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Pop stars take center stage at the Oscars: A new era of musical dominance
The rise of pop stars in Hollywood
Imagine an Oscars ceremony without the glitz, glamour, and a heavy dose of pop stardom. This awards season, brace yourself for a musical revolution as icons like Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande vie for acting accolades from the Academy Awards, particularly in the competitive supporting actress category.
Pop stars have long dominated the stage, captivating millions with their music. However, some megastars have proven they can conquer more than the Billboard charts. Take legendary artist Cher, for instance — the “Goddess of Pop” didn’t just give us hits like “Believe,” she also took home an Oscar for best actress for her unforgettable role in the 1987 rom-com classic Moonstruck.
Historical precedents: Musicians turned actors
The crossover from music to film is not a new phenomenon. R&B legend Mary J. Blige made waves when she became the first person to be nominated for both acting and original song in the same year for the drama Mudbound (2017). Musicians-turned-actors have earned recognition from the Emmys, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, proving they’re anything but one-trick ponies.
This year’s contenders: Gomez, Grande, and Gaga
Selena Gomez: A career-defining year
Selena Gomez is currently ranked No. 5 on prediction charts for her role as Jessi, the wife of a drug lord in Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez. The film premiered at Cannes, where Gomez shared the Best Actress prize with her co-stars. Coming on the heels of her recent Emmy acting nomination for Hulu’s mystery comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Gomez is having a career-defining year that could soon add an Oscar nomination to her list of accolades.
Ariana Grande: Stepping into iconic shoes
Ariana Grande is set to take on one of the most iconic roles in musical theater history: Glinda the Good Witch in Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated adaptation Wicked. Grande steps into the shoes once filled by Kristin Chenoweth, who earned a Tony nomination for her remarkable turn. Early word is positive on Grande’s execution of the scene-stealing and hilarious witch. With a November release, Jon M. Chu’s big-budget spectacle could create the potential of a Grande acting nod, currently ranked No. 9 on the charts.
Lady Gaga: The reigning queen
Lady Gaga, sitting at No. 8 this week, is back in the race with Todd Phillips’ psychological musical thriller Joker: Folie à Deux, where she stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix. Gaga plays Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, with early buzz from the Venice Film Festival hinting at her show-stopping performances. Gaga’s awards camp has yet to confirm her category placement, but it’ll be no surprise she’ll again be in the Oscar conversation.
Gaga has been here before. After Blige’s historic year, Gaga also landed dual nominations for acting and songwriting for A Star Is Born (2018), walking away with an Oscar for original song for “Shallow.” She nearly nabbed another acting nomination for her role in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci (2021). With the recently announced release of her new album, ”Harlequin,” a soundtrack to the film offers a one-two punch of cinematic and musical brilliance.
The broader impact: A new era of awards season
With these pop powerhouses leading the charge, we might witness one of the most thrilling awards seasons in recent memory. Even Jennifer Lopez has received strong praise for her turn in the sports drama Unstoppable, where she plays the supportive mother of a college wrestler who won a national championship despite being born with one leg.
As the entertainment industry evolves, the lines between music and film blur and often collide. Pop stars like Gaga, Gomez, and Grande could be at the forefront of this exciting new awards era.
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