Lenny Kravitz has been chosen to perform in the In Memoriam segment at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, paying tribute to Hollywood notables in front of and behind the camera who have passed away.
Oscar producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearny asked the 58-year-old Grammy winner, who raved about co-star Jennifer Coolidge while filming in the Dominican Republic, to direct the segment.
The announcement was made on Monday morning and more news about the presenters set to take part in the annual extravaganza is expected later in the week.
Following the In Memoriam tribute, more than 200 filmmakers, artists and executives will be honored in an expanded photo gallery in A.frame, the Academy’s digital magazine.
The Fly Away artist has a long history with Hollywood. He is the only child of actress Roxie Roker and producer Sy Kravitz.
Oscars: Lenny Kravitz, 58, has been chosen to perform in the In Memoriam segment at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, paying tribute to Hollywood notables in front of and behind the camera who have died (in the photo in Los Angeles in January)
History: The Grammy winner has a long history with Hollywood. He is the only child of actress Roxie Roker and producer Sy Kravitz.
He is the father of The Batman star Zoe Kravitz, 34, whom he shares with his ex-wife Lisa Bonet.
In a 2020 chat with interview magazineThe “American Woman” singer said his upbringing in Brooklyn exposed him to theater and the arts.
The hitmaker offered that same type of experience to his daughter when she was little.
“Most of our friends were writers, sculptors, photographers, painters, actors, musicians, designers, jewelers,” he explained.
Zoe absorbed all of that, as did I. She grew up surrounded by people like Prince, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Stevie Wonder. It was very similar.
Although his main interest has been music, Lenny has put in some unforgettable screen performances.
These include Precious, The Hunger Games, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and most recently in Netflix’s romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding.
“It all started with Lee Daniels,” he revealed.
Arts: In a 2020 conversation with Interview magazine, the “American Woman” singer said his upbringing in Brooklyn exposed him to theater and the arts (pictured in Los Angeles in November 2022)
Tradition: The hitmaker offered that same kind of experience to his daughter, Zoe, 34, whom he shares with ex-wife Lisa Bonet, 55. “Most of our friends were writers, sculptors, photographers, painters, actors, musicians, designers, jewelers’ (Pictured in Los Angeles in February 2016)
Memorable Performances: Although her main focus has been music, the American Woman singer has turned in some memorable performances on screen, including The Hunger Games film series.
Recent Role: Lenny’s most recent role was for the Netflix comedy Shotgun Wedding, which starred Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.
“I’ve always been very satisfied with making music, but I was finishing up a tour and he called me and offered me a role in Precious, and I thought, ‘Why not?
More hits followed. Then they offered me The Hunger Games because the director had seen Precious. I’ve never auditioned for a movie.
The chart topper hasn’t released an album since 2018’s Raise Vibration, but in a recent Instagram post he told his fans, “I’m in the studio right now,” though there’s no word on when he’ll be releasing new music.
The 95th Academy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday.