Screams of joy could be heard from Adeletes around the world this morning after the Academy announced that Grammy-winning superstar Adele would preform during this year’s 85th Academy Awards.
Adele, along with co-writer Paul Epworth, is nominated in the best original song category for “Skyfall” the title track of the 2012 billion dollar blockbuster. In a statement released from the Academy Adele noted,”It’s an honour to be nominated and terrifyingly wonderful to be singing in front of people who have captured my imagination over and over again. It’s something I’ve never experienced and probably only ever will once!”
“Skyfall” is the first song from a James Bond film to be nominated since “For Your Eyes Only” in 1981. The single hit no. 8 on the Billboard 100 and sold over 1.3 million digital downloads in the U.S. It already won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice’ Award for best original song and is nominated for British Single of the year at the 2013 BRIT Awards.
“We have enormous respect for Adele’s unique artistry as a songwriter and a singer,” said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of this year’s Academy Awards show. “She is currently one of the most successful recording artists in the world, and we believe that her performance of ‘Skyfall’ will be an exciting Oscar moment for audiences watching at the Dolby Theatre™ and on television screens around the world.”
This will be the first time Adele has preformed live since giving birth to her son on Oct. 19, 2012. Moreover, this may be the first time she sings “Skyfall” live as she was unable to help promote the single because of her pregnancy and birth.
ABC executives are also no doubt giving a sigh of relief that they will be able to publicize Adele’s involvement during this year’s show. The 24-year-old dominated last year’s Grammy Awards telecast winning six awards and helping to propel the show’s second highest ratings in history. In fact, it edged out the Oscars for one of the first times ever.
It’s unclear whether Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson will perform their nominated songs, but you can bet Oscar host Seth MacFarlane finds time to belt out “Everybody Needs a Best Friend.”
The 85th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24 live on ABC beginning at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT.