Ryan Gosling is set to perform “I’m Just Ken” live at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday, March 10. Variety was first to report the news.
It had been uncertain if Gosling would agree to perform the song, which is a comic highlight of Barbie. He and Emma Stone declined to perform “City of Stars” from La La Land on the Oscar telecast seven years ago — and “City of Stars,” a loping, easy-tempo ballad, is a much easier song to sing live than “I’m Just Ken,” a dynamic, comic showcase.
When Gosling and Stone passed on performing “City of Stars,” Oscar producers enlisted John Legend, who also appeared in La La Land, to perform the song – and also a second nominated song from the film, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” “City of Stars” went on to win the Oscar for best original song.
Gosling is nominated for best supporting actor for Barbie. Robert Downey Jr. is widely expected to win in that category for his performance in Oppenheimer, but Gosling has the opportunity to bring the house down.
In a Variety cover story in early February, Gosling said that the Academy hadn’t yet asked him to perform. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” he said. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.”
Mark Ronson, who wrote the song with Andrew Wyatt, told Variety at the Grammys that he wasn’t interested in any other singer subbing for Gosling on the Oscars. When asked if he’d consider a sub, Ronson said, “No. I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we’re not doing it.”
“I’m Just Ken” is one of two Barbie songs that received an Oscar nomination for best original song. The other is “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas. Barbie might very well have received a third nomination in that category for “Dance the Night,” which Ronson and Wyatt co-wrote with Dua Lipa and Caroline Ailin, but Oscar rules limit films to two nominations in that category.
In a conversation on Billboard’s Pop Shop podcast, Ronson agreed that the exclusion of “Dance the Night” made his nod for “I’m Just Ken” feel “bittersweet.”
“It is because Dua’s song is still the biggest song from the soundtrack and Dua was really the first artist of anywhere near her stature that committed to the film. It really set the bar for what the whole soundtrack could be,” he said. “So Dua definitely deserves all the credit for that, and it would have been lovely to have her as well.”
The 96th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on March 10 at the new, earlier time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the show for the fourth time. It will be held at its usual home, the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
While the Academy hasn’t officially confirmed Gosling’s booking, they have announced the first presenters for the Oscar telecast, including Zendaya and Jamie Lee Curtis.
