Sinners star Miles Caton delivers electrifying ‘I Lied to You’ performance at the 2026 Oscars

Sinners star Miles Caton delivers electrifying ‘I Lied to You’ performance at the 2026 Oscars

• Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq performed I Lied to You at Oscars
• Stage recreated a 1930s juke joint to honor Black music history
• Misty Copeland, Brittany Howard, and Buddy Guy performed.

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The 98th Academy Awards witnessed one of the most memorable musical moments in recent Oscars history when Sinners star Miles Caton delivered a powerful live performance that brought the entire audience at the Dolby Theatre to its feet.

Caton, joined by acclaimed musician Raphael Saadiq, performed their Academy Award nominated song I Lied to You, a standout track from the film Sinners. The performance recreated one of the film’s most striking musical scenes and turned the Oscars stage into a vibrant tribute to the history and influence of Black music in the United States.

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The stage design carefully mirrored the film’s setting an old factory transformed into a lively juke joint. Juke joints were informal venues popular in the American South where African American communities gathered for music, dancing, food and celebration. The recreated set immediately transported viewers into the atmospheric world of the film.

With guitars in hand, Caton and Saadiq began the performance surrounded by an ensemble of dancers dressed in period inspired costumes reflecting the 1930s era. The choreography, lighting and staging captured the raw energy and soul of the scene, echoing the emotional power that made the sequence so memorable in the film.

As the music built, the performance expanded into a larger celebration of musical traditions that shaped American culture. Just like the film’s genre bending narrative that blends history, music and supernatural elements, the live performance brought together artists from different musical backgrounds.

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American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland added a graceful visual dimension to the stage, while Grammy winning singer Brittany Howard delivered powerful vocals. Country rapper Shaboozey also joined the performance, adding a contemporary musical layer to the blues driven composition.

The tribute continued with appearances from legendary blues musicians who helped highlight the song’s roots. Blues producer Bobby Rush, guitarist Eric Gales, acclaimed blues artist Christone Kingfish Ingram and singer Alice Smith all contributed to the performance, creating a rich and layered musical experience.

Several members of the Sinners cast also appeared during the performance, including Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Jack O’Connell, Lola Kirke and Peter Dreimanis. Legendary blues icon Buddy Guy, who made a cameo appearance in the film’s mid credits scene, also joined the celebration on stage.

The powerful tribute not only honored the film’s musical heritage but also celebrated the long lasting cultural contributions of Black artists across generations.

With Sinners leading the Oscars race with a remarkable 16 nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, the performance of I Lied to You has already become one of the defining highlights of the night.

As the final notes echoed through the Dolby Theatre, the crowd rose for a standing ovation, confirming that the performance will likely be remembered as one of the most unforgettable musical moments in Oscars history.