The Joni Eareckson Tada Performance You Won’t See at the Oscars
At the Movieguide awards ceremony in Los Angeles Friday night, Joni Eareckson Tada performed the breakout song “Alone Yet Not Alone,” which has received widespread attention recently because its Oscar nomination was rescinded.
Although the Christian-themed song from the independent film of the same name will no longer be honored as a nominee for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards ceremony on March 2, Tada’s performance of the controversial, hymn-like song at the Movieguide awards will air nationally on the Reelz cable channel during Oscar weekend, March 1-3.
“The Academy’s rescinding of the nomination for this song sends a sad message to Christian audiences,” said Tada while on the red carpet prior to the Movieguide awards ceremony. “But it doesn’t change the fact that so many people voted for it.”
Her song, which was written by Bruce Broughton and Dustin Spiegel, reportedly edged out the likes of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the Best Original Song nomination, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The dubious, behind-the-scenes efforts of disgruntled individuals that led to the revoking of the Oscar nomination of Tada’s song are still mired in controversy and mystery worthy of a Hollywood movie twist.
Tada admits that she doesn’t quite understand the “inner workings” of Hollywood, but she perceives that “Hollywood believed this low budget, Christian film, Alone Yet Not Alone, did not deserve to be elevated to the global stage through the Oscar nomination.”
It will be up to Christian audiences to support the song and film and send a message back to Hollywood.
Tada says she believes an increasing number of people are “tired and weary of entertainment that degrades the human spirit.” She believes there is a growing demand for movies and songs that are “uplifting and full of valor and courage and faith.”
“No matter the tragedies in life, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us,” Tada said on the Movieguide red carpet. “The song is about how God will never forsake us.”
She added, “God’s power always shows up in weakness.”
Tada acknowledges that she is not a professionally trained singer.
“Isn’t it just like God to pick an ill-equipped, untrained singer to be part of something great like this [song]?” she said.
Tada is a disability advocate who was paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident as a teenager. She is well-known for her Joni and Friends ministry. She has also authored more than 40 books.
Along with Tada’s performance, another notable musical performance expected to air during the Reelz channel broadcast of the Movieguide awards in early March is Billy Ray Cyrus’ performance of his new song, “Hope Is Just Ahead.”
For more information about the Movieguide awards, go to movieguideawards.com.
