Current:Home > NewsRyan Gosling joined by Slash for epic, star-studded 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars performance -Clarity Finance Guides
Ryan Gosling joined by Slash for epic, star-studded 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars performance
View
Date:2025-04-15 04:52:22
Ryan Gosling just proved he truly is "great at doing stuff."
The actor, 43, on Sunday delivered an epic live performance of the song "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie" at the Academy Awards, and he wasn't alone. Dressed in a bright pink suit, Gosling was joined on stage by a large group of dancers wearing cowboy hats, as well of several actors who played Kens in Greta Gerwig's film, including Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Ncuti Gatwa.
Gosling began the performance seated in the audience behind a visibly amused Margot Robbie before he progressed to the stage and joined the dancers on a set of bright pink stairs. The dancers carried Gosling around surrounded by cardboard cutouts of a Barbie doll before another special guest joined in: Slash on the guitar.
Gosling eventually returned to the audience, and screens in the auditorium encouraged guests to sing along by displaying the song's lyrics. Gerwig, America Ferrera and Robbie joined him, as did Gosling's "La La Land" co-star Emma Stone.
"I'm Just Ken" was one of two "Barbie" tracks nominated for best original song at the Academy Awards, with the other being Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" In the film, "I'm Just Ken" is a musical number performed in the third act after all of the Kens go to war against one another, a distraction planned by the Barbies, only to end up dancing side by side. Eilish's song ultimately won the original song Oscar shortly after Gosling's performance.
Although every nominee for best original song is traditionally performed live at the Oscars, there had initially been uncertainty about whether Gosling himself would be on stage for "I'm Just Ken." After all, he did not perform "City of Stars" when his "La La Land" song was nominated in 2017, with John Legend doing so instead.
Eilish also performed her "Barbie" song live at Sunday's Oscars. Her brother, Finneas, accompanied her on the piano.
Mark Ronson, co-writer of "I'm JustKen," recently revealed that the beloved song was almost cut from the final film.
"I thought, 'God, I hope we don't ruin it,'" he told The Sunday Times in an interview published Sunday. "At that first screening the song wasn’t working. I panicked. The humor wasn’t translating, and Greta (Gerwig) had to fight. The studio asked her how much she really needed it and she said, ‘With every inch of my body.’ And then there was a big swing."
Is Ryan Gosling a singer?
The "I'm Just Ken" number at the Oscars wasn't Gosling's first experience with live musical performances. The actor has also performed with Zach Shields in the rock duo Dead Man's Bones, which released its first album in 2009. Prior to singing in the Oscar-nominated musical "La La Land" or in "Blue Valentine," Gosling got his start on "The Mickey Mouse Club."
veryGood! (3)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Unionized Workers Making EV Batteries Downplay Politics of the Product
- Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson accused of sexual assault in new lawsuit
- 'Hotter than it's ever been': How this 93-year-old copes with Phoenix's 100-degree heat
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- James Earl Jones Dead at 93: Mark Hamill, LeVar Burton and More Pay Tribute
- North Carolina House Rep. Jeffrey Elmore resigning before term ends
- Federal criminal trial begins in death of Tyre Nichols with more than 200 potential jurors
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Rachel Zoe and Husband Rodger Berman Break Up, Divorcing After 26 Years of Marriage
Ranking
- Small twin
- Kyle Larson expected to return to Indianapolis 500 for another shot at ‘The Double’ in 2025
- Highlights as Bill Belichick makes 'Manningcast' debut during Jets vs. 49ers MNF game
- Highlights as Bill Belichick makes 'Manningcast' debut during Jets vs. 49ers MNF game
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Dakota Johnson Thought Energy Drink Celsius Was, Um, a Vitamin—And the Result Is Chaos
- Watch Louisiana tower turn into dust as city demolishes building ravaged by hurricanes
- Unbeatable Walmart Flash Deals: Save Up to 79% on Home Cleaning Essentials, Bedding, Kitchen Items & More
Recommendation
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Five charged with kidnapping migrants in US to demand families pay ransom
Beyoncé talks music, whiskey, family — and why no 'Cowboy Carter' visuals — in GQ
Dave Mason, the 'Forrest Gump of rock,' shares tales of Traffic, Beatles in memoir
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Banana Republic’s Outlet Has Luxury Fall Staples Under $60, Plus Tops & Sweaters up to 70% off Right Now
Selena Gomez reveals she can't carry a baby. It's a unique kind of grief.
Judge tosses suit seeking declaration that Georgia officials don’t have to certify election results