Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are officially red carpet debuting as a couple. The Greatest Showman star, 57, and the two-time Tony-winning Broadway icon, 50, stepped out together at the world premiere of Song Sung Blue on Sunday, October 26, closing out AFI Fest at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Jackman kept things classic in a sharp black tuxedo, while Foster opted for a sleek, floor-length black satin gown with delicate spaghetti straps. The pair looked relaxed and happy as they posed together, smiling and keeping close for photographers during their first public appearance as a couple.
The actor also shared a few photos with his Song Sung Blue costar Kate Hudson, who turned heads in a silky burnt orange gown. In the film, Jackman and Hudson portray real-life married musicians Mike and Claire Sardina, founders of the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder.
For Jackman, the night also marks a return to a music-forward role after headlining The Greatest Showman and leading the 2022 revival of The Music Man on Broadway alongside Foster. For Foster, whose stage credits include Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie, it’s a high-profile screen showcase opposite two major film names.
AFI Fest Red Carpet Marks Relationship Milestone
Sunday’s premiere marks the first official red carpet appearance for Jackman and Foster, whose relationship first drew headlines earlier this year. The pair — who starred together in The Music Man revival in 2022 — were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles in January. Not long after, they were photographed sharing a kiss while waiting in line at an In-N-Out Burger drive-thru, a candid, low-key moment that all but confirmed what fans were already suspecting.
By February, a source told Us Weekly that the two were “madly in love” and “relieved and happy” to be public after their respective separations. At the time, the insider added that they were not officially living together but were spending a significant amount of time in each other’s orbit.
The AFI Fest outing brings their relationship into an undeniably public space, underscoring a new chapter for both stars. The polished, coordinated appearance was a notable change of pace from the couple’s previously private sightings and casual moments captured by onlookers.
Inside Song Sung Blue: Real-Life Musicians Onscreen
Song Sung Blue centers on Mike and Claire Sardina, a married duo who built a devoted following with their Neil Diamond tribute band, Lightning & Thunder. Jackman and Hudson step into the roles of the couple, bringing to life the emotional and artistic rhythms of a partnership on and off the stage.
While full plot details remain under wraps following its world premiere, the film’s focus on performance, reinvention, and the rigors of life as working musicians plays directly to Jackman’s strengths as a seasoned song-and-dance performer. It also gives Hudson, fresh off acclaimed turns in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and her own musical endeavors, room to lean into her vocal and dramatic chops.
The premiere capped AFI Fest’s closing night, drawing a sizable industry crowd and adding a splash of star power to the festival finale. With Jackman and Foster’s red carpet debut coinciding with the movie’s rollout, the evening offered dual headlines: a buzzy project and a high-profile couple stepping into the spotlight.
Previous Marriages & What They’ve Said
Foster filed for divorce from husband and screenwriter Ted Griffin in October 2024 after nearly a decade of marriage. The former couple share an 8-year-old daughter, whom they welcomed through adoption in 2017. Foster has kept public comments brief as the legal process has unfolded.
Jackman announced his separation from wife Deborra-Lee Furness in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage. In a joint statement at the time, the pair said, “We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” They added that their family “has been and always will be our highest priority,” noting they would navigate the next chapter with “gratitude, love, and kindness.”
Neither Jackman nor Foster has publicly discussed the timeline of their relationship. In November 2024, Us Weekly reported claims from a source alleging overlap between Jackman’s marriage and the start of his relationship with Foster. Screen Rant is not independently verifying those claims, and both performers have maintained privacy regarding the personal details of their romance.
What is clear is that the couple’s latest appearance anchors their evolving story in a professional setting they both know well: the premiere of a music-driven film that plays to their shared theatrical DNA. With Song Sung Blue starting its run on the festival circuit, Jackman and Foster’s relationship took a poised and polished step forward on one of Hollywood’s most visible stages.
As the film moves beyond its AFI Fest debut, attention will likely shift back to the project itself — particularly the performances from Jackman and Hudson as the Sardinas. For now, the red carpet moment belongs to Jackman and Foster, who made their new status official with a confident, camera-ready turn in Hollywood.
