The 2026 Oscars delivered a surprise high point when Misty Copeland joined Miles Caton and a lineup of blues and rock luminaries to perform “I Lied to You” from the film Sinners — a theatrical sequence that echoed the movie’s genre-bending energy and earned a standing ovation.

What happened on stage

Just under an hour into the Academy Awards telecast, Miles Caton — making his film debut in Sinners alongside Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo — took the stage on a recreation of the film’s dim juke joint to sing the Raphael Saadiq-penned track.

The performance slowly built from swampy guitar lines into a full-blown homage to the blues, with dancers, DJs and guest vocalists joining in as the staging shifted and swelled. The live number captured the film’s slow-burn theatricality and was one of only two Best Original Song nominees showcased live during the ceremony.

The cast on stage

  • Miles Caton — lead vocal presence and the film’s newcomer.
  • Raphael Saadiq — co-performer and songwriter, positioned at turntables.
  • Misty Copeland — the former American Ballet Theatre principal, entering mid-performance to add striking choreographed movement.
  • Featured musicians including Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.
  • Fellow Sinners cast members Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li.

The production also referenced the film’s kaleidoscopic staging, briefly incorporating elements such as traditional Chinese opera dancers and ballerinas to reflect how the movie blends styles across eras.

Fashion, comeback and a public reply

On the red carpet earlier that night Copeland arrived in a tuxedo-inspired David Koma ensemble that nodded to her ballet roots — a blazer with billowing tulle and a flowing skirt — accessorized with high-value Jared diamonds. Her appearance felt like a comeback: Copeland underwent total hip replacement surgery in December after retiring from American Ballet Theatre the previous fall.

Her Oscars presence also followed a public exchange with actor Timothée Chalamet, who said at a February town hall that “no one cares” about ballet and opera. Copeland responded at a panel that “He wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet.” The remark helped frame her Oscars night as both artistic celebration and cultural answer.

Why it matters now

“I Lied to You” has already collected awards from the Guild of Music Supervisors and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and its Oscar nomination is the song’s highest-profile recognition to date. The televised performance gave broader exposure to Miles Caton and reinforced Sinners’ festival-to-mainstream momentum.

Fans and industry observers are likely to watch the film’s soundtrack and awards trajectory closely now that the Oscars spotlight has amplified its crossover appeal — and many viewers are already asking whether Sinners could be adapted further for the stage or concert platforms.

For audiences, the night was a reminder that the Oscars can still create must-see musical moments: a singular mix of film, live music and a ballet silhouette that swept the Dolby Theatre and social feeds alike.