Kate Hudson was honored with a prestigious award at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and who better to present it to her than her long-time friend Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Oscar nominee, 46, and the Goop founder, 53, were happy to pose together on the red carpet leading up to the presentation at The Arlington Theatre on Friday, with both looking glamorous in their gowns.
Hudson wore a custom Louis Vuitton dress in dusty rose, a color that complimented her beach-blonde hair which was styled naturally and allowed to flow over her shoulders.
Her gown had embroidered accents and was loosely fitting as it trailed to heels, moving as she moved.
Hudson, who stunned in a silk lilac gown at the Costume Designer’s Guild Awards on Thursday evening, added jewelry by Sabyasachi for a radiant touch, per JustJared.
Her blonde counterpart looked radiant in a pale pink Prada dress that featured a mid-thigh hemline and long train. Its sheer details allowed glimpses of her taut abs.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson looked resplendent in pink as they posed together on the red carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday
Paltrow was on hand to present her long-time friend with the coveted Arlington Artist of the Year Award
Paltrow paired the frock with pink Christian Louboutin heels, jewelry by Hearts on Fire, and she wore her hair in a high ponytail.
The ladies clasped hands and seemed to be having a marvelous time.
Later on, the big moment arrived when Paltrow presented Hudson with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award, referring to her friend as ‘kind of like a little sister to me’ in her speech, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The two have known each other for two decades or more, bonding through the same social circles and having kids going to the same schools.
Paltrow even threw her ‘little sister’ a 40th birthday party in 2019.
As the event in Santa Barbara continued, Hudson sat down for onstage chat with THR columnist Scott Feinberg.
The mother-of-three spoke about wanting ‘something different’ after years of appearing in romantic comedies.
‘I think when you become really famous doing that genre, it’s hard for certain filmmakers to see you in anything other than what we’re watching. These sort of things that like, “Well, transforming isn’t what she does” when, in fact, it’s what I love to do,’ she said.
While the lifestyle and wellness entrepreneur wore a dress by Prada, the recent Oscar nominee for Song Sung Blue delighted in her Louis Vuitton gown
Paltrow and Hudson wore ensembles that were both different and complimentary
The ladies have known each other for over two decades and Paltrow refers to Hudson as her ‘little sister’
They both move in the same social circles and their kids went to the same schools
Paltrow added glamour by wearing jewelry courtesy of Hearts on Fire
Hudson sparkled in jewelry by Sabyasachi and let her blonde hair fall around her shoulders in beachy waves
The good friends stood dignified and poised beside SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling at the event
Hudson candidly pointed out that she’s ready for ‘the next phase.’
‘It doesn’t mean to me that all of a sudden I just want to be doing this for the concept of the accolades; I want to do it to put people in the theater too,’ she explained.
‘This feels like the beginning of maybe that part where I get to do a little bit more transformations than maybe I’ve been able to do in the past.’
Meanwhile, Hudson, who garnered her second Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, told The Hollywood Reporter at the movie’s AFI premiere in October that ‘it’s hard not to fall in love’ with Hugh Jackman, who played her husband in the movie.
Song Sung Blue is based on the true story of married couple Mike and Claire Sardina who formed the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder.
Hudson said she felt ‘magic’ collaborating with The Greatest Showman star.
‘It’s hard not to feel magic with Hugh; he’s a magical, sparkly man,’ she described. ‘He’s got this very youthful spirit, and his generosity of spirit is wide and large. So I feel like it’s hard not to fall in love with him; he’s really wonderful.’
The pair sing together in the movie and Hudson explained that practicing their vocals improved the on-screen chemistry between the duo.
Paltrow referred to Hudson as ‘kind of like a little sister to me’ in her presentation speech
The two pals embraced as Hudson went up to collect her award
Hudson radiated joy while clutching her new award and Paltrow stood beside her looking proud
There were lots of congratulatory hugs to be seen as the night wore on
The Song Sung Blue star was like the belle of the ball
Hudson paused to pose for selfies with the fans who had come out to meet her
She reflected on the first time they sang together: ‘We got in there and I think it was like finding the vibe because it’s one thing to record for a recording, it’s another thing to record for live, which is what we were doing; it was kind of fun to find the imperfections and what we were going to be doing on the day.
‘It was a great way to get to know each other for us too because we’re in the studio for hours – before we got to go on set and play this very intimate married couple, we got to spend good time together.’
Song Sung Blue’s writer-director Craig Brewer was glowing in his praise of Hudson and Jackman, 57, as he shared fond memories of the production.
The 53-year-old filmmaker recalled: ‘That was magical, it really was. Getting them into the studio for the first time, watching them sing harmony for each other, it was just beautiful.’
