Beyonce to sing at Oscars but Van Morrison skipping gala

Beyonce and Billie Eilish will perform during Sunday's Oscars, but outspoken vaccine sceptic Van Morrison is skipping Hollywood's biggest night, organisers said Tuesday.

All three performers are nominated for best song at the 94th Academy Awards - along with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Diane Warren, whose songs will also be performed on the broadcast. Pop superstar Beyonce's Oscar-nominated ballad 'Be Alive' was penned for tennis biopic 'King Richard,' which stars Will Smith as the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams.

Hollywood trade publication Variety reported that Beyonce will perform live from the tennis courts in Compton where the sisters played as children. Organisers did not respond to AFP request for comment.

Eilish and her brother Finneas will perform 'No Time To Die' from the recent James Bond movie.

But while Morrison, who wrote 'Down to Joy' for Kenneth Branagh's black-and-white childhood drama 'Belfast' was invited to perform at the star-studded gala, he "will not attend the Oscars due to his tour schedule," organisers said.

Morrison's high-profile criticism of pandemic restrictions, including three anti-lockdown 'protest songs' and opposition to vaccine mandates, had led to questions about whether he would be welcomed at the Oscars. Miranda's 'Dos Oruguitas' from Disney animated movie 'Encanto' will be performed by Sebastian Yatra.

Best known for creating Broadway sensation 'Hamilton', Miranda will attain the coveted and rare EGOT status for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award if he wins on Sunday.

Warren's song 'Somehow You Do' from 'Four Good Days' - which will be performed by Reba McEntire - is her 13th Oscar nomination, but she has never won.

Also performing at the Oscars will be an 'all-star band' including Blink- 182 drummer Travis Barker, and DJ D-Nice.