Beyonce is reportedly in talks to sing her Academy Award-nominated track for the Oscars on Sunday, from the tennis courts where Venus and Serena Williams began their sports careers.
The chart-topper co-wrote the song Be Alive with Dixson for the Will Smith-led movie King Richard, which tells the story of the two tennis stars’ father and coach, Richard Williams.
The film is up for six Oscars in total, including best film.
According to Variety, multiple sources claim the Academy is ‘pulling out all the stops’ to make the performance happen, and it’s one that’s been earmarked as a possible show opener.
It’s said the current plan – which has been in talks for a week – involves the Halo songstress singing live from courts in Compton, California, with the possibility of best actor nominee Will Smith appearing onsite alongside Beyonce before hotfooting it across town to Hollywood in time for his category announcement.
There are multiple courts in the City of Compton, but the Lueders Park courts – which were officially rebranded as the Venus and Serena Williams Court of Champion in 2016 – could be a likely contender.
Although a first-time nominee, this is not the first time Beyonce will have performed at the Academy Awards.
She performed various songs from the best original song category at the 2005 ceremony, as well as alongside Dreamgirls co-stars Anika Noni Rose and subsequent Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson in 2007.
In 2009, she appeared alongside host Hugh Jackman in his grand production number celebrating all things movie musicals.
Billie Eilish is also said to be in talks to perform, as a fellow best original song nominee for No Time To Die, the title song from the latest instalment of the James Bond franchise.
The song, co-written by Eilish’s brother Finneas O’Connell, has already picked up several awards including the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award for best song.
The Bad Guy singer previously said she worried No Time To Die would ‘not be good enough’ for Daniel Craig and ‘did not feel worthy’ to write it.
It is also reported that Van Morrison, who is nominated for best song for Down To Joy from Belfast, is also in talks to perform.
Other contenders for best song are Lin Manuel Miranda’s Dos Oruguitas from Encanto and Diane Warren’s Somehow You Do from Four Good Days.
The Academy is yet to announce the official musical line-up for the ceremony, although it has been revealed that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s latest earworm We Don’t Talk About Bruno, from Disney’s Encanto, will be performed – despite not being nominated.
Scores of big names have also been named for presenting duties, including Stephanie Beatriz, DJ Khaled, Elliot Page, Jennifer Garner, comedian Bill Murray and skateboarder Tony Hawk.
The list also includes Mila Kunis, John Travolta, Daniel Kaluuya and Wesley Snipes, as well as Zoe Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Lily James, Uma Thurman and Rami Malek.
Anthony Hopkins, who was named best actor last year, will also make an appearance at the ceremony which will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Beyonce and the Academy for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Why did it take Will Smith to raise the salary of Black women in Hollywood?
