Oscars preview: Producers tease ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and ‘Sinners’ celebrations

The Oscars producers are turning this year’s nominated songs into big showpieces that celebrate the films behind them

The “KPop Demon Hunters” hit “Golden” has been performed quite a few times over the past few months. Singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami have made stops at Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon’s shows, the Brit Awards and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. But when they take the stage at the Oscars on Sunday, it won’t just be their, well, usual song and dance.

The producers behind the 98th Academy Awards have set out to celebrate not just the song, but the cultural phenomenon of the film itself. That logic is why the only other nominated song that will get a moment on the broadcast is “I Lied to You,” from “Sinners,” a blockbuster hit and the most-nominated film of all time.

“We have two really unique stories that are going to be celebrated on the stage,” said Oscars executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor. “They’re bigger than just the songs. They’re really about filmmaking and craft.”

Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq will be on hand for the “Sinners” moment, which aims to explore the role music plays in the film with the help of Misty Copeland, blues musicians Eric Gales, Buddy Guy and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, actors Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li as well as Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith. Kapoor said filmmaker Ryan Coogler has also been involved in putting it together.

Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan, who won Emmys for their work on the 96th Oscars, have been toiling for months putting together Sunday’s show, which will see the return of host Conan O’Brien.