Bette Midler to perform at the Oscars

Washington D.C. [USA], Feb 18 (ANI): It turns out that Bette Midler will perform ‘The Place Where Lost Things Go’ at the Oscars on February 24.
According to Variety, Midler, a longtime friend of composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman, will sing the song originally performed by Emily Blunt in ‘Mary Poppins Returns.’
The song, by Shaiman and his lyricist partner Scott Wittman, is one of five nominees for best original song.
Shaiman is expected to accompany Midler on piano.
Soon after the news was revealed, Shaiman wrote on Facebook, “As a child of the ’60s, I grew up obsessed with the ‘Mary Poppins’ soundtrack, learning everything about songwriting and film scoring from it.”
He further added, “As a teenager in the ’70s, I became obsessed with new star Bette Midler, who fate amazingly led me to, resulting in our 40-year relationship. Could I have ever imagined that one day Bette Midler would sing a song I co-wrote with Scott Wittman for a sequel to ‘Mary Poppins’ at the Academy Awards?! My heart is exploding.
Midler is a two-time Best Actress nominee (for 1979’s ‘The Rose’ and 1991’s ‘For the Boys’). During the 2014 Oscarcast, she sang ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ — the song that Shaiman suggested Midler sing in the film ‘Beaches,’ and which has now become a signature Midler song. He worked as her musical director for many years. (ANI)