If there’s one thing we can certainly count on when it comes to the Academy Awards, it’s that we’re going to see our favorite famous faces from Hollywood. From the filmmakers who bring our favorite movies to life behind the scenes to the actors and actresses who tell the stories in front of the camera, if you’re a pop culture lover, then the Oscars are likely your Super Bowl equivalent. However, if movies aren’t your thing, music lovers also got quite the surprise last night when none other than Mick Jagger, frontman of the Rolling Stones and rock and roll icon, stepped out onto the Academy Award stage to present. Here, everything about his surprise appearance, plus, his hilarious Bob Dylan joke.
Mick Jagger presenting at The Academy Awards, 2025Kevin Winter/Getty Images
What was Mick Jagger doing at The Academy Awards?
The 81-year-old music icon stepped out onto the stage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre to present the award for Best Original Song. “I’m greatly honored to be invited to give this award for the Best Original Song tonight, and much as I love doing it, I wasn’t the first choice to give this award out,” revealed the rocker. “The producers really wanted Bob Dylan to do this. Bob didn’t want to do it because he said the best songs this year were obviously in the movie, A Complete Unknown.”
Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger perform alongside one another, 1988Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images
Hilariously, Mick Jagger was referencing the biopic centered around Bob Dylan’s life that starred Timothee Chalamet as the famed folk and rock singer. A Complete Unknown was nominated for a total of eight awards at last night’s show, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Timothee Chalamet, Best Supporting Actor for Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Best Supporting Actress for Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. Though the film and its cast sadly didn’t walk away with any of the iconic statues, it remains a hit that’s received rave reviews for its release.
“Bob said, ‘You should find somebody younger,’” Mick Jagger continued during his appearance on stage. “I said, ‘Okay, I’m younger! I’m younger than Bob, I’ll do it.’ So here I am.” While viewers aren’t sure why Bob Dylan chose not to present at the ceremony, seeing Mick Jagger up there was a surprise we were happy to witness!
Who won for Best Original Song at The Academy Awards?
Mick Jagger announced that the winner in the category was from the film Emilia Pérez, “El Mal.” The film, which has garnered controversy throughout awards season, was nominated for a total of 13 Oscars, leading the way with the most nominations. In the end, it took home a total of two awards, one for Best Original Song and the other going to Zoe Saldaña for Best Supporting Actress.
