The Greatest Showman honored the Greatest Newsman Saturday night in NYC.
Hugh Jackman performed at Rupert Murdoch’s 95th birthday at The Grill, turning the storied Seagram Building eatery into a black-tie cabaret for a roomful of family, friends and A-list guests.
Jackman sang Sinatra classics “New York, New York” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” we hear, as well as three songs from “The Greatest Showman” and a tune from his Broadway musical, “The Boy from Oz.” The Hollywood star also thanked Murdoch for supporting his successful career.
Bret Baier of Fox News introduced a surprise video tribute to the Chairman Emeritus of Fox Corporation and News Corp from President Trump. POTUS called Murdoch “legendary” and “one of a kind,” and also praised the birthday boy for his “courage, vision, and determination,” saying he’s “changed the world” during his venerable career.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan led grace to start the dinner, and speakers during the program included Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, Rupert Murdoch’s wife Elena Zhukova and Murdoch himself. Sarah Murdoch, as well as Grace and Chloe Murdoch, were also there.
Son Lachlan told his dad in a toast: “You are entitled to be called many things . . . but I know you are most proud of being a journalist at heart.”
Wife Elena, who married the News Corp legend in 2024, said, “Rupert is fearless,” adding that her husband “is made of an insatiable love and appreciation of life, and a mixture of wisdom and boyishness.”
“It just shows you wonderful things can still happen at 92,” Murdoch said of his wife. He also thanked everyone for coming, adding: “I won’t bore you with memories of what you know — this is the time to look to the future. America has become the unmatched engine of invention.”
Guests wishing Murdoch a happy birthday included Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, former UK prime ministers Tony Blair and Rishi Sunak, Barry Diller, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, “Cats” composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Wendi Murdoch, former CEO of Activision Bobby Kotick, former US Attorney General William Barr, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Murdoch’s b’day is March 11.
