HOLLYWOOD, CA – Broadcasting live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the 94th Annual Academy Awards returned with a jam-packed, three-hour long ceremony that featured a night of historic wins, stunning performances, and a true celebration of film.
After three years sans an official host, the Academy Awards returned with not one, but three hosts as Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes came together to form the ultimate comedic trifecta.
Kicking off the show with her first live performance in two years, Beyoncé delivered a powerful performance of her Oscar-nominated song “Be Alive,” from the film “King Richard.”
Introduced by Serena and Venus Williams, the 28-time Grammy Award winner performed via satellite from the Tragniew Park tennis courts in Compton where the Williams sisters once practiced as children.
The telecast also featured an A-list roster of presenters from all areas of pop culture including: Daniel Kaluuya, Halle Bailey, Lady Gaga, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Mamoa, Rami Malek, H.E.R., Chris Rock, Wesley Snipes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and more.
After receiving her first Oscar nomination for her performance as Anita in “West Side Story,” Ariana DeBose took home the award for Best Supporting Actress.
DeBose also made history as she became the first Afro Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award for acting.
“To anybody who has ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever, or you find yourself living in the gray space, I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us,” Debose said during her acceptance speech.
Troy Kotsur also celebrated a historic win, as he became the first deaf actor to win an Academy Award for acting. The “CODA” actor nabbed the Best Supporting Actor award and became the second deaf performer to win an Oscar.
The acclaimed animated Disney film “Encanto,” won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
“The Queen of Basketball,” which celebrated the story of Lusia Harris, who became the first and only woman to be drafted into the NBA, won the Oscar for Best Short Subject Documentary.
“Summer of Soul,” which was directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, won the award for Best Documentary Feature.
Throughout the night, viewers were treated to incredible performances by Sebastián Yatra (“Dos Oruguitas”), Reba McEntire (“Somehow You Do”) and Billie Eilish and Finneas (“No Time To Die”).
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas ultimately won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
In addition, the cast of “Encanto,” who were also joined by fellow artists Becky G, Luis Fonsi, Sheila E., and Megan Thee Stallion, came together to deliver an unforgettable performance of the film’s hit track “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”
Jane Campion nabbed the Oscar for Best Director for her film “The Power of the Dog.”
After receiving three previous nominations throughout his career, Will Smith won his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in “King Richard.”
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses that played Venus and Serena,” Smith said in his emotional acceptance speech.
“I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. I know to do what we do, you got to be able to take abuse,” Smith continued. “You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you got to smile and you got to pretend like that’s okay.”
In his speech, Smith also apologized for the incident that occurred between him and Chris Rock, in which Smith slapped the comedian after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
For her role as televangelist Tammy Faye, Jessica Chastain took home the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The ensemble cast and crew of “CODA,” closed out the show with another historic win, as it marked the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to win the night’s top award for Best Picture.
