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Ryan Gosling is set to perform “I’m Just Ken” live at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday, March 10. Variety was first to report the news.
It had been uncertain if Gosling would agree to perform the song, which is a comic highlight of Barbie. He and Emma Stone declined to perform “City of Stars” from La La Land on the Oscar telecast seven years ago — and “City of Stars,” a loping, easy-tempo ballad, is a much easier song to sing live than “I’m Just Ken,” a dynamic, comic showcase.
When Gosling and Stone passed on performing “City of Stars,” Oscar producers enlisted John Legend, who also appeared in La La Land, to perform the song – and also a second nominated song from the film, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” “City of Stars” went on to win the Oscar for best original song.
Gosling is nominated for best supporting actor for Barbie. Robert Downey Jr. is widely expected to win in that category for his performance in Oppenheimer, but Gosling has the opportunity to bring the house down.
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In a Variety cover story in early February, Gosling said that the Academy hadn’t yet asked him to perform. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” he said. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.”
Mark Ronson, who wrote the song with Andrew Wyatt, told Variety at the Grammys that he wasn’t interested in any other singer subbing for Gosling on the Oscars. When asked if he’d consider a sub, Ronson said, “No. I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we’re not doing it.”
“I’m Just Ken” is one of two Barbie songs that received an Oscar nomination for best original song. The other is “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas. Barbie might very well have received a third nomination in that category for “Dance the Night,” which Ronson and Wyatt co-wrote with Dua Lipa and Caroline Ailin, but Oscar rules limit films to two nominations in that category.
In a conversation on Billboard’s Pop Shop podcast, Ronson agreed that the exclusion of “Dance the Night” made his nod for “I’m Just Ken” feel “bittersweet.”
“It is because Dua’s song is still the biggest song from the soundtrack and Dua was really the first artist of anywhere near her stature that committed to the film. It really set the bar for what the whole soundtrack could be,” he said. “So Dua definitely deserves all the credit for that, and it would have been lovely to have her as well.”
The 96th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on March 10 at the new, earlier time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the show for the fourth time. It will be held at its usual home, the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
While the Academy hasn’t officially confirmed Gosling’s booking, they have announced the first presenters for the Oscar telecast, including Zendaya and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Lange, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Yeoh and Zendaya will present at the 2024 Oscars, which are set for Sunday, March 10. All are previous Oscar winners except for Pfeiffer, a three-time nominee, and Zendaya, who […]
Rap lyrics being used in court cases has become a lightning rod for discussion across the judicial system in America. Killer Mike sat down with Bronx-bred rapper Kemba to delve deeper into the criminalization of lyrics in hip-hop for part of the As We Speak: Rap Music On Trial documentary, which premieres on Paramount+ on Tuesday […]
Zendaya had to unexpectedly press pause on her global Dune: Part Two promotional tour on Monday (Feb. 26). The actress posted a video in which she was clearly suffering from vocal issues while explaining why she could not appear on Good Morning America as scheduled. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest […]
Having a platinum pedigree is one thing. But showing that you can use it is a whole different ballgame. Emmy Russell, 24 proved more than up to the task on Sunday night (Feb. 25) when the shy Nashville native, and granddaughter of country icon Loretta Lynn, stepped up to her mark on American Idol to perform an original piano ballad called “Skinny.”
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Smiling from ear-to-ear, Russell told the judge’s panel it was a “dream” to be on the reality singing competition as Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan struggled to hear the singer’s quiet speaking voice. “Tell us about yourself, other than being quiet,” Bryan said. “Growing up, I sang music my entire life,” she said modestly.
“I just love writing. I’m 24 years old. Songwriter. I love music,” Russell added. “I don’t really sing out as much anymore, but growing up I sang on the road with — my grandma’s a country singer so I grew up singing.” Which, of course, elicited the obvious question from Bryan, leading to the revelation that Russell’s grandma was the Grammy-winning country “Coal Miner’s Daughter” superstar, who died in Oct. 2022 at age 90. “Your grandma is… what?!” Richie said in disbelief.
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The show then unspooled a montage of Russell taking viewers on a tour of her “meemaw” Lynn’s historic Hurricane Mills, TN ranch and home, where the singer’s mom, singer Patsy Lynn, grew up. “She’s one of the biggest country music singers of all time, but to me she’s just my grandma, and growing up on the bus and all that was very normal to me,” Russell said.
Embracing her timidity, Russell explained that one of the reasons she is kind of shy is because she wants to be her own person and “own my own voice.” Counseled by Perry that, like her gran, Russell needs to find her own unique path, the singer then went to the piano to perform a moving original she wrote about eating disorders called “Skinny.”
“Haven’t eaten in days/ God I hate how you made me/ So scared to confess, been so hard to undress lately/ These oversized T-shirts don’t work like they used to/ Sleeping on scales is just what I’m used to,” Russell sang urgently on the ballad that had a touch of Olivia Rodrigo’s keyboard-driven confessional songwriting.
Perry was super impressed with the audition, calling Russell an “A+ songwriter… so was your grandma, you’ve got the gift. I don’t think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was… you’re totally different, you shouldn’t give yourself all that pressure. I think you came in like a mouse.”
“A baby mouse,” Bryan added, as Perry asked Russell to say her name again, but louder this time.
Richie agreed, saying, “My dear, you have promise. And I like your promise. Each one of us is trying to battle something that we’re trying to overcome. In your case you have big shoes. Now if I can just get you to put those shoes back in the closet, that’s not your size.” Bryan said the task will be to boost Russell’s confidence and help her “own it.”
It was a tearful yes for Russell, who will advance to the Hollywood round on the current 22nd season of the long-running series, which Perry recently announced will be her final one with the show.
See Russell’s audition below.
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21 Savage made his musical guest debut on Saturday Night Live, performing tracks from his latest album. The U.K.-born, Atlanta-raised rapper delivered three songs — “Redrum” and a mashup of “Should’ve Worn a Bonnet” and “Prove It” — from his 2024 album, American Dream, during the Feb. 24 episode of the long-running NBC sketch comedy […]
Bob Marley: One Love continues to dominate the box office. The Paramount biopic will remain No. 1 on this week’s domestic box office chart. The film, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the late reggae icon, will earn an estimated $13.4 million to $14 million from 3,597 locations, according to early weekend estimates provided to The Hollywood […]
Shane Gillis is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend (Feb. 24), and in a series of new promos for the episode, the comedian felt inspired by musical guest 21 Savage’s style. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In one of the clips, Gillis is seen wearing a […]
Druski went viral last year mocking those who claim to be “standing on business,” when in reality, they really don’t. Playing off the hilarious skit, Druski called on Snoop Dogg and DJ Drama for their own version of “Standin on Bihness.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The […]
It looks like the third voice is the charm! On Monday’s (Feb. 26) season 25 premiere of The Voice, Oklahoma vocal trio OK3 got all five (yes, five) coaches to turn their chairs with a sassy cover of Meghan Trainor‘s “Made You Look” — and Billboard has an exclusive sneak peek.
OK3 is made up of Kenna, 22, Sierra, 24, and Courtney, 26, three aspiring singers who live in Oklahoma City and met through their vocal coach. The trio brought their crisp three-part harmonies to Trainor’s 2023 No. 11 Billboard Hot 100 hit and made an instant impact with the coaches, getting veteran coach John Legend (in his ninth season on the singing competition), Reba McEntire (in her second season) and brand-new coaching duo Dan + Shay (in a special dual chair) to turn around within their first few notes.
Chance the Rapper — returning for his second season as a Voice coach — was a little bit harder of a nut to crack, waiting until the end of “Made You Look” to make his move.
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“I grew up arranging songs for groups,” Legend said to woo the trio after they wrapped their performance, noting that he won awards for his a cappella arrangements in college. “If there’s nothing else that I do, I do this. I feel like there’s a lot of space for a big pop girl group right now, and I would love to be your coach.”
Dan + Shay didn’t let the veteran coach intimidate them, with Dan Smyers shooting back: “He’s saying he’s an award-winning arranger for groups. We’re an award-winning group!” His bandmate Shay Mooney, meanwhile, didn’t play it cool, telling the women: “My heart is racing right now, because I want you guys [on our team] so bad. That was my favorite performance so far.”
The coaches weren’t above deploying some gimmicks to get OK3’s attention either. Legend pressed a button and inflated a car-dealership windsock man behind his chair that read “Pick Team Legend.” “John doing that inflatable tube man thing has taken all my spirit away,” Chance laughed. “It was so loud and distracting.” McEntire called the girls her “fellow Okies” and pulled out a Grammy that just happened to be behind her back (one of the three she’s won out of 17 nominations over the years). Chance pointed out that his signature “3” hat is a perfect fit for the group’s moniker, while Dan + Shay got the crowd to hold up alternating “Dan” and “Shay” signs from their seats.
McEntire also pulled out a scepter to announce: “I am the Queen of Country Music. I would love to have you in my kingdom.”
So who do OK3 choose as their coach (or coaches) in the end? We’ll have to wait until The Voice returns for season 25 on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC or streaming on Peacock to find out. But for now, you watch our exclusive preview clip below.
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