Can you think of an Oscar ceremony without the glitz, glamour and a heavy dose of pop stardom? Can you think of the ratings?
Rightly so, the Oscars could get a lot more musical. This awards season, get ready for a “pop star season,” with music icons like Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande all vying for acting Oscar consideration—and in the same supporting actress race, no less.
Pop stars have long dominated the stage, delighting hundreds of thousands with their music. However, some megastars have confirmed that they will conquer more than just the Billboard charts. Take legendary artist Cher, for example — the “Goddess of Pop” didn’t just give us hits like “Consider,” she also took home an Oscar for Best Actress for her unforgettable role as Italian widow and accountant Loretta Castorini in the 1987 romantic comedy classic “Moonstruck.” This crossover has come from other artists in the genre, too.
R&B legend Mary J. Blige made waves when she became the first person to be nominated for both performance and original song in the same year for her 2017 drama Mudbound. And she’s far from alone — musicians-turned-actors have earned Emmy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA recognition, proving they’re anything but one-trick ponies.
Learn:You can see all the Oscar predictions in all 23 classes on one web page at Selection Awards Circuit: Oscars.
This year, musical artists are stepping into the spotlight as some of Hollywood’s most talked-about awards contenders. With buzz swirling, the trio of pop stars could roar across the musical genre, putting them in Oscar competition. The supporting actress category, in particular, has typically been a welcoming home for musical stars. From nominees like Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods” (2014) and Penélope Cruz in “9” (2009) to winners like Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Chicago” (2002) and Ariana DeBose in “West Side Story” (2022), many have dazzled the Academy. Notably, the recognition for the film and Zeta-Jones’s performance was strong enough to land her own musician-turned-actress co-star, Queen Latifah, a related nomination. Could this spell the same fate for Gomez and her “Emilia Pérez” lead co-star Zoe Saldaña?
Gomez (currently ranked #5 in Selection prediction charts) delivers exceptional efficiency as Jessi, the wife of a drug lord in Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez,” France’s official entry for the world feature film race. The film premiered at Cannes, where Gomez shared the Best Actress award with her co-stars Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz. Coming on the heels of her most recent Emmy nomination for her Hulu thriller comedy “Solely Murders in the Building,” Gomez is having a career-defining year that could quickly add an Oscar nomination to her list of accolades, especially with the power of Netflix.
Next up is Ariana Grande, set to take on one of the most iconic roles in musical theater history: Glinda the Good Witch in Common Photos’ highly anticipated adaptation, “Depraved.” Grande steps into the role as Kristin Chenoweth, who earned a Tony nomination for her breakout performance. While the film has yet to be screened for critics, early word is positive about Grande’s portrayal of the hilarious, scene-stealing witch. She’ll also be campaigning for supporting actress consideration, and her co-star Cynthia Erivo, herself an Oscar nominee, is vying for the lead. Set for release in November, Jon M. Chu’s big-budget spectacle could set up the potential for an acting nomination for Grande (she’s ranked No. 9 on the charts).
And indeed, we cannot fail to mention the “Mom Monster” herself, Lady Gaga, the current queen of pop and Oscar glory.
Gaga, who is in the No. 8 spot this week, is back in the running with Todd Phillips’ psychological musical thriller “Joker: Folie à Deux,” in which she stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix, who returns in his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck. Gaga plays Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, with early buzz from the Venice Movie Competition suggesting her show-stopping performances with vocal covers like “(They Long to Be) Near You” and the gospel number “Gonna Construct a Mountain.” While Gaga’s awards camp has yet to confirm her placement in the class, it will come as no surprise that she will once again be in the Oscar conversation regardless of class.
Gaga has been here before. Following Blige’s historic year, Gaga also scored double acting and songwriting nominations for 2018’s A Star Is Born, with the Grammy winner walking away with an Oscar for original song for the heartwarming hit “Shallow.” She also nearly nabbed another acting nomination three years later for her killer turn as fashionista wife Patrizia in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci (2021). However, despite earning Globe, SAG, Critics Alternative and BAFTA nominations, she was snubbed by the Academy, much to the dismay of her “Little Monsters.” With the recently announced release of her new album, Harlequin, a soundtrack for the film delivers a one-two punch of cinematic and musical brilliance.
With these pop powerhouses leading the charge, we’re set to witness one of the most exciting awards seasons in recent memory. Even Jennifer Lopez has picked up a hefty payday for her turn in the sports drama “Unstoppable,” in which she plays the supportive mother of a high school wrestler who wins a national championship despite being born with one leg. Selection even referred to it as “the most complete efficiency of display she has ever given.”
As the entertainment industry evolves, the lines between music and film blur and sometimes collide. Pop stars like Gaga, Gomez and Grande may be at the forefront of this exciting new awards season.
The post Woman Gaga, Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande in the running for an Oscar? first appeared on All celebrities.