Rihanna To Perform “Lift Me Up” At The Oscars 2023

According to a Thursday Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcement, Rihanna will perform the song “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The Grammy Award-winning music artist will make her Oscars debut during this performance.

Another first for the pop artist, “Lift Me Up,” was nominated for Best Original Song. The song, which peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November, features Nigerian singer Tems, who has been given credit for her songwriting, filmmaker Ryan Coogler of “Wakanda Forever,” composer Ludwig Göransson, and others.

The track will compete with “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman,” “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR,” and “This Is A Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

The Academy Awards broadcast is scheduled on Sunday, March 12.

It was also Rihanna’s first single to be released after almost six years, and her performance at the Oscars will mark the singer’s first award show appearance since the 2018 Grammys. “Lift Me Up” was written as a homage to the incredible life and legacy of the late Chadwick Boseman, who was also Göransson’s friend, and his impact on the “Black Panther” movie. Boseman passed away in 2020 after a four-year struggle with cancer. He was most remembered for portraying King T’Challa in the Marvel film.

After the nomination, Director Ryan Coogler said, “It was an honor to work with these incredible musicians in crafting a song for our film and our friend.” “It was meant to be a tribute to love and the specter of loss, and I couldn’t be happier that it is being recognized.”

Angela Bassett was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Hairstyling, and Best Visual Effects, giving the film five nominations.

The announcement comes just a few weeks after her internet-shattering performance at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, where she donned a bright-red ensemble and gave a 13-minute solo performance—her first on stage in nearly seven years.
During the performance of her song “B**** Better Have My Money,” she also caused a stir on social media by flashing what appeared to be a baby bump.

Afterward, Rihanna’s agent revealed that she was expecting her second child. Last May, Rihanna, and rapper A$AP Rocky welcomed their first child.