R&B legend Mary J. Blige is not only a two-time Oscar nominee this year, she is a performer, too. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul will perform her Oscar-nominated song “Mighty River” at the 90th Academy Awards.
While discussing her Oscar attire and how she celebrated her double nods news with Diddy and friends, Blige tells Entertainment Tonight that she intends performing the powerful ballad from the Mudbound film. “This is all beautiful. This is the thing we dream about,” she says.
Blige made history as the first person ever to score nods for a performance and original song in the same year, for the same film. “My phone rang at about 5:30 a.m. and it was my publicist, Amanda, and she was screaming. And I don’t know what it is so I’m screaming and I’m crying! It’s just a really emotional time. We’re not taking this lightly because things like this don’t happen. And it did.”
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 90th Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, March 4 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.