Rihanna’s performance at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 was one of the most looked forward to. The 35-year-old singer is known for always making her audience happy, and tonight was no different. It was the first time Rihanna played the Oscar-nominated song Raise Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on stage, and it also marked the second time the pregnant singer has performed at a global event after her highly-publicized Super Bowl Halftime concert last month.
As of 2023, all eyes will be on Rihanna’s appearance at the Academy AwardsDanai Gurira, best known as Okoye in Marvel’s Black Panther film series, introduced Rihanna before she performed. The actress hailed the pop icon as “royalty in her own right” as she presented her. According to her, “a ballad that speaks from the heart was written by Ludwig Göransson, Ryan Coogler, Tems, and Rihanna as an homage to the late Chadwick Boseman.” She went on to say, “Chadwick’s great talent, his charm, and his matchless humanity left an unforgettable impact on our hearts. In this role, Chadwick Boseman played the Wakandan king T’Challa.
Rihanna radiated beauty in a one-of-a-kind Maison Margiela artisanal costume. As she sang the heartfelt ballad about overcoming loss, she commanded the stage and the attention of the listeners. There was a standing ovation for Rihanna as she finished performing. A$AP Rocky, her rapper boyfriend, was also there to support her.
First-time Oscar nominee RihannaFor her song “Lift Me Up,” Rihanna received her first Oscar nomination in 2023. Applause from Tell It Like It Is, Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick, This Is a Life from Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, and Naatu Naatu from RRR are the other candidates in this category. Naatu Naatu’s RRR team took home the prize in the end.