The 98th Academy Awards are really going to be an unforgettable night of music and cinema. Producers have officially announced that the Conan O’Brien-hosted ceremony will feature a special live performance spotlighting Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking film, Sinners.
Fans of the critically acclaimed thriller are in for a treat as Sinners star Miles Caton and legendary songwriter Raphael Saadiq are set to take the stage. The duo will perform the film’s Original Song nominee, I Lied to You.
However, they won’t be alone under the bright lights. The performance is being billed as a massive homage to the film’s singular visual style. Caton and Saadiq will be joined by an incredible ensemble of talent, including renowned ballet dancer Misty Copeland and a powerhouse lineup of musicians: Eric Gales, Shaboozey, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush, and Alice Smith. Adding to the cinematic magic, Sinners co-stars Buddy Guy, Jayme Lawson, and Li Jun Li will also take part in the tribute.
Executive producers and showrunners Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan shared their vision for the telecast, explaining that the night’s musical segments are designed to be much more than standard vocal performances.
“This year, our music performances are inspired by two of the most powerful cultural phenomena in film: Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history, and KPop Demon Hunters, a global pop culture sensation,” Kapoor and Mullan noted in a statement. They added that the goal is to create “cinematic tributes” that celebrate the deep connection between music, storytelling, and the audiences who resonated with these films worldwide.
In addition to the Sinners tribute, the Oscars will feature a performance from the voices behind the KPop Demon Hunters group Huntr/x. Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami will take the stage to perform their hit track, Golden.
The 98th Oscars will broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15. Viewers can catch the ceremony starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, or stream it live on Hulu.
