Jim Belushi reveals what it was really like to watch his brother John get into ‘Blues Brothers’ role



He’s comin’ to ya on a dusty road.

Jim Belushi recently revealed his favorite moment from his early career in Hollywood – and it involves his late brother, John Belushi, in one of his most memorable roles.

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John became one of comedy’s breakout talents as part of the very first “Saturday Night Live” cast in 1975.

Jim Belushi at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 5, 2025. Getty Images for Maximum Effort and Mills Entertainment
Jim Belushi on “Saturday Night Live” in 1984. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Alongside “SNL” co-star Dan Aykroyd, he helped create The Blues Brothers — and grew them into a full-fledged blues and soul music act.

They first appeared on “SNL” as musical guests in April 1978, and later expanded the project into a complete band.

By September of that year, they were opening for Steve Martin during his run of shows at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as the Blues Brothers in 1980.
John Belushi performs as the Blues Brothers at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, in 1978. Getty Images

“I’ll tell you what I loved: I loved going to the Universal Amphitheater when they came to LA and they opened for Steve Martin,” Jim, 71, told People during the premiere of his upcoming film, “Song Sung Blue,” at AFI Fest in Hollywood on Oct. 26.

“It was magic!” he recalled. “And John was so, so magnificent. I loved that moment, to see my brother just hit the top of his chart.”

John, however, died just two years later from a suspected drug overdose on March 5, 1982. He was 33.

Jim Belushi at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 2, 2025. Getty Images
Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd during the Opening of the House of Blues in Los Angeles, California. FilmMagic, Inc

Jim then took John’s place as Zee Blues, alongside Aykroyd’s Elwood, at Aykroyd’s insistence.

“He wanted me to do the Blues Brothers,” the “Red Heat” star explained. “I said, ‘Absolutely not. That was John’s, not mine.’ He goes, ‘Ah, Jimmy. It’s like a law firm. When one of the partners passes away, the brother comes in and takes over.’”

Jim continued, “‘Really?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ ‘You don’t think it’s weird?’ He goes, ‘Absolutely not!’ I’m like, ‘All right.’”

John Belushi and his wife, Judith Jacklin Belushi. WireImage
John Belushi and Jane Curtin during the “Weekend Update” segment on “Saturday Night Live.” Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

But Jim also revealed that he and the “Ghostbusters” star still “do the Blues Brothers now” in an effort to keep his brother’s memory and legacy alive.

“I’ve been having a ball for 25 years, singing and dancing with that 6’4″ Canadian, beautiful man,” Jim said of Akroyd.

The “According to Jim” star, meanwhile, embraced his musical roots once again for “Song Sung Blue,” the upcoming biographical musical drama scheduled to release Dec. 25.

A special screening of “Song Sung Blue” in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 27, 2025. Focus Features via Getty Images
Mustafa Shakir, John Davis, Ella Anderson, Hugh Jackman, Hudson Hensley, Kate Hudson, Craig Brewer and Jim Belushi at the premiere of “Song Sung Blue” in Hollywood, California, on Oct. 26, 2025. Getty Images

Written and directed by Craig Brewer and starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, the film follows Mike and Claire Sardina after the couple start a Neil Diamond cover band called Lightning & Thunder in 1987.

Jim stars in the flick as Mike and Claire’s manager, Tom D’Amato, and revealed that he was drawn to “Song Sung Blue” because he wanted to work with Brewer.

“He has the soul of a musician,” the younger Belushi shared. “I did one thing with him before, and I just love the connection with him.”

“Katie Hudson is a lioness of an actress in this,” Jim added of co-stars Jackman, 57, and Hudson, 46. “I think she deserves a lot of attention. And Hugh is just a natural.”


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