The 95th Academy Awards are just a few days away and the producers of the Oscars held a virtual press conference where they discussed the themes of the telecast (the goal is to “humanize” the craftspeople) and how Jimmy Kimmel has been more locked in than previous hosts. They also took some questions from the press including The Playlist And, yes, we asked whether Lady Gaga will perform during the telecast and, unfortunately, we have some bad news.
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Producer Glenn Weiss said there were conversations with the Oscar-winner about singing her Best Original Song nominee “Hold My Hand.” Despite everyone’s best efforts, Lady Gaga’s filming schedule with “Joker: Folie à Deux” would not allow her to prepare a performance up to the “caliber” of what she or, we assume, her fans would expect. Weiss did not clarify if someone else would perform the “Top Gun: Maverick” track, but we assume it will be absent from the telecast performances.
It is expected that Gaga will still attend the ceremony.
This is not the first time an Original Song nominee has been left out of the ceremony despite its fellow nominees gracing the Oscar stage. Famously, Eminem did not perform the 2003 winner, “Lose Yourself” from “8 Mile,” at the 75th Academy Awards. The hip-hop star eventually delivered a surprise performance of the song at the 92nd Oscars just three years ago.
The other four nominated songs will grace the Oscar stage. They include Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava (“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”), Sofia Carlson (“Applause” from “Tell it Like A Woman”) and Son Lux, Mitski and David Byrne (“This is A Life” from “Everything Everywhere All At Once”). Oh, and yes, Rihanna, fresh off the Super Bowl halftime show with her first public performance of “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
The 95th Academy Awards will be handed out this Sunday, March 12 beginning at 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET and broadcast live on ABC.