Ryan Reynolds Surprises Hugh Jackman at Radio City Concert Kick Off: 'The Best Human I Know... and I Have 4 Kids!'

Hugh Jackman was met with a lot of love on Friday, Jan. 24 — including some sweet words from his good friend, Ryan Reynolds — as he took the stage for the opening night of his new concert series at Radio City Music Hall.

PEOPLE was in the room for the special evening. Titled From New York, With Love, the show saw Jackman perform songs from some of his most celebrated stage and screen roles, including The Boy From Oz, Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman and The Music Man. It was also Jackman's first new concert offering in five years.

That milestone, mixed with the overwhelming sound of applause from Jackman's adoring fans, appeared to make the 56-year-old star emotional as he stood on the proscenium of the famed venue toward the end of the evening.

"I said thank you at the beginning and I'm going to say it again. You all chose to be here with us on our first night at Radio City," a grateful Jackson said, visibly holding back tears. "I hosted the Tonys here 22 years ago, and my dream was to perform here. Thank you for being here."

But it was another moment in the evening that had fans tearing up all their own when Reynolds made a surprise appearance in the crowd for an impromptu "Hugh & A" session.

The Canadian actor started with his signature sense of humor, joking, "I was told this was going to be a comedy version of Les Mis as a one-man show. We all said it was a terrible idea but he carried on. I see he's duped me once again!"

After a few more quips, Reynolds pivoted, honoring Jackman with a touching speech.

"This was the first major movie star I ever worked with, 16 or 17 years ago on X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Reynolds, 48, recalled. "And I was young still. I was impressionable. I was expecting going to this movie set with this guy right here, and I didn't know, I really didn't know what was gonna happen. ... But what I saw was just about the best thing anyone could possibly experience if you're working your way up in the industry."

"I saw a movie star, a capital M movie star... I saw this gentleman right here walk around that set, and just like here, he knew every single person's name, even though he was making them up half the time," Reynolds continued. "He showed a kind of courtesy and gentleness and curiosity, and he put value into every single crew member that we were working with."

The father of four went on to call Jackman "my gotcha for life."

"I mean it," Reynolds said. "And I know we were supposed to finish this bit where these two security gentlemen come and they try to take the mic for me — it's like a struggle, and then they tase me and I go down, and then they hog-tie me and then they put me in the Radio City music garbage dump, and then they just light it on fire. But I wanted to actually just say, I love this man, I care about this man. He is, he is genuinely the best human being I know. And I have 4 children!"

Jackman was quick to give Reynolds the love right back.

"I love you, Ryan Reynolds, I love you, man," Jackman said, teasing him for being his fifth best friend. "Thanks for coming. And thanks for asking for a free ticket, too."

Related: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman: The Deadpool & Wolverine Stars Reveal 'Secret Sauce' to Their 17-Year Friendship

Originally announced as a limited series with just 12 performances, Jackman's show saw an overwhelming demand for tickets, prompting multiple expansions. It's currently scheduled for 24 performances over eight weekends this year in April, May, June, July, August, September and October.

No doubt, those dates could continue to expand. At Friday's sold-out show, fans were clamoring for more from the charismatic star, who never stopped going throughout the almost two-hour show.

Jacman's setlist included "Stars" and "Valjean's Soliloquy" (from Les Misérables), "Trouble" (from The Music Man) and a medley of Peter Allen hits from The Boy from Oz, including "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)."

There were plenty of hits from The Greatest Showman, too, including "The Greatest Show," "A Million Dreams," "The Other Side," "From Now On" and "Come Alive." Jackman even allowed guest singer Gabriela Carrillo to sing "Never Enough," the Pasek and Paul ballad from the film made famous by Loren Allred. A different singer will perform the song each night, Jackman teased, after a nationwide submission.

Other songs in Jackman's setlist came from outside the world of musical theater, like "That's Life," and "New York, New York."

He opened with a Neil Diamond tune, playing "Crunchy Granola Suite" in honor of both Diamond's 84th birthday and his own role as a Diamond impersonator in the upcoming musical drama, Song Sung Blue. Later, Jackman spoke more about the film he's starring in alongside Kate Hudson, before leading Radio City in a cover of "Sweet Caroline."

In one of the evening's funniest moments, Jackman covered John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" with lyrics that reflect his Australian pride ("Thank God I'm an Ozzy Boy").

He made a sweet callback to Reel Steel, the 2011 film he made with director Shawn Levy (who was also in the audience). While playing the film's opening credits, Jackman covered the song that played over the scene — Alexi Murdoch's "All My Days" — as a tribute to his later father.

Another tender moment came when Jackman covered "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen, dedicating the song to his kindergarten friend Gus Worland (who was in the audience) and his Gotcha4Life Foundation, which helps communities build mental fitness.

Related: Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit Gush Over Hugh Jackman: ‘An Amazing Leader’ (Exclusive)

Jackman is coming off a massive 2024 in which his latest blockbuster — Deadpool & Wolverine — earned $1.3 billion worldwide.

The Oscar-nominated actor began his career on stage, well before his role as Wolverine in the X-Men films made him a household name. Newly out of school in Australia, he was cast as Gaston in a 1996 production of Beauty and the Beast. Other roles would follow before he booked the Royal National Theatre's 1998 revival of Oklahoma! in London's West End.

That production, and his work as Curly, put Jackman on the radar of Broadway talent scouts. But Hollywood casting directors nabbed Jackman first, delaying his New York City stage debut.

He'd eventually get his theatrical licks in, playing Billy Bigelow opposed Audra McDonald's Julie Jordan in a 2002 Carnegie Hall concert version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.

Related: Hugh Jackman Sings 'Valjean's Soliloquy' from Les Misérables with Full Orchestra Ahead of First Radio City Concert

Jackman's Broadway debut would come a year later, when he portrayed Australian singer-songwriter Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. The role earned him a 2004 Tony Award for best actor in a musical.

Since then, Jackman has returned to Broadway multiple times, including the 2009 play A Steady Rain (opposite Daniel Craig), 2014's The River (with Laura Donnelly and Cush Jumbo) and 2022's revival of The Music Man opposite Sutton Foster.

In 2011, he launched his first solo concert, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway. A world tour — titled The Man. The Music. The Show. — followed in 2019, setting the seeds for From New York, with Love.

Related: Hugh Jackman Shares Rehearsal Photo Ahead of Upcoming N.Y.C. Concert Series: 'One Week Til Opening!'

Over the past few weeks, Jackman has been sharing videos on social media of himself prepping for the concert. Prior to opening, the Grammy-winning actor penned a note of gratitude.

"I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who’s worked tirelessly on our show," he wrote. "Yes, the incredible cast and orchestra, band, dancers, singers and crew. But most importantly … the fans!! Without you all, none of this would be possible."

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," he said.

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Jackman has often been asked over the years whether he prefers theater or movies, and in a conversation with CBS Sunday Morning in December 2021, he gave a pretty definitive answer.

"I say, 'I love them both. But if you had to give me one, it would be the theater," Jackman admitted. "What better job to have in the world than to allow people to come and just put your troubles aside for a second – and let's go on a little adventure?"

Tickets to Hugh Jackman's From New York, with Love are on sale now.

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