Sibling Revelry with Kate & Oliver Hudson

Episode: "OBSESSED with Kate’s ‘Song Sung Blue’ Co-Stars"

Date: December 15, 2025
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of Sibling Revelry dives deep into the creative and emotional experiences behind the film Song Sung Blue, with co-host Kate Hudson and brother Oliver Hudson joined by Frances McDormand and her “daughters” from the movie: rising actress Ella Anderson and acclaimed musician-turned-actor Michaela Straus (KP, aka King Princess). The conversation explores sibling dynamics, creative upbringings, transitioning between music and acting, stories from set, and what it means to be part of a project with deep personal resonance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reunions, Music, and the Small World of Showbiz

• [04:01] Frances McDormand reflects on reconnecting with old friends in the music world, recounting a night performing Neil Diamond songs at the Peppermint Lounge, and how the music scene is “really, really small.”

“There's something about the music world. It's really, really small.” — Frances McDormand (05:58)

• The joy and nostalgia of being surrounded by “road” people—those who live the touring musician’s life—underscores much of the movie and the episode’s vibe.

2. Introducing the ‘Daughters’: Ella Anderson & KP (King Princess)

• [06:37] Kate and Frances introduce their co-stars, praising Ella's talent and KP’s musical prowess.
• [07:49] Oliver Hudson describes his and his family’s delight upon discovering KP on SNL, and shares the family Henry Danger marathon—a nod to Ella’s Nickelodeon fame.

3. Upbringings and Family Dynamics

Ella Anderson’s Michigan-to-LA Journey

• [10:05] Ella recounts growing up outside Detroit before her family relocated to Los Angeles due to her dad's job and her early love for acting, coupled with two older twin brothers and creative, musical parents.

“My parents aren’t like accountants. They don’t—they’re creatives…music was like the pillar for everything.” — Ella Anderson (21:53)

KP’s (Michaela) Brooklyn Music Factory Childhood

• [13:45] KP grew up in a Williamsburg, Brooklyn factory apartment that doubled as her father’s recording studio—constant noise, early musical obsession, and the unusual “normalcy” of living inside music.

“You just couldn’t keep me out of the studio…I think it was just an obsession. I think it was innate.” — KP (Michaela) (16:15)

4. The Musician-Actor Crossover

• Both KP and Ella reflect on how their creative families shaped them, and how these backgrounds informed their performances in Song Sung Blue.
• [21:53] Ella discusses music as part of her identity, but acting as her current focus—writing songs happened “organically” through family proximity and inspiration.
• [24:36] KP notes how cathartic it was to play an acting-heavy role without music, relating strongly to the film’s themes of growing up the child of working-class musicians:

“It’s about a family that is kind of subservient to music. The kids are—you don’t choose where you’re born into…our family was, you know, we’re children of working class musicians, which I relate to.” — KP (Michaela) (24:36)

5. Audition and Casting Stories

KP’s Experience:

• Describes doing two auditions, feeling oddly natural as the “daughter of an alcoholic.”

“They were like, wow, you’re really good at playing the daughter of an alcoholic. And I was like, yeah.” — KP (Michaela) (26:41)

Ella’s Self-Tape Rollercoaster:

• Details a comically grueling audition process, recording and deleting takes, convinced she was a longshot, then scrambling to Zoom from abroad for a callback.

“I literally was like, there’s no way I’m getting this. This is a waste of my fucking time [laughs]…I didn’t even think it was feasible.” — Ella Anderson (27:04)

6. On-Set Experiences and Creative Atmosphere

• Both guests admit to initial nerves on set, but were quickly put at ease by the collaborative, welcoming environment.
• [35:38] Ella: “My first impressions, you guys were better than I hoped, honestly…you’re a container for a party [to Kate]…KP is just the coolest fucking person alive!”
• [43:42] KP expresses awe at meeting Hugh Jackman (“that's Wolverine, dude”) and being immediately starstruck yet welcomed.

7. The Work and the Roles

• Frances and Kate praise Ella’s subtle, emotionally-charged performance, with Frances dubbing it a “career-changing performance” and calling her gift “sad magic.”

“Your audition…it’s like a little bit of sad magic. That was kind of so compelling. It’s a career changing performance.” — Frances McDormand (41:28)

• The conversation explores the “watchful, gatekeeper” dynamic both daughters embody as children of struggling, flawed artists, and how it resonates for audiences growing up with vulnerable parents.

8. Set Memories, Humor, and Bonding

• The group shares laughs about on-set habits, with KP admitting to vaping in the car during scenes (“I get away with a lot, I think, because I’m a musician.” — 31:29).
• They tease Hugh Jackman’s physique and disciplined meal prep—“legs like a grasshopper, stunning legs, wears a bootcut jean…” (KP, 48:01).

9. Reflections on the Film’s Tone & Impact

• The hosts and guests contrast Song Sung Blue’s uplifting, throwback feel against the “trauma porn” or “corny” tendencies of some modern musical films:

“Movies used to be like this…even through tragedy, it was still uplifting and felt good, you know?” — Kate Hudson (53:06) “Rock and roll movies can lean really trauma porny or corny vibes, and this is right in the middle…you get the sadness, but you get [the joy].” — KP (Michaela) (53:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You just couldn’t keep me out of the studio…I think it was just an obsession. I think it was innate.” — KP (Michaela), 16:15
• “My parents aren’t like accountants…music was like the pillar for everything.” — Ella Anderson, 21:53
• “Your audition…it’s like a little bit of sad magic…It’s a career changing performance.” — Frances McDormand, 41:28
• “I saw you and I was like, that’s my girl…We were gonna party, and we did.” — KP (Michaela) to Frances, 44:57, 45:21
• “I describe it as like—you have the people who design the Audis, and then you have the actual mechanics who build them. That’s the engineers…in a lot of ways, this family, Mike and Claire, are…the mechanics.” — KP (Michaela), 25:08
• “I have to pretend to be straight women. So I have wigs now.” — KP (Michaela), 32:13

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:00–06:37: Frances recounts music world stories, introduces episode theme.
• 07:20–09:10: Ella and KP join, share introductions and early rapport with hosts.
• 10:05–14:13: Ella and KP on their upbringings, sibling and family creative dynamics.
• 21:27–26:39: On crossing between music and acting, film-specific connections.
• 26:41–30:10: Candid and humorous recounting of audition experiences.
• 35:20–37:00: First impressions from set; praise for cast chemistry.
• 41:28–44:57: Frances calls Ella’s performance “sad magic”—cast reflect on the weight of roles.
• 47:06–49:35: Laughter and stories about Hugh Jackman’s physique, personal habits.
• 53:06–54:59: Group reflects on the old-school, uplifting emotional core of the film.

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is intimate, irreverent, and supportive—true to the Sibling Revelry tradition. Personal revelations, banter, and mutual admiration abound amidst thoughtful discussions about family, creativity, resilience, and what it means to find your place in both art and life.

“You have to check out KP’s music, see her on the road…We want you to see our movie because we all love it and we’re really proud. Hopefully you guys will all check it out and these amazing young actors in it.” — Frances McDormand (54:17)

Summary by Sibling Revelry Podcast Summaries
For more, check out Song Sung Blue and the full histories of these creative guests!