The Weeknd Scores Oscar Nomination
The Weeknd can add Oscar nominee to his résumé. The singer-songwriter scored a nomination at the 88th annual Academy Awards, it was announced today.
His chart-topping hit “Earned It” off the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack is up in the Original Song category. His fellow nominees include Lady Gaga and Diane Warren (“Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground), Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes (“Writing’s On the Wall” from Spectre), David Lang (“Simple Song #3” from Youth), and J. Ralph and Antony Hegarty (“Manta Ray” from Racing Extinction).
Congrats to our Original Song nominees #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/Q9eW5OIOWG
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 14, 2016
A humbled Weeknd took to Twitter to react to the honor. “It can’t get more surreal than this. thank you for the recognition @TheAcademy . truly a proud moment,” he tweeted.
Fresh off her Golden Globes win, Lady Gaga thanked The Academy for acknowledging the film The Hunting Ground. “This nomination lends a voice to victims and survivors all over the world,” she said. “Thank you to The Academy for recognizing the movement of people who have come together for this film and song in the name of sexual assault. Myself and Diane are simply honored to represent the voices of so many survivors.”
Sam Smith also celebrated his first Oscar nomination, writing, “Unreal. Freaking out. Thank you Academy – Thank You Thank You Thank You.”
it can't get more surreal than this. thank you for the recognition @TheAcademy . truly a proud moment.
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 14, 2016
This is my Oscar Nomination face. Unreal. Freaking out. Thank you Academy – Thank You Thank You… https://t.co/Penjai6TIk
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) January 14, 2016
Til It Happens To You my original score with @Diane_Warren for "The Hunting Ground" was nominated for an OSCAR 🎹 pic.twitter.com/S7kJZAY6u5
— The Countess (@ladygaga) January 14, 2016
The N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton was shut out of the Best Picture and acting categories, but received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Find out who wins when Chris Rock hosts the 88th Academy Awards, airing live on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.