On The Graham Norton Show, Hugh starts telling this sweet, slightly chaotic story about visiting Neil Diamond after the music legend watched his new film, “Song Sung Blue.” Neil loved the movie so much he called Hugh himself. Hugh’s response? Invite himself over for “a cup of tea” in Colorado…which somehow turned into an overnight stay, home karaoke, and a house rule that will live in your head forever.
In Neil’s home, there is one unbreakable rule: if anyone says the words “so good,” two other people must immediately shout back, “So good, so good!” All night. In casual chat. Over food. Between songs. Hugh laughs that it gets old fast, and Kate Hudson, who also visited, confirms every word.
On the surface, it is just a charming story about an 84-year-old icon, a silly game, and a “Sweet Caroline” sing-along. But look a little closer. Hugh is quietly doing something very smart: turning a promo spot into a human moment. Instead of pushing a Christmas release date at you, he lets Neil Diamond’s reaction sell the film for him. If Neil is this moved, how can you not be curious?
When Hugh Jackman did karaoke with Neil Diamond | The Graham Norton Show – BBC
On this UK talk show, Hugh Jackman tells the full story himself, sharing how a quiet visit to Neil Diamond’s house somehow turned into late-night karaoke and a nonstop “Sweet Caroline” call-and-response. Sitting beside co-star Kate Hudson, he even shows the now-famous karaoke photo and laughs through every detail, while she jumps in to confirm that the bizarre house rule is absolutely real.
Neil Diamond made Hugh Jackman’s dreams come true
And to really understand why that tiny phrase took over Neil Diamond’s living room, you have to go back to the source. “Sweet Caroline” live at the Greek Theatre is where the simple line “Good times never seemed so good” turns a crowd into one giant voice, roaring the “so good” reply that Hugh kept bumping into over dinner. It is the moment a song stops being just a hit and becomes a ritual, and suddenly that odd little house rule makes perfect sense.