“Wicked” costars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will open Sunday’s Oscars with a musical number, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Doja Cat, Lisa of Blackpink, Queen Latifah and Raye will also perform during the telecast, the Academy announced Monday.
It’s unclear what Grande and Erivo, who are both nominated for acting awards, will perform, but earlier this month, Puck reported they will sing a medley of “Wicked” songs — none of which are nominated for Best Original Song since the movie is based on the play that premiered on Broadway in 2003.
Last month, the Academy sent a letter to members announcing that it planned to “move away” from live performances of Oscar-nominated songs. In previous years, the Oscars telecast included performances of all the Best Original Song nominees.
“This year the best original song category presentation will move away from live performances and will be focused on the songwriters,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. “We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.”
In late January, the Society of Composers and Lyricists, which includes all of this year’s Oscar-nominated songwriters as members, asked the Academy to reconsider axing the performances of the Oscar-nominated songs.
Ashley Irwin, the society’s president, said in a letter that its members are “disappointed” in the Academy for removing the performances and are concerned the move will “silence songwriters.”