Queen Latifah performed at the 2025 Academy Awards tonight (March 2), where she sang The Wiz song “Ease on Down the Road” in a tribute to Quincy Jones. Surrounded by dozens of dancers, Latifah donned a gold gown and walked around the stage while belting out the musical number. Introducing the segment were Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. “When we talk about Black excellence, we’re talking about Quincy,” said Goldberg, who then highlighted how he was the first Black composer nominated in the Original Song category, back in 1967. Watch a replay of the performance below.
Jones died on November 3, 2024 at the age of 91. Though he was best known as a 28-time Grammy Award winner for his unrivaled contributions to music as a producer, songwriter, and bandleader, Jones was also a composer and producer for film as well, composing scores for The Color Purple, In Cold Blood, The Wiz, and many more.
Earlier in the evening, the Oscars also slated a James Bond tribute sung by Blackpink’s Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye; and a medley of songs inspired by The Wizard of Oz, as sung by Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Follow all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2025 Academy Awards.
https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-queen-latifah-perform-quincy-jones-tribute-at-2025-oscars
