The Oscar-nominated songs "I'll Fight" from "RBG" and "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from "Mary Poppins Returns" will be performed during the upcoming Oscars ceremony after all.
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will sing "I'll Fight" and "a surprise special guest" will perform "The Place Where Lost Things Go," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced via Twitter on Thursday, providing the latest clues in the mystery that has become the 91st Academy Awards since comedian Kevin Hart stepped away from hosting in December.
The news comes after a backlash from numerous stars erupted when the academy said it would spotlight only two of the nominees in the best original song category on the streamlined telecast. Those songs were Top 10 hits "All the Stars" from "Black Panther" and "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born." The latter Lady Gaga-sung hit has been sweeping the awards season.
Deadline reports, "either Lady Gaga herself, or her reps, made it clear she felt it was completely unfair to eliminated the three songs _ almost like the Academy producers were forecasting who they thought would win _ and that she wouldn't perform if a change wasn't made."
"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who stars in Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" and was nominated for his song work on 2016's "Moana," was among the loudest critics of the streamlining move on Twitter when the news broke last week, describing the decision as "truly disappointing."
The fate of the fifth song, "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," has not yet been confirmed; but Variety reported Friday that it too would be performed on the Feb. 24 show, which remains without a host.
Reps for the academy did not respond to The Times' request for comment on Friday.
