Queen Latifah is set to grace the stage at the 2025 Academy Awards this Sunday (March 2) in honor of the late Quincy Jones. Latifah, a longtime friend of the media mogul, performed on two tracks on his 1995 album Q’s Jook Joint.
“One of the most exciting things that we’ve worked on this year is a musical performance that will tribute Quincy Jones,” said Kapoor. “We’ve planned and curated this beautiful moment that we hope will uplift the room, that will celebrate the spirit of Quincy and all of his greatness.
Kapoor added: “It’s a beautiful moment, and we think it will be very celebratory and make everybody feel really good.”
Quincy Jones Name Rings Bells at the Oscars
Quincy Jones resume in the Academy Awards doesn’t do nearly enough justice for his impact on media, but it’s impressive, nonetheless. He became the first Black musician hired as music director on the annual Oscar telecast. In 1967, he became the first Black composer to receive an Oscar nomination for best original song.
Jones received several more Oscar nominations during his lifetime, including in 1968 for Best Original Song for the Picture: “For Love of Ivy” from For Love Of Ivy; in 1978 for Best Adaptation Score for The Wiz and in 1985 for Best Original Song: “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)” from The Color Purple.
Quincy Jones, a pioneering force in music and media, passed away in November 2024 at the age of 91, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Following his death, tributes poured in from hip-hop artists celebrating the man who embraced the culture.
