The Lin-Manuel Miranda EGOT will have to wait. Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul took home best original song at the 89th Academy Awards this Sunday (Feb. 26), for “City of Stars,” from La La Land. It was Hurwitz’s second Oscar of the night, having already won just minutes before for best original score, also from La La Land, which had also already picked up statues for best production design and best cinematography.
During his acceptance speech, Paul took a minute to give a timely shoutout to arts in the public school system. “I was educated in public schools, where arts and culture were valued and recognized and resourced,” he attested. “And I’m so grateful for all my teachers, who taught so much and gave so much to us.”
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Pasek also gave a touching tribute to his mother, who nurtured his early songwriting talent: “She let me quit the JCC soccer league to be in a school musical. So this is dedicated to all the kids who sing in the rain, and all the moms who let them.”
Shortly before the award was presented, John Legend performed “City of Stars” as part of a medley of the two La La Land songs nominated at this year’s Oscars — the other being “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).”
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