The nominations for the 2025 Oscars have been announced and have seen Timothée Chalamet join the list of actors who have been recognized for their portrayals of musicians. Timothée Chalamet starred as American singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, in the musical drama movie, A Complete Unknown, which explored the early stages of Dylan’s career in the 1960s, when he travels to New York to achieve his dream of becoming an admired musician. The movie explored Dylan’s struggles to adapt to the industry’s expectations of his work, and the troubles he faced after being booed at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

A Complete Unknown was widely praised by critics, with many positively comparing Timothée Chalamet’s performance to the real Bob Dylan. The movie received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Timothée Chalamet’s performance in the movie earned him his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor, which has the potential to break an Oscars record held for 21 years. Chalamet’s Best Actor nomination sees him become one of several notable actors who have received Oscar nominations for their portrayals of musicians.

1

Larry Parks As Al Jolson (Nominated)

Best Actor – The Jolson Story (1946)

Directed by Alfred E. Green, The Jolson Story explores the life and career of Al Jolson from his time performing on stage to receiving worldwide acclaim after appearing in the first sound movie, The Jazz Singer. The movie received six Oscar nominations in 1946, winning two for Best Scoring and Best Sound Recording.

While the movie later received criticism for its fictionalized portrayal of Jolson’s life, Larry Parks received high praise for his performance and received his first and only Oscar nomination in his career for Best Actor. Parks later portrayed Al Jolson in the 1949 sequel, Jolson Sings Again.

2

Susan Hayward As Jane Froman (Nominated)

Best Actor – With a Song In My Heart (1951)

Susan Hayward starred in With a Song In My Heart as Jane Froman, an American singer, who began her career as a radio singer, but eventually rose to become a popular performer. The movie depicts how Froman’s career was negatively impacted after a plane crash in 1943, but she was able to recover enough to perform for soldiers during World War II.

With a Song In My Heart was widely praised upon its release, receiving five Oscar nominations and winning for Best Scoring of a Musical. Susan Hayward received her third Oscar nomination for her performance as Jane Froman and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

3

Susan Hayward As Lillian Roth (Nominated)

Best Actress – I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955)

Adapted from Lillian Roth’s 1954 biography, I’ll Cry Tomorrow depicts Roth’s rise to become a popular and successful musical performer and her later struggles with alcoholism and domestic abuse. Roth’s biography is considered one of the first to depict the harsh realities of stardom and the problems with alcohol addiction (via The New York Times).

The movie was described as a tragic and unique depiction of a singer’s inner struggles. I’ll Cry Tomorrow is recognized for being Susan Hayward’s first time singing in a movie, and was the fourth biopic of her career. She received her fourth Oscar nomination for her performance as Lillian Roth, and won Best Actress at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.

4

Diana Ross As Billie Holiday (Nominated)

Best Actress – Lady Sings The Blues (1972)

Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Lady Sings the Blues depicts the difficult life of Billie Holiday, who is regarded as one of the most legendary jazz singers in history. As a young girl, Holiday worked in brothels, suffering from abuse, while dreaming of becoming a professional singer. The movie depicts how Billie Holiday received her big break when she agreed to be the lead singer of the Reg Hanley Band. As Holliday’s career rises, she has to deal with the pressures of fame and an eventual descent into alcoholism and drug abuse.

Lady Sings the Blues was the movie debut of Diana Ross and critics considered her performance of Billie Holiday as the highlight of the movie. Reviews praised Ross for her accurate depiction of Holiday, with her acting described as “a tribute to Billie Holiday, not an impersonation” (via Roger Ebert). She received her first and only Oscar nomination for her performance as Billie Holiday in 1973.

5

Gary Busey As Buddy Holly (Nominated)

Best Actor – The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

Gary Busey portrayed rock singer, Buddy Holly, in Steve Rash’s The Buddy Holly Story in 1978. The movie depicts Holly’s time as the lead singer of the band, The Cricketts, his romance with receptionist, Maria Elena Santiago, and his eventual success with singles including “That’ll Be The Day” and “Peggy Sue.”

Despite being 33 at the time he portrayed 22-year-old Buddy Holly, Busey was widely praised for his portrayal of the singer.

Despite being 33 at the time he portrayed 22-year-old Buddy Holly, Busey was widely praised for his portrayal of the singer, with critics stating it “gives the movie an analogous conviction and distinction” (via Washington Post). Nominated for Best Actor in 1978, the role of Buddy Holly is still considered the best of Busey’s entire career.

6

Sissy Spacek As Loretta Lynn (Won)

Best Actress – Coal Miner’s Daughter (1979)

Loretta Lynn is known as one of the most successful country singers in history, having released 24 No. 1 singles and 11 albums across her career. Her career and marriage to Doolittle Lynn, was chronicled in the 1979 movie, Coal Miner’s Daughter, directed by Michael Apted. The movie depicts how Lynn left her poor upbringing behind after marrying her husband, and the two work together to establish her music career.

Sissy Spacek was chosen by Loretta Lynn for the movie, and the two developed a close friendship during production. Spacek spent months learning about Lynn’s life and practicing how to emulate her singing style. Spacek’s dedication to the role earned Spacek the Oscar for Best Actress in 1979.

7

Jessica Lange As Patsy Cline (Nominated)

Best Actress – Sweet Dreams (1985)

Directed by Karel Reisz, Sweet Dreams focuses on the life of country singer, Patsy Cline, from 1956 until her tragic death in a plane crash in 1963. Starring Jessica Lange as Cline, the movie follows the singer’s tumultuous marriage to Charlie Dick and her rise to become one of the first successful female country singers.

The movie received some criticism from the singer’s close relations for its historical inaccuracies, with Cline’s mother expressing her disapproval of the final product. Regardless, Lange’s performance as Patsy Cline was received with praise and is considered one of her most underrated roles (via Backstage). Sweet Dreams earned her a nomination for Best Actress, the fourth in her career.

8

Angela Bᴀssett As Tina Turner (Nominated)

Best Actress – What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Angela Bᴀssett starred as rock singer, Tina Turner in the 1993 biographical movie, What’s Love Got To Do With It. Directed by Brian Gibson, the movie follows Anna Mae Bullock’s humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, until meeting talent scout, Ike Turner and establishing herself as Tina Turner. The two start to work together and eventually start a romance, but their professional and personal lives are heavily impacted by jealousy and abuse.

Angela Bᴀssett underwent heavy training for the role of Tina Turner, learning all of Turner’s mannerisms and choreography for the movie. She later revealed that she felt she had “a huge responsibility” to provide a strong depiction of Turner’s life (via Variety). What’s Love Got To Do With It is considered one of Angela Bᴀssett’s best movies, and she received her first Oscar nomination for her performance.

9

Laurence Fishburne As Ike Turner (Nominated)

Best Actor – What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Laurence Fishburne starred alongside Angela Bᴀssett in What’s Love Got To Do With It as Ike Turner, a rock-and-roll pioneer and talent scout, who discovers a young Tina Turner in a nightclub and offers to manage her. The two developed a professional and later a personal relationship, and found chart success as the music duo Ike & Tina Turner in the 1960s. The movie depicts how Ike Turner’s violent temper and cocaine addiction led to their marriage falling apart.

Fishburne reportedly turned down the role of Ike Turner five times before finally accepting after Angela Bᴀssett was cast as Tina Turner (via Vulture). The movie is considered to be one of Laurence Fishburne’s movies and his performance was seen as central to the movie’s success; he earned his first Oscar nomination for the movie in 1993.

10

Jamie Foxx As Ray Charles (Won)

Best Actor – Ray (2004)

Ray Charles is recognized as one of the world’s most influential musicians. Despite becoming blind as a child, he was determined to find success in the music industry and eventually rose to become one of the most successful performers of all time; Charles is credited for combining blues and jazz music to further establish the soul music genre. The 2004 movie, Ray, starring Jamie Foxx, focuses on the first 30 years of Charles’ life, depicting his battles with his disability and addiction and his eventual success as an acclaimed performer.

During filming, Jamie Foxx wore prosthetics over his eyes to offer a realistic portrayal of Ray Charles; despite being known as a comedy actor, Foxx’s performance as Ray Charles was seen by critics as “uncannily reproducing Charles’ physical movements and idiosyncrasies” (via The Guardian). Foxx’s performance in Ray was seen as one of the best dramatic performances by a comedy actor and won him the Oscar for Best Actor in 2004.

11

Joaquin Phoenix As Johnny Cash (Nominated)

Best Actor – Walk the Line (2005)

Ranked as one of Joaquin Phoenix’s best movies, Walk the Line depicts the life of music legend, Johnny Cash, one of America’s most popular singer-songwriters. Directed by James Mangold, the movie depicts Cash’s early life on a cotton farm and his solace in singing and playing the guitar after the death of his brother. The movie follows Cash’s slow rise as a performer and blossoming romance with June Carter, as well as his battles with drugs and difficult relationship with his father.

The real Johnny Cash approved the choice of Joaquin Phoenix for the movie. Phoenix learned to sing and play the guitar in Cash’s style for the role, and was praised by critics for his realistic and accurate portrayal of Cash (via CNN). Among his many accolades for the movie, Phoenix received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, his second nomination overall across his career.

12

Reese Witherspoon As June Carter Cash (Won)

Best Actress – Walk the Line (2005)

Reese Witherspoon starred as Johnny Cash’s lover and eventual wife, June Carter, in Walk the Line. A singer-songwriter in her own right, June Carter met Johnny Cash while on tour; the movie depicts the instant romantic connection between the pair, despite being married to other people. The two had a tumultuous start to their relationship due to Johnny Cash’s drug addiction, but they were able to overcome their problems and eventually marry; they remained married for 35 years until June’s death in 2003.

For her role as June Carter Cash, Reese Witherspoon had vocal training for six months to establish her voice range and conducted research on Carter’s life and career. Her performance was lauded by critics and was described as a tribute to Carter’s “calming and stabilizing force in Johnny Cash’s life” (via Observer). Walk the Line was nominated for five Oscars, with Witherspoon winning Best Actress for her performance as June Carter.

13

Marion Cotillard As Édith Piaf (Won)

Best Actress – La Vie En Rose (2007)

The 2007 French movie, La Vie en Rose explores the life of French cabaret singer, Édith Piaf, recognized as one of France’s most celebrated performers of the 20th century. The movie explores Piaf’s early career, touring with her father as a teenager, and her growth in popularity during the war. Taking its тιтle from her signature song, La Vie en Rose also depicts the different losses and health problems that Piaf faced throughout her career.

Marion Cotillard was the first actress to win an Oscar for a French-language speaking role.

La Vie en Rose is ranked as one of the best movies of Marion Cotillard’s career; she provides a strong and heartbreaking performance of the French performer. Among other accolades, Cotillard won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2007 for her role. She was the first actress to win an Oscar for a French-language speaking role.

14

Rami Malik As Freddie Mercury (Won)

Rami Malik Won – Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

The 2018 biographical movie, Bohemian Rhapsody follows the life of British singer, Freddie Mercury, who was the lead singer of the popular rock band, Queen, throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Starring Rami Malek in one of his best-ranked movies, Bohemian Rhapsody depicts Mercury’s success as frontman of Queen, with singles including “We Will Rock You” and “Killer Queen,” and the band’s acclaimed show at the 1985 Live Aid. The movie also explores Mercury’s close relationship with Mary Austin, who serves as his closest friend.

Upon its initial release, Bohemian Rhapsody received a mixed response from critics for its inaccuracies in its depictions of Mercury’s Sєxuality and his relationships with his bandmates. However, Rami Malek received acclaim for his role as Freddie Mercury, with critics regarding his performance as “spectacular” (via Empire). The movie won four Oscars in 2018, with Rami Malek winning his first Oscar for his performance as the Queen singer.

15

Andra Day As Billie Holiday (Nominated)

Best Actress – The United States vs Billie Holiday (2021)

Throughout her life as a jazz singer in the 1950s, Billie Holiday released the single “Strange Fruit” which contained controversial lyrics relating to human rights and the lynching of Black Americans. She also faced financial and legal troubles, including arrest for possession of drugs. Starring Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday depicts Holliday being targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics as a political threat. Throughout the movie, Holiday faces the threat of losing her career, and struggles with addiction.

While it received a mixed response from critics, The United States vs. Billie Holiday offered a startlingly true depiction of Holiday’s struggles in the final years of her life. Andra Day’s performance was described in reviews as “electric” and an “emotionally rich” portrayal of the celebrated performer. Alongside a Golden Globe win, Day received her first Oscar nomination for her role as Billie Holiday.

16

Austin Butler As Elvis Presley (Nominated)

Best Actor – Elvis (2022)

One of several biopics about the rock and roll icon, Elvis explores the life of Elvis Presley, whose music career was held under the management of Colonel Tom Parker. The cast of Elvis is led by Austin Butler as the тιтular star, and the movie explores Presley and Parker’s working relationship as Presley is thrown into international stardom through his music and acting career. However, as Presley’s success grows, Parker’s management turns into control over his client’s life, motivated by money and greed.

While Elvis‘ depiction of Colonel Tom Parker was controversial, the movie was widely praised for its depiction of Presley and Parker’s troubled working relationship and Baz Luhrmann’s directing. Elvis’ granddaughter, Riley Keough, praised the movie, stating that Austin Butler “made her emotional” with his portrayal of her grandfather. The movie received eight nominations at the Oscars, with Butler receiving his first nomination for Best Actor.

Sources: The New York Times, Roger Ebert, Washington Post, Backstage, Vulture, The Guardian, CNN, Observer, Empire