Lady Gaga.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty
Lady Gagawas full of surprises at the 95thAcademy Awards.
After the Oscar winner, 36,gave a stripped-down performanceof her nominated song “Hold My Hand” fromTop Gun: Maverickat Sunday’s awards show, the executive producers explained that she “wanted it to be raw” in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter.
“She was really appropriate about the fact that this is a meaningful song to her and shewanted to really strip it downand do it not as an ‘Oscar performance,’ but as her,” explained showrunner Glenn Weiss. “And that’s exactly what we tried to capture.”
Gaga’s performance came after she originallyhad to turn down the gigdue to scheduling conflicts as she films theJokersequelFolie à Deux. It was reported Sunday that shewould be able to make itafter all, hours before she walked the red carpet in ablack Versace gown, a glam contrast from her makeup-free performance look.
Executive producer Ricky Kirshner noted they have “built up trust in the relationship with Gaga over the years” after working together on herSuper Bowlhalftime show in 2017 and her performance withBradley Cooperof her Oscar-winning “Shallow” fromA Star Is Bornat the awards show in 2019.
“She really wanted to do something. She honestly was shooting her movie — there was no trickery involved,” he said of the last minute shakeup.
Arturo Holmes/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“And Thursday, at 4-something, we got a text that she wanted to try something, didn’t have time to put together a big performance,” Kirshner recalled. “But wanted it to be raw and people to see the real Gaga, and, with a voice like that, you don’t need much more than that.”
Gaga went for a makeup-free look in a black T-shirt, ripped jeans and sneakers as she sat on a stool and performed with her band onstage. She explained the song is “deeply personal for me” during her intro.
RELATED VIDEO:Lady GagaSurprises on Oscars 2023 Red Carpet in Fresh-Off-the-Runway Gown with Butt-Exposing Rear View
“I think that we all need each other. We need a lot of love to walk through this life. We all need a hero sometimes — there’s heroes all around us in unassuming places,” said Gaga. “But, you might find that you could be your own hero even if you feel broken inside.”
source: people.com
