The 2025 Oscars stage took on an exceptionally golden glow as Hollywood’s most interesting celebrated musical icon Quincy Jones.
Following the ceremony’s extra somber In Memoriam part, honoring greats like Gene Hackman, James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, and David Lynch, Grammy–profitable legend Queen Latifah appeared on the high of the stage to kick off a way more energetic celebration of Jones’ life, together with a efficiency of The Wiz‘s “Ease On Down the Road.”
Latifah was launched by Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg and Oscar nominee Oprah Winfrey, who preceeded the tribute’s festivities with a private celebration of Black excellence. “When we talk about Black excellence, we’re talking about Quincy,” mentioned Goldberg. Jones was the primary Black composer nominated within the Authentic Music class, Goldberg reminded the gang.
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Jones would later be nominated for his work on The Wiz and The Coloration Purple, for which each Goldberg and Winfrey had been nominated for Finest Actress and Finest Supporting Actress, respectively. All through the evening, Jones’ different well-known compositions had been performed as winners exited the stage, and Finest Actress nominee Cynthia Erivo belted out a rendition of “Home” from The Wiz on the high of the present.
Latifah’s efficiency, full with dozens of backup dancers in Depraved-inspired golden costumes, concluded with a standing ovation for the business large.