Oscars 2025 Unveils Star-Studded Performances and Historic Moments
The 98th Academy Awards are set to deliver a spectacular show with groundbreaking performances and intense competition. Producers have announced that Josh Groban, Misty Copeland, and the vocalists behind HUNTR/X will grace the stage, though not simultaneously, during Sunday night's ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Historic K-Pop Performance and Nominated Songs
This year's Oscars will feature live renditions of the Oscar-nominated songs "Golden" from "Kpop Demon Hunters" and "I Liked to You" from "Sinners". The performance of "Golden" marks a historic milestone as the first K-pop song ever nominated for an Oscar. Singer-songwriter EJAE will become the first K-pop act in Oscar history to both perform and be nominated at the ceremony.
Rei Ami, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna are scheduled to perform "Golden" alongside a broader showcase of Korean folklore, including traditional instrumentalists and dance. The film "Kpop Demon Hunters" has also secured a nomination for Best Animated Feature.
"Sinners" Musical Exploration and Supporting Cast
For the song "I Liked to You" from "Sinners", Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq will lead a performance exploring music's role in the film. They will be joined by ballet star Misty Copeland, blues legends Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, alongside actors Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, and musicians Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith.
Josh Groban's involvement remains ambiguous, with further details expected as the event approaches. The 98th annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live by ABC on Sunday, March 15, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time or 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
Host, Streaming, and Nominee Highlights
Conan O'Brien returns to host the Oscars for the second consecutive year, following his successful tenure at the 97th ceremony. In a statement last March, O'Brien humorously remarked, "The only reason I'm hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech."
Viewers can stream the Oscars live on Hulu, Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. Authentication via a provider also allows access on ABC.com and the ABC app.
Key Nominees and Front-Runners
This year's leading categories feature intense competition:
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley ("Hamnet"), Rose Byrne ("If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"), Renate Reinsve ("Sentimental Value"), Emma Stone ("Bugonia"), Kate Hudson ("Song Sung Blue")
- Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet ("Marty Supreme"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("One Battle After Another"), Ethan Hawke ("Blue Moon"), Michael B. Jordan ("Sinners"), Wagner Moura ("The Secret Agent")
- Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi ("Frankenstein"), Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro ("One Battle After Another"), Stellan Skarsgard ("Sentimental Value"), Delroy Lindo ("Sinners")
- Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas ("Sentimental Value"), Amy Madigan ("Weapons"), Wunmi Mosaku ("Sinners"), Teyana Taylor ("One Battle After Another")
"Sinners" has broken the record for most nominations by a single film with 16, making it this year's leading nominee. However, "One Battle After Another" remains the clear front-runner for Best Picture and Best Director, though the race has tightened recently.
Associated Press film writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr predict "One Battle After Another" will win Best Picture and Best Director. They also forecast wins for Jessie Buckley (Best Actress), Michael B. Jordan (Best Actor), and Teyana Taylor (Supporting Actress), but are split on Supporting Actor: Coyle favors Sean Penn, while Bahr bets on Delroy Lindo.
Award Presenters and Ceremony Highlights
Last year's winners Adrien Brody (Best Actor), Mikey Madison (Best Actress), Kieran Culkin (Supporting Actor), and Zoe Saldana (Supporting Actress) will present trophies. They will be joined by a star-studded lineup including Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Anne Hathaway, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Paul Mescal.
The 98th Oscars promise an unforgettable night celebrating cinematic excellence, historic firsts, and stellar performances.
