The songs nominated in the Best Original Song category at this year’s Academy Awards will not be performed live at the Oscars show, according to an email sent to Academy members Wednesday afternoon.
In a letter to the membership, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said the presentation would “move away from live performances” and instead celebrate the nominated songwriters through “personal reflections.”
That decision would scrap performances that could include Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez performing the “Emilia Perez” songs “El Mal” and “Mi Camino,” respectively, as well as performances of new songs from Elton John, Maren Morris, HER and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
The move comes a year after an Oscar show whose most talked-about moment was Ryan Gosling’s performance of the nominated song “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie.”
The email promises “powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future.” It also says this year’s show will be “a celebration of connection and collaboration – honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of filmmaking.” It promises a return to what it calls “Fab 5” moments, apparently the cast presentations where five past winners celebrate each of the nominees.
And it will pay special attention to Los Angeles, “showcasing its beauty and resilience.”
The Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday morning and the show will take place on Sunday, March 2.
Read the full email below:
Dear Academy Members,
Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the past few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those affected by the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you would like to join the Academy to support the ongoing relief efforts, please click here for a list of aid resources.
Following continued consultation with ABC, our board and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, planning continues for the 97th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2. This year’s Academy Awards will celebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and recognize those who fought so bravely against the bushfires.
As a reminder, our 97th Academy Awards nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT via global live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.orgThe Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), ABC’s Good Morning America and ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) services will be available on YouTube.
As a precursor to tomorrow’s announcement, we wanted to share a little about this year’s show. Hosted by the incredible Conan O’Brien, our 97th Academy Awards will be a celebration of connection and collaboration—honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of filmmaking. We will highlight the transformative power of teamwork that brings cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we’re excited to bring back our ‘Fab 5’ moments, where individual filmmakers recognize nominees. Additionally, the presentation in the Best Original Song category this year will move away from live performances and focus on the songwriters. We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams that bring these songs to life. All this, and more, will reveal the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.
And we will honor Los Angeles as the City of Dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century. We will reflect on recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity and optimism that define Los Angeles and our industry.
There’s so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history with its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announcement, and we truly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our filmmaking community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang
