Academy Awards producers can take their hands off the bleep button: Eminem will not perform his Oscar-nominated hit "Lose Yourself" from the movie "8 Mile" at the March 23 ceremony, a rep for the rapper tells USA Today.
"He'll still be on vacation during the Academy Awards," said Dennis Dennehy of Interscope Records, not naming the musician's intended location. But that does mean that Eminem, 30, won't be on hand to accept his award should he win that night.
Given Oscar's tradition of having the original artists perform their numbers during the long, long show, this year's producer Gil Cates noted, "There's no rule that the nominees have to sing or that you even have to include all of the numbers in the show."
He added, "I could do a medley or no songs at all ... It's a very fluid show with few constraints."
Eminem's competition for Best Song includes U2's "The Hands That Built America" from "Gangs Of New York"; Paul Simon's "Father And Daughter" from "The Wild Thornberrys Movie"; Elliot Goldenthal and Julie Taymor's "Burn It Blue" from "Frida,"; and John Kander and Fred Ebb's "I Move On" from "Chicago."
Despite Eminem's eschewing of the Oscars, however, some musicians will go out of their way to help mark Hollywood's big night.
The Associated Press reports that the Elton John AIDS Foundation will present Elton in a duet with "Your Body Is a Wonderland" Grammy-winner John Mayer for a benefit at West Hollywood's Marquee Club to be held during the Oscar telecast.
About 200 guests are expected to gather for a five-course dinner, and those who correctly predict the winners throughout the evening have the chance to win such gifts as his-and-hers Chopard diamond watches, Jimmy Choo shoes and a MAC Viva Glam Swarovski crystal-encrusted lipstick.
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