Sophia Michaels
Music aficionados eagerly anticipate the Academy Awards each year to find out who will take home the award for Best Original Song. This category was first introduced in 1934, when “The Continental” from “The Gay Divorcee” won the honor. Since then, many celebrated artists have been awarded this prestigious accolade, including Lionel Richie, John Legend, Adele, and Billie Eilish.
In order to be nominated for this award, the songwriter must have composed the piece specifically for a film. The rules state that the song must include both original lyrics and music, and must be featured in the body of the movie or as the first music cue in the end credits.
One of the most exciting parts of this category is seeing which stars will perform their nominated song on the show. Over the years, there have been many memorable performances, including Rihanna’s 2023 performance of “Lift Me Up” from the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack.
The winners of this award have been both deserving and sometimes unexpected. To take a look at some of the most memorable Best Original Song Oscar winners throughout history, scroll ahead.
