Oklahoma Osage composer to perform 'Killers of the Flower Moon' song on the Academy Awards

Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
Scott George is an Osage Nation tribal member based in Del City who is the first Osage Oscar nominee. He wrote for “Killers of the Flower Moon” the Oscar-nominated original song “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People).” George is the first Indigenous nominee in the original song category in Oscars history.
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Oscar-nominated Oklahoman Scott George and a group of his fellow Osage Nation singers will perform live on the 96th Academy Awards.

George earned an Oscar nomination for best original song for writing the music and lyrics to “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People),” which was prominently featured in Martin Scorsese’s Oklahoma-made historical epic “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

The Del City resident is the first Indigenous nominee in the best original song category as well as the first member of the Osage Nation to be nominated for an Academy Award.

“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” was performed by the Osage Tribal Singers and is featured in the best picture-nominated movie's final scenes, which depict members of the tribe dancing around the singers as they play a large drum.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that all five best original song nominees will be performed live on this year's Academy Awards, which will take place Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and be televised live on ABC.

The Oscar nominees for best original songs and the performers are:

  • “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from "Killers of the Flower Moon," music and lyric by Scott George, to be performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers.

  • “The Fire Inside” from "Flamin’ Hot," music and lyric by Diane Warren, to be performed by Becky G.

  • “I’m Just Ken” from "Barbie," music and lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, to be performed by Ryan Gosling and Ronson.

  • “It Never Went Away” from "American Symphony," music and lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, to be performed by Batiste.

  • “What Was I Made For?” from "Barbie," music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, to be performed by Eilish and O’Connell.

George's best original song nod is among the 10 nominations "Killers of the Flower Moon" received for this year's Academy Awards.

George and the Osage Tribal Singers previously performed the song at the Los Angeles premiere of "Killers of the Flower Moon" and at a special screening of the movie at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Osage singers to perform 'Killers of the Flower Moon' song at Oscars