Spoiler alert! We're discussing key plot points in the movie "Song Sung Blue" (in theaters now). Beware if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know.
You have to brace yourself for"Song Sung Blue."
The actual story of real-life Neil Diamond "interpreter" Mike Sardina(played by Hugh Jackman) and his wife Claire (Kate Hudson) − the husband-and-wife duo known as Lightning & Thunder − has more drama than the movie. The struggling musicians rose to regional stardom in the 1990s, admired by superfans like Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, before facing staggering life setbacks.
Many of these obstacles are depicted in director Greg Koh's 2008 documentary (also called "Song Sung Blue"), which followed the Sardinas for eight years and inspired writer and director Craig Brewer to make the new film.
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Mike died in 2006. But Claire, 64, tells USA TODAY that she cried watching the movie at a private screening set up for her family, including her two grown children, Dayna and Rachel, from a previous marriage.
"We relived it all. Thank God we had a box of tissues," says Claire Sardina. "The movie isbasedon a true story. There's some Hollywood there. But it's pretty spot-on."
Here's what's true and what's not in "Song Sung Blue."
Claire and Mike met as middle-aged divorcés and became a star couple
"Song Sung Blue" shows the two performers meeting at the Wisconsin State Fair. In reality, the two met because Claire was a fan of Mike's band, Positive Traction, and even submitted a blind audition tape in 1987. When the divorcés subsequently met at a gig, Mike told her, "You're more beautiful than I ever imagined." In 1989, Mike started Lightning & Thunder with Claire.
"We were supposed to be business associates," says Sardina, who says the duo ended up parking by a lake after their first work meeting. "It turned into love."
Mike morphed into a full-time Diamond performer in Lightning & Thunder, and the duo often performed at the state fair. The couple even famously held their 1994 wedding during a set break at the Wisconsin fair. With their blended families (Mike had two children from his earlier marriage), the duo experienced more than a decade of success and heartbreak together.
"Mike changed my life. I wanted to be with him 24/7. He was my soulmate," says Sardina.
Lightning & Thunder opened for superfan Eddie Vedder
Vedder was an even bigger fan of Lightning & Thunder than shown in the movie. The duo also opened for Pearl Jam on a bigger stage, in front of a sold-out Summerfest in Milwaukee's Marcus Amphitheater in July 1995, and they returned for an encore.
"After my marriage to Lightning, and my children's birth, it was the greatest moment in my life," says Sardina. "There were 40,000 people singing 'Forever in Blue Jeans.' "
Lightning & Thunder took off when the duo booked gigs in Chicago, like at the House of Blues. "All due to Eddie and Pearl Jam," says Sardina.
Not shown in "Song Sung Blue": Vedder sent a touching two-page letter to Claire after Mike died, along with his Gibson guitar. "It's my prized possession," says Sardina.
Claire Sardina really did get hit by a car while gardening: 'The ultimate shock'
The filmmakers have prepared audiences in the trailer for the impactful scene in which Claire is gardening in her front yard when a car careens off the road and hits her. It still brings an audible gasp in theaters.
The freak accident happened in 1999, and it's depicted wildly close to how it occurred.
"I was gardening in my front yard and a car came up on my property and ran over me," Sardina says. "People are always like 'Oh, my gosh!' when I tell them."
She recalls very little of the aftermath, which involved an emergency hospital airlift and the amputation of her left leg below the knee.
"There's the feeling of slow motion as it happened that people talk about. And then I was in shock," Sardina says. "I could hear voices, but I felt no pain. It was the ultimate shock."
Another car hit the Sardinas' home, proving lightning can strike twice
As Claire dealt with the trauma of the accident, and the family navigated financial problems, another car ran into the house about two years later. No one was injured.
"That was shocking," says Sardina, who didn't have the cathartic laugh seen in the movie. There was a humorous aspect to the TV interview Claire gave after the accident. "When I was interviewed for one station, I was wearing a T-shirt for the competing news station. I still laugh about that."
Singer and songwriter Neil Diamond's music career spans five decades, marked by beloved hits and global acclaim. A look back at his years in music ahead of the Diamond-inspired movie "Song Sung Blue," starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Here, Diamond is seen in London for his first British concert during a tour of Europe in 1971." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The musician concentrates during a chess game in 1972." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond relaxes with his guitar in 1979, shortly before making his film debut in a remake of "The Jazz Singer."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond, left, and Waylon Jennings, second from right, get makeup while shooting a video in Nashville on Jan. 16, 1996, for their duet "One Good Love." The tune appears on Diamond's "Tennessee Moon" album." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Amanda Peet and performer Neil Diamond arrive at the premiere of "Saving Silverman" on Feb. 7, 2001, in Westwood, California. Diamond makes a cameo in the movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs on the "Today" show on May 6, 2005, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond sings the national anthem prior to Super Bowl XXI between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 25, 1987, in Pasadena, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs on Day 3 of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, on June 29, 2008." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond (left) and Jeremy Piven attend Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals during the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 12, 2009, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Faith Hill and honoree Neil Diamond perform at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Feb. 6, 2009." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond on the Mount Rushmore float as it makes its way down Seventh Avenue through Times Square during the 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York Nov. 24, 2011. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors pose with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) and former President Bill Clinton (right) following a dinner at the State Department on Dec. 3, 2011, in Washington. Front: Sonny Rollins and Barbara Cook. Back: Yo-Yo Ma, Meryl Streep and Neil Diamond." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs during the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2011, in Las Vegas." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs during the 26th anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Oct. 20, 2012, in California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond (left) and George Clooney perform during the Carousel of Hope Ball." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond attends a ceremony honoring him with the 2,475th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Aug. 10, 2012." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond sings "Sweet Caroline" during a game between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox in the 8th inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2013, in Boston." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs during A Capitol Fourth, an Independence Day concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on July 4, 2013, in Washington." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs on NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza on Oct. 20, 2014, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs at the 84th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 30, 2016, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond performs at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, on April 26, 2017." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond signs autographs at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 49th annual induction and awards dinner at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 14, 2018, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond hoists his award during the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond attends the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond and wife Katie Diamond attend the 39th annual Carousel Ball at Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center on Oct. 11, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Neil Diamond, inspirational lifetime achievement award recipient, performs during the 39th annual Carousel Ball in 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> See Neil Diamond and his career in music ahead of 'Song Sung Blue'
Singer and songwriter Neil Diamond's music career spans five decades, marked by beloved hits and global acclaim. A look back at his years in music ahead of the Diamond-inspired movie"Song Sung Blue,"starringHugh Jackmanand Kate Hudson.Here, Diamond is seen in London for his first British concert during a tour of Europe in 1971.
Mike Sardina's tragic death was different than shown the film
Lightning & Thunder did make a comeback. But Mike's sad death did not come in the back of the car before meeting Diamond, as seen onscreen.
In real life, Mike hit his head on a dresser − not a sink − before a July 2006 show.
"Mike refused to have treatment because we had a gig coming up," says Sardina. "And he deteriorated after that."
After a playing a show a week later, Mike finally went to the hospital, where doctors discovered bleeding around his brain. He died after surgery at age 55 on July 27, 2006.
While Mike never met Diamond, Claire met the singer backstage before his Milwaukee concert in November 2008.
"He was the most gracious man on Earth and treated me as if we were best friends," says Sardina.
She believes her departed husband is enjoying the movie from beyond.
"Mike is taking all of this in. He's here," says Sardina. "But I know he's performing in heaven right now. Because that was his passion."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is 'Song Sung Blue' based on a true story? Real Claire fact checks