Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan greeted the audience early Tuesday morning to unveil one of the most anticipated lists of awards season. The couple presented the nominees in 23 categories for the 94th Annual Academy Awards. Though the actual show won't take place until March 27, fans got a little sneak peek of what's to come. This year's nominations include newcomers like Beyoncé and returning faces like Denzel Washington and Will Smith. Here are some moments to watch out for!

'Best Picture'

This category was stacked with a total of 10 nominations. The film "King Richard" received a place on the list. In case you didn't know, the movie is based on the life of Richard Williams and his 78-page plan to turn his daughters Serena and Venus into tennis champions. Other nominees include: "Belfast", "CODA", "Don't Look Up", "Drive My Car", "Dune", "Licorice Pizza", "Nightmare Alley", "The Power of the Dog" and "West ". “. parallel story.'

Overall, "King Richard" received six nominations in the movie, talent and producing categories. The creators also received nominations for Original Screenplay and Film Editing.

'Original song'

Beyoncé added another achievement to her resume with her first Oscar nomination. The honored artist secured her spot on the original song with the song "Be Alive" for the movie King Richard. Beyoncé and Dixson are credited with the song's music and lyrics.

"Best Actor"

Will Smith has lived his role as Richard in the movie "King Richard" to the fullest, even learning to play tennis and making physical changes. His detailed work earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Will and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, also worked as producers on the film. In November 2021, the actor made headlines for allegedly giving away bonuses to the film's cast and crew.

But Will isn't the only cultural name to receive nominations in this category. Denzel Washington is also nominated for his role in The Tragedy of Macbeth. His nomination makes him the "most nominated black actor at his Oscars," according to CNN. The last time Denzel won an Oscar was in 2002 for Training Day. That's one of two wins, the first coming in 1990 for Glory.

'Best Supporting Actress'

"King Richard" made it to the list thanks to Aunjanue Ellis's nomination. She received a nomination for "Best Supporting Actress". The actress did her thing in the role of the mother of the William sisters, Oracene Price. Election officials also nominated Aunjanue for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Oracene.

"Documentary film"

The poll earned "Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Couldn't Be Televised)" a Documentary Feature nomination. The film tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and the thousands of people who attended for six weeks. Summer of Soul is the brainchild of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, along with Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent, and David Dinerstein. His work also won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Also in the Documentary Feature category is Attica, a look at the 1971 riots at the Attica Correctional Center in the United States. Nominated were the brilliant Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry, who brought the story to our screens.