In a formal announcement by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney, Lenny Kravitz will be delivering the In Memoriam performance during the 2023 Oscars.
Throughout his career, Kravitz has secured Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles with “It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over” (1991) and “Again” (2001). The multi-hyphenate has won four consecutive Grammy Awards for best male rock vocal performance from 1998-2001, for “Fly Away,” “American Woman,” “Again” and “Dig In,” and has appeared in such films as Precious (2009), The Hunger Games (2012), Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013).
Throughout the past decade, a diverse set of performers have handled the In Memoriam performance, including Barbra Streisand, who sang her own smash “The Way We Were” in tribute to its composer, Marvin Hamlisch; Bette Midler, who sang her own smash “Wind Beneath My Wings”; Jennifer Hudson, who sang “I Can’t Let Go” from Smash; Dave Grohl, who sang The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Sara Bareilles, who sang Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”; Eddie Vedder, who sang Tom Petty’s “Room at the Top”; the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which performed John Williams “Leaving Home” from Superman; and Billie Eilish & Finneas, who performed The Beatles’ “Yesterday.”
Following the In Memoriam segment on the Oscars, more than 200 filmmakers, artists and executives will be memorialized in an extended photo gallery on A.frame, the Academy’s digital magazine.
While the Academy Awards producers will continue to announce additional talent leading up to the ceremony, they have already confirmed performances of four of the five titles nominated for best original song, but have yet to confirm Lady Gaga’s performance of “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday March 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
Keep up with the latest trending music news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Author: Al Denté
Photo: Lunchbox LP