We were glad to hear that the Motion Picture Academy decided to showcase performances of all five best song nominees during its 91st ceremony that airs February 24 on ABC. That announcement came in response to a backlash took place when it was originally decided that only “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” and “All the Stars” from “Black Panther” would be peformed on air.
But there was one big question mark. It was revealed that Emily Blunt, who stars as the magical nanny in “Mary Poppins Returns,” didn’t want the pressure of performing “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, that she sings in the film. We had some fun guessing which Disney-adjacent vocalist would tackle the ballad, predicting everyone from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays Jack the lamplighter in the sequel, and Angela Lansbury, who has a cameo as a balloon lady, to Meryl Streep, who plays Mary’s cousin Topsy, and Amy Adams, a supporting actress nominee for “Vice,” who appeared as a Disney princess in 2007’s “Enchanted.”
Instead, it will be the Divine Miss M herself, Bette Midler. The two-time Best Actress nominee (1979’s “The Rose” and 1991’s “For the Boys”) previously performed at the Academy Awards in 2014. She sang her now-signature song, “Wind Beneath My Wings” — the tune that Shaiman suggested she should feature in her 1988 film “Beaches” — during the In Memorium segment. The seven-time nominated tunesmith, who worked as Midler’s musical director for many years, is expected to accompany her on the piano.
Midler made the announcement on Twitter. No less than than Nancy Sinatra tweeted her approval : “It’s a lovely song. Perfect for you!”
So, (drum roll) Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be chanteusing (that's singing) on the Oscars on Feb 24…the nominated song from "Mary Poppins"…"The Place Where Lost Things Go" …so excited!!
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 17, 2019
