Miles Caton, Raphael Saadiq and the Sinners family hit the Dolby Theatre at the 2026 Oscars to perform a smashing rendition of the nominated song “I Lied to You.”
The first of two performances from the best original song nominees, Saadiq, co-writer of the song, kicked off the performance as Caton followed him to perform the genre-blending track. Mirroring the scene from the film where his character Sammie Moore performs the song, the act featured a number of performers and musical sounds from across time periods and cultures.
Caton, who sings the vocals for the song, was joined by a few of his co-stars onstage, including Li Jun Li, Jayme Lawson and Jack O’Connell. A myriad of artists were also included in the performance, including Grammy-winner Shaboozey, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy (who plays an older Sammie Moore in Sinners), Alice Smith, Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush and retired American Ballet Theatre dancer Misty Copeland.
After the performance was over, the cameras panned over to director Ryan Coogler and best actor nominee Michael B. Jordan, beaming in support of their co-stars.
“I Lied to You’s” Oscar nomination made up one of Sinners‘ record-breaking 16 nominations, the most of any film ever at the Academy Awards.
This year, only two best original song nominees are being performed from the Oscars state. “I Lied to You” from Sinners and “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters were the select two tracks slated for performances after last year’s show cut the best song performances, with the adjustment made in part to keep the telecast from running overtime, particularly with the addition of a new award, for best casting, this year.
The 2026 winner for best original song has yet to be announced.
Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan and producer Taryn Hurd shared a letter to this year’s music nominees that clarified that the Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters songs were specifically selected as they “have played a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year,” teasing “segments designed to honor how music helped these stories resonate worldwide.”
In their letter, Oscars producers promised that all best song “nominees are being treated with the same care, storytelling focus and intention as the other awards categories — all of which will be included on the show.”
Caton previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the love the track had been receiving since Sinners came out has been “a dream come true.” He also reflected on “I Lied to You” being nominated for a Grammy: “I couldn’t even see this far past to the award season and all of this other stuff, so to be here, to be nominated, it is just amazing. I’m proud of the music that we created on this film as well.”
The 98th Oscars were held Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, where Conan O’Brien returned for his second time as host.
See the full list of 2026 Oscar winners here and check out all the dazzling red carpet looks here.
