Kendrick Lamar and SZA will not perform at the upcoming 2019 Oscars ceremony. The duo was supposed to perform their duet “All the Stars” from the movie Black Panther, which is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but according to Variety, that won’t be the case due to “logistics and timing” issues. A source close to Academy also confirmed that the song won’t be performed by another act.
Written by Lamar, SZA, Sounwave, and Al Shux, “All the Stars” was released on January 4th, 2018, and served as a leading single for the soundtrack album of Black Panther. The track was a big success and picked up numerous nominations including a nomination for Best Original Song at the 76th Golden Globe Awards and four nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards.
The ceremony of the 91st Academy Awards, which will take place tonight, will still feature the performances of the four remaining Best Original Song nominees.
Gillian Welch and David Rowlings will perform “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs while Mary Poppins Returns‘ “The Place Where Lost Things Go” will be sung by Bette Midler and Marc Shaiman. Also, Jennifer Hudson will sing I’ll Fight from RBG while Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper will team up for their duet “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.
