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In case you haven’t had “Kenough” of Barbie, Ryan Gosling is set to perform his satirical smash hit “I’m Just Ken” at this year’s Oscars ceremony! Yes, you heard that right; the Barbie actor will be switching out his “Beach” hat for his “Singer” hat just in time for the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, and we Ken hardly wait!
Gosling, who landed a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Ken, will perform the tune alongside song writer Mark Ronson at the 2024 Oscars, Variety confirmed. Mark and fellow songwriter Andrew Wyatt earned the Best Original Song nomination.
But as Ryan’s performance approaches, we still can’t help but wonder: Did Ryan Gosling actually sing in the Barbie movie? Or was it some other Ken who delivered the powerful baritone vocals that added so much depth to the emotional (and sometimes ridiculous) number?
Did Ryan Gosling sing in Barbie?
If you had faith in The Notebook actor’s singing abilities, you’re correct! Ryan did, in fact, sing his heart out all around Barbie Land (or at least at a recording studio in London, Mark Ronson told Vanity Fair last summer) during “I’m Just Ken.”
“He really got [that] it had to walk this line of not being funny or parody,” said Mark, who had initially written the track without knowing if Ryan would end up agreeing to sing it. “So he was really amazing, and when he really did start hitting the big notes, I was like, this dude is a vocal powerhouse!”
While Ryan’s musical success in Barbie may have initially been a surprise to Mark and viewers alike, it’s not all unanticipated. Most notably, he sang “A Lovely Night” and “City of Stars” with Emma Stone in the musical La La Land. Ryan also released his own album back in 2009 with his band Dead Man’s Bones. He was even on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1993, where he sang and danced alongside other famous musicians, including Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears!
Even though the vocals are indeed Ryan’s and not a lipsync, whether or not he would bring his musical “Kenergy” to the Dolby Theatre had previously been uncertain since “I’m Just Ken” was nominated for the award in January. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” Ryan told Variety in February. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.”
Mark, who also produced Dua Lipa’s Barbie hit “Dance the Night,” expressed that an Oscars performance by Ryan is his “dream” in an interview with Variety at the Grammys. He also made it clear that he has no interest in seeing another singer sub in for Ryan at the show. “I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we’re not doing it,” the producer said.
Luckily, we can catch him singing at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 10, which will air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. ET. And don’t worry if you miss it! You can always stream Ryan’s performance on-demand on Hulu beginning Monday, March 11.
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