Janelle Monae, Billy Porter Open 2020 Oscars With Nods To Mr. Rogers, Elton John, More [Watch]

Janelle Monae and Billy Porter paid tribute to the year’s biggest films last night when they opened the 2020 Oscars with a musical medley.

After singing the theme song to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, an homage to the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Monae continued the opening medley with her original “Come Alive”. Here, she used her spotlight to shed light on important social issues, especially as they related to the 92nd Annual Academy Awards.

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Her backup dancers donned outfits honoring movies like Dolemite Is My Name, Us, and Queen & Slime. All of these movies contained primarily black casts, and none of them received a nomination at the event. Additionally, she changed the lyrics to “Come Alive”, singing, “It’s time to come alive because the Oscars is so white,” highlighting the fact that only one actor of color was nominated throughout the entire evening.

Billy Porter joined Monae as she moved into a cover of Elton John‘s “I’m Still Standing”, a nod to the eventual Oscar-winning biopic, Rocketman. The two traded vocal harmonies before Monae moved back into “Come Alive”. Monae then told the crowd: “We celebrate all the women who directed phenomenal films,” none of whom received a nomination. She continued, “and I’m so proud to stand here as a black, queer artist telling stories…Happy Black History Month!”

Watch Janelle Monae perform at the 2020 Oscars below.

Janelle Monae w/ Billy Porter – “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Theme” > “Come Alive” > “I’m Alive” > “Come Alive” – 2/9/20

[Video: ABC]

Janelle Monae currently has one scheduled performance at BottleRock Festival in Napa, CA on May 22nd-24th. Click here for more information.