leaned right into it. He asked if he could “come around and have a cuppa or something,” and he meant it.
It was bold, a little awkward, and completely honest. When Neil’s wife called back and mentioned they were in Colorado, Hugh simply asked if he could stay the night. He said it with the excitement of a true fan who could not believe his luck.
Neil Diamond Made Hugh Jackman’s Dreams Come True | The Graham Norton Show
What happened next feels like a once in a lifetime scene. Hugh arrived to find Neil still emotional. Neil hugged him, kissed him on the forehead, and told him, “You did good kid.” Then, during dinner, Neil asked the question no one expects from a legend. “You want to do some karaoke?” Hugh said yes before the words even finished leaving his mouth.
They sang together. They laughed together. They shared songs that shaped both of their lives. There was even a family rule in the Diamond home where everyone must say “so good” twice if someone says it once.
If you ever wondered what kind of performance could move a legend like Neil Diamond so deeply to tears, this is where it all starts. In this live medley from his world tour, Hugh steps into the Les Misérables world that first grabbed Neil by the heart. He sings I Dreamed a Dream and One Day More with the same raw emotion that made Neil pick up the phone and call him in the first place.
Hugh Jackman ~ ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ and ‘One Day More’
“Sweet Caroline” was one of the songs they belted out together in Neil’s home, smiles wide and hearts full. Here, Hugh brings that same joy to a packed house at Radio City Music Hall. He is not just covering a classic hit. He is carrying a memory and sharing it with thousands of people at once.