Rihanna performed “Lift Me Up,” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, live on stage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Rihanna performed the heartfelt ballad with a full orchestra, giving a simple but effective performance.
Danai Gurira of Wakanda Forever gave a moving introduction to the performance and said that “Lift Me Up” was written in memory of the late Chadwick Boseman, the star of the film Black Panther.
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Her single from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song is up for Best Original Song, marking Rihanna’s first Oscar nomination. “Lift Me Up” — which Rihanna wrote with Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and Ryan Coogler — is up against Sofia Carson and Diane Warren’s “Applause” (from Tell It Like a Woman), Lady Gaga and BloodPop’s “Hold My Hand” (from Top Gun: Maverick), M.M. Keeravani’s “Naatu Naatu,” (from RRR), and Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski’s “This Is a Life.”
Rihanna has been making waves on the performance scene once again after more than five years away.
She made a fantastic comeback with her Super Bowl halftime performance last month, where she also announced she was expecting, before her big Oscars appearance.