The 2022 Oscar nominations are in, setting the stage to see who will win a coveted golden statue during the biggest night of awards season. Hollywood vet Will Smith makes a return to the spotlight, nabbing two nominations this year while the Academy snubbed JenniferHudson for her role as Aretha Franklin. Beyonce nabs her first Oscar nomination.
Also, Aunjanue Ellis, Questlove and more run up the nominations. See if any of your faves made the list inside…
Will Smith is a Hollywood veteran.
The 53-year-old actor has been entertaining us since 1990 when he led his own sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Since then, he has entertained us in blockbuster hits like Bad Boys, Men In Black, Ali, and Independence Day, to name A FEW. Just a few. He has starred in tons of movies, yet, he has never won an Academy Award.
Will this be the year Will Smith finally lands an Academy Award? We hope so!
This is a moment we won’t forget. Our #KingRichard family has been nominated by the @TheAcademy for 6 awards including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Song. pic.twitter.com/ZFb6x44Pov
— King Richard Film (@KingRichardFilm) February 8, 2022
"black-ish" actress Tracee Ellis Ross and "Will & Grace" actor Leslie Jordan hosted this year's Oscar nominations, announcing who would be in the running for the coveted golden statue.
Will Smith earned a nomination in the Best Actor category for his role in King Richard, where he played Richard Williams - the father of tennis superstars, Venus& SerenaWilliams. It’s his first Oscar nomination in 15 years. He also produced the film, which earned him a Best Picture nomination, which he shares with Tim White and Trevor White.
Both of Will’s previous nominations came from playing real-life figures. In 2002, he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Muhammad Ali in Ali and in 2007 he was nominated for his role as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness, alongside his son Jaden Smith.
This year, the famed actor will be in the running against Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick … Boom!), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog) and Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos).
In 2002, Denzel beat Will for Best Actor for his role in Training Day. They meet again in the same category two decades later.
Beyonce - whose already the female artist with the most Grammy wins - snags her very first Oscar nomination! Her track “Be Alive” from the King Richard soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Song.
"The marriage of a movie and a song is a kind of magic that's unmatched in entertainment," Will Smith shared when the song was released. “I was so happy when Beyoncé called."
Woot!
Bomb actress Aunjanue Ellis earned her first Oscar nomination in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role cateogy for her portrayal of Oracene Price, the mother of Venus & Serena Williams, in King Richard. Yassssss!
Congratulations to #WestSideStory’s Ariana DeBose for her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role! #OscarNomspic.twitter.com/uDCgLkEpwS
— West Side Story (@WestSideMovie) February 8, 2022
Aunjanue will be up against West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose (above), Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Judi Dench (Belfast) and Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog).
King Richard was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
For Best Picture, King Richard will go up against West Side Story, Dune, Belfast, CODA, Don’t Look Up, Drive My Car, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, and The Power of Dog.
Oscar Nominated Film Director Questlove......I just need to see this in print. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— ahmir quest 5 letters only (@questlove) February 8, 2022
The Roots’ frontman Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson's Summer of Soul is in the running for Best Documentary.
”Oscar Nominated Film Director Questlove......I just need to see this in print. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,” he tweeted in excitement.
DDFSVGBDFHRTMJUJYHTGRFBGHJUYETGRBNHJUJHTGRFBGHFGJYHGRFBGHJUYJHTGEBDFNH J!!!!!!!!!!
— ahmir quest 5 letters only (@questlove) February 8, 2022
Ha!
Attica is the best documentary I’ve ever seen about criminal justice. https://t.co/hCARBPNMlh
— deray (@deray) February 8, 2022
Congrats are in order for Traci A. Curry and Stanley Nelson as their documentary, Attica, was nominated for Best Documentary.
BIG LIP KISSES, HUGE HUGS & CONGRATULATIONS to a woman I’ve known for (now) over 20 years @farmercarla (we met on #Girlfriends)
I love you Sis and Congrats on your Oscar Nomination for #Coming2America (Makeup & Hair) …well deserved, my friend pic.twitter.com/XIHEruTW1L— Jill Marie Jones (@MsJillMJones) February 8, 2022
Carla Farmer, Stacey Morris and Mike Marino nabbed a nomination for Best Hair and Makeup for Coming 2 America.
Coming 2 America getting a hair and makeup nomination is no surprise. It's the best part of that whole film. pic.twitter.com/9GYA0TcGMG
— Magical Space Negro (@TyTheRobot) February 8, 2022
And rightfully so. The hair and makeup in the film was top tier!
Congratulations to #WestSideStory’s Paul Tazewell for his Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design! #OscarNomspic.twitter.com/tULtOxiRVp
— West Side Story (@WestSideMovie) February 8, 2022
Costume designer Paul Tazewell was nominated for Best Costume Design for his work on West Side Story.
The Queen of Basketball, a documentary short on the legacy of Lusia Harris, was just nominated for an Oscar
The doc was directed by Ben Proudfoot. @SHAQ was an executive producer. https://t.co/wRBLeWjvCO
— Sean Hurd (@seanahurd) February 8, 2022
The Queen of Basketball - which follows the life of unsung b’ball star Lucy Harris - nabbed a nomination for Best Documentary Short. Woot!
On social media….
Shocked Jennifer Hudson was overlooked here! https://t.co/mJZwcPCoTZ
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) February 8, 2022
Jennifer Hudson is trending on Twitter for being snubbed for her role as Aretha Franklin in her biopic titled, RESPECT. The Academy didn’t put any R-E-S-P-E-C-T on our good sis’ name after there being tons of buzz that she was one of the frontrunners for Best Actress.
Peep a few snub reactions below:
WHAT?! The Jennifer Hudson snub, really?! @TheAcademyhttps://t.co/FrNOZbQ6kd
— Madam C.J. DuckWalker (@XOANTY) February 8, 2022
Hopefully Jennifer Hudson gets an Oscar nomination. I’d hate to see all of that campaigning go to waste. She’s been grinning and doing interviews for almost a year! Shit.
— ᴅᴏʟʟᴀʀ (@callmedollar) February 8, 2022
Jennifer Hudson is trending after being snubbed by The Oscars. Just know that Jennifer we love you no matter what. You made Aretha proud. pic.twitter.com/lMZhWHCIiz
— NijiaVaughn (@NijiaMartika91) February 8, 2022
In 2007, JHud won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Effie in Dreamgirls.
The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday March 27, 2022 in Hollywood. Stay locked to TheYBF for everything young, black and fabulous at the awards!
Photos: DFree/Tinseltown/Shutterstock / Getty
