Sinners star Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq performed their Best Original Song-nominated number “I Lied To You” live at the 2026 Academy Awards. They were joined by a stacked lineup including blues legend Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Shaboozey, ballerina Misty Copeland, and more. Watch it all go down below.
For their live rendition, both Saadiq and Caton played guitar while framed by the interior of Sinners’ barn set piece, complete with string lights hanging above. While dancers dressed in period-accurate clothing twirled around, a number of other musicians took the stage to sing or play guitar alongside them—including Guy, Howard, Eric Gales, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram—while figures from different generations of music and culture entered the frame.
Saadiq co-wrote “I Lied To You” with Ludwig Göransson, who is the only artist this year nominated for both Best Original Song and Best Original Score. Other Best Original Song nominees include Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s “Train Dreams” from the eponymous film, and Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna, and EJAE’s “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. The latter trio will also perform that mega hit tonight at the Oscars.
Sinners is nominated for a record-breaking 16 Academy Awards this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. So far tonight, it hasn’t brought home any statuettes.
Read Mano Sundaresan’s interview Miles Caton’s No-Brainer Playlist, revisit Paul A. Thompson’s film review of Sinners, and follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2026 Academy Awards.
