BEVERLY HILLS—Two powerhouse vocalists have been announced as performers for the 85th Annual Academy Awards. Norah Jones who rose to critical claim with her 2002 debut album “Come Away With Me” earned the singer five Grammy Awards including Record, Song and Album of the Year. She will perform the song “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from the comedy “Ted” starring Seth MacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg. The song is up for an Oscar for Best Original Song.
“I had such a great time recording this song with Seth, and was thrilled to find out that it was nominated for an Oscar,” said Jones. “Getting to perform it at such a prestigious event, which my friend is hosting, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Since her 2002 debut album, Jones released several other solo albums including “Feels Like Home,” “Not Too Late,” “The Fall” and “Little Broken Hearts.”
“We are happy to have Norah Jones perform Seth’s and Walter Murphy’s nominated song on our Oscar telecast,” said producers Zadan and Meron. “We are big admirers of Norah’s singing and she will help celebrate the unique circumstance of having an Oscar host who is also nominated for Best Original Song.”
On Wednesday, January 30, it was announced that two-time Oscar winner Barbra Streisand will also perform at the ceremony. Streisand last performed at the ceremony back in 1977 when she sang the theme from “A Star is Born,” where she won the Best Original Song Oscar for “Evergreen.” Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Funny Girl” in 1968 and received a second nomination for Best Actress for her work in “The Way We Were” co-starring Robert Redford.
“In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music,” said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, “how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand? We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year’s Oscars, her first time singing on the show in 36 years.”
The Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The host for the ceremony will be actor and comedian Seth MacFarlane and will be telecast live on ABC at 5:30 p.m. PST. The show will be televised in more than 225 countries worldwide.
By LaDale Anderson
