Oscar 2023 Performers Include Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, and Nominee Stephanie Hsu

It wouldn’t be the Oscars without some high-wattage performances peppered throughout the ceremony, and this Sunday’s Oscar ceremony seems poised to deliver. Fresh from headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, a pregnant Rihanna will grace the Oscars to perform her Oscar-nominated song, “Lift Me Up,” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.  She’s not the only A-lister who’s set to perform over the course of the ceremony, which airs this Sunday, March 12, on ABC. Lenny Kravitz has also been tapped to perform during the Oscars’ emotional “In Memoriam” segment.

The other best-original-song nominees also have starry performers behind them. Talking Heads frontman David Byrne will be on hand to perform “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once alongside Son Lux, with best-supporting-actress nominee Stephanie Hsu stepping in for Mitski, who is nominated for the song. Honorary Oscar recipient Diane Warren will also be taking the stage to perform her best-original-song contender “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman with Sofia Carson, and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava are set to perform the buzzy, earworm-y number “Naatu Naatu” from RRR. But there’s still no word on whether Oscar winner and last year’s best-picture presenter Lady Gaga will be on site to perform her Oscar-nominated song “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick. 

Here’s a full list of everyone officially announced to perform at the 95th Academy Awards:

Rihanna

Rihanna is officially back in her performing era. After surprising millions at the Super Bowl with her effortlessly cool performance and her unexpected pregnancy announcement, the pop star turned mogul turned Oscar nominee is returning to the stage at the Oscars to perform her best-original-song contender, “Lift Me Up,” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. There’s no word on whether her fellow nominees Tems, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson will join her. 

Lenny Kravitz

Four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz has been tapped to deliver the “In Memoriam” performance during this year’s telecast. 

David Byrne, Son Lux, and Stephanie Hsu

Though Mitski won’t be present to perform her Oscar-nominated song, “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, she’s left it in good hands. Legendary musician David Byrne is performing it with experimental band Son Lux and best-supporting-actress nominee Stephanie Hsu, whose Broadway bona fides—she’s starred in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical and Be More Chill on Broadway—more than qualify her for the job. 

Diane Warren and Sofia Carson

Fourteen-time nominee and newly minted honorary Oscar recipient Diane Warren will be gracing the stage on Sunday to perform her Oscar-nominated number “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman. She’ll be joined by actress and singer Sofia Carson, who makes the rare leap from cohosting ABC’s Oscars red-carpet show last year to performing at the ceremony.

Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava 

The catchiest best-original-song contender, “Naatu Naatu” from the smash hit Telugu-language historical epic RRR, will get its moment in the sun when Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava perform the infectious number at the Oscars.