Ryan Gosling will take the stage for a live performance of the hit “Barbie” song “I’m Just Ken” at March 10’s Academy Awards, according to a Wednesday announcement from show execs.
The ballad, written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, is nominated for Best Original Song at this year’s ceremony and all five songs in the category will reportedly be performed during the broadcast.
That list of nominees includes another “Barbie” hit, “What Was I Made For” (performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell), as well as “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” (Becky G), “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony” (Jon Batiste) and “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Scott George and the Osage Singers).
“What Was I Made For” — the clear-cut favorite to take home the prize — won Song of the Year at the 2024 Grammys earlier this month.
The live rendition of “I’m Just Ken” will mark the first time Gosling, 43, will perform at the Academy Awards. Despite singing “City of Stars” in 2017’s “La La Land,” the Oscar-nominated song was later performed at the ceremony by supporting star John Legend, rather than by Gosling and co-star Emma Stone.
Gosling is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at this year’s show, and was previously up for Best Actor for his role in 2007’s “Half Nelson” and 10 years later for “La La Land.”
While March 10 could be Gosling’s first Oscar win, Robert Downey Jr., who’s also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his work in “Oppenheimer,” has been sweeping the current awards season.
The 58-year-old actor hasn’t won an Oscar yet either, but he’s already taken home a Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award this year for his role as former U.S. government official Lewis Strauss.
According to Screen Rant, the last seven actors to win the SAG Award for their supporting role have gone on to win the Oscar.
The 96th Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, beginning on Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET and airing on ABC. Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is set to lead the event.
With News Wire Services
