Billboard was inside Hollywood’s Dolby Theater on Sunday night to cover all the Kenergy.
Finneas O’Connell and Billie Eilish accept the Best Original Song award for ‘What Was I Made For?’ from “Barbie” from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Fan it,” instructs Emily Blunt with a bit of humor, speaking of her dress’ train as she prepares to enter the Dolby Theater’s main floor seating. Meanwhile, a showrunner whispers into her walkie-talkie that Bradley Cooper should really be in his seat by now for the top of the show as Mark Ronson and wife Grace Gummer gently ask to be pointed to their own seats. And just outside the theater, Anya Taylor-Joy glides into the lobby as Ramy Youssef is deep in conversation as Emma Stone hangs back by the bar.
Yet, despite all the commotion, as the countdown clock soon begins — signaling the impending start of the 96th Academy Awards — almost everyone (except for Michelle Yeoh and Mark Ruffalo, who file in as the lights dim) manages to take their places in time. Because if this crowd knows one thing, it’s to not miss their cue.
By the end of the evening, Oppenheimer had won big – taking home seven trophies, including for best picture — but it was Barbie that ruled the night. Not only did the show open with host Jimmy Kimmel edited into one particular sequence from the film, but Hollywood’s biggest names were lining up to meet Greta Gerwig during commercial breaks or take selfies with cast members (one of Ryan Gosling with Lily Gladstone does indeed exist).
Plus, Barbie was the only film to produce two best original song-nominated hits. Billie Eilish and Finneas won with “What Was I Made For” – a historic feat that made the pair the youngest two-time Oscar winners in any category – but Ryan Gosling won the room with his grandiose performance of “I’m Just Ken.”
Billboard had a coveted seat inside the Hollywood venue on Sunday night (March 10) to cover all the action and keep a detailed account of the best moments the cameras didn’t catch.
Below are seven major moments from the 2024 Academy Awards that you likely didn’t see.
Sometimes, you just have to be there to feel the Kenergy.
The Big Announcer Reveal
Just before showtime, a man takes center stage – and has plenty to say. “Y’all are going to be hearing from me for the rest of the night,” he says, introducing himself to be the actor and comedian David Alan Grier, who will be the evening’s announcer.
“We’re here for a good time not a long time, so keep these speeches short,” he instructs, advising against thanking agents, publicists, accountants or anybody else. “Now I’m getting side-eye from [those people],” he says with a laugh. (And ironically, he created a running joke for the night as winners including Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Robert Downey Jr notably did thank their publicists and accountants, respectively).
“Everybody wants to say something that will be remembered tomorrow,” continues Grier. “Remember these words: don’t f— this up!”
Seeing What Billie and Finneas Were Really Made For
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Billie Eilish and Finneas are up first to perform their best original song contender, “What Was I Made For?” The bittersweet Barbie hit required a quiet room to hear Eilish’s delicate and airy vocals over Finneas on piano – which the captivated audience had no problem with.
As the song ended, Barbie star and producer Margot Robbie turned to Billie and Finneas’ parents who were seated just behind her in the third row to give a sympathetic smile, nodding in awe of the superstar siblings. Best supporting actress nominee America Ferrera approaches Billie and Finn’s parents next, speaking with them during the commercial break. And finally, once Billie and Finneas return to the main floor, they’re greeted by director Greta Gerwig and Barbie music supervisor George Drakoulias as they make their way back to their seats, giving Robbie a hug before reuniting with their proud parents.
John Cena Bares All For a Bit — And It Lands
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Variety
After host Jimmy Kimmel recalls the infamous streaking indecent at the 46th Academy Awards in 1974, he signals to someone backstage that it’s their time to shine. Soon enough, that person is revealed to be a (almost) fully nude John Cena, who has been enlisted to be the evening’s pre-approved streaker.
After some hesitation, he walks onstage with the award envelope (fittingly, for best costume design) covering his lower region. Luckily, the audience was fully into the bit – genuinely laughing and partially in shock – at Cena’s own commitment. It wasn’t until he ran into Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson backstage that he finally broke character, allowing himself to laugh with everyone else.
Lily Gladstone’s Unwavering Support
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Lily Gladstone stays standing during the celebratory performance of “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” the best original song contender from Killers of the Flower Moon. Led by composer Scott George, the performance features the Osage Tribal Singers, including nine drummers and 19 others who sing and dance as a unit.
As the performance ends, Gladstone and at least two other women in the audience (both of whom also stood throughout the performance) are among the first and loudest to applaud – though an overwhelming standing ovation quickly follows.
The “I’m Just Ken” Teases
During a commercial break for those at home, the audience at the Oscars was treated to a teaser clip for the upcoming and highly-anticipated “I’m Just Ken” performance. A video of actor Simu Liu (who has a supporting role in Barbie) begins to play, for which he speaks to the crowd from a makeup chair backstage. He asks that fans turn their camera flashlights on for the end of the “Ken” performance, and teases a special singalong moment – calling out Cillian Murphy specifically, saying even he should participate.
Soon after, as John Mulaney introduces the award for best sound, the cameramen pull off a quick and subtle costume change, donning matching black cowboy hats and signaling that the moment so many have waited for is mere minutes away.
Ken’s Fan Club
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Just offstage, a man wearing a sparkling hot pink suit and sunglasses can be seen looking a little too cool – staring somewhere in the distance. Sure enough, it’s Ryan Gosling – or perhaps in this moment, he’s just Ken. He is soon waved in and walks back to his seat, situated just behind his Barbie co-star Margot Robbie and in front of his best original song competitor Billie Eilish.
As the cowboy hat-wearing camera crew takes their place, Gosling’s sister Mani gives her brother a side hug for support. Robbie then turns around to likely share her own words of encouragement, after which Gosling turns to Eilish who squeezes his gloved hand before patting him on the back. By then, the Kenergy is too much – it’s go time.
Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish’s Girlhood Goals
Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish have long been fans of one another. The two first met at Coachella in 2019 and tonight reunite in a major way. Not only was Grande shown giving a standing ovation following Billie and Finneas’ performance of “What Was I Made For?” but now, Grande – alongside Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo – has the pleasure of announcing the best original song winner — for which Eilish and Finneas are nominated.
Grande audibly gasps opening the envelope while a smile takes over her face as she announces that Billie and Finneas just won their second best original song trophy. And as soon as Billie steps onstage, she and Grande fall into a celebratory embrace. After she and Finneas deliver their acceptance speech, Billie turns back to Grande and Erivo to silently scream – but as they all started to walk offstage, Billie and Grande can’t help but let out a celebratory squeal as they hug once more – all in the name of girlhood, of course.
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