The 96th Oscars nominations were announced Tuesday morning, and several of our favorites have reason to celebrate. From Jon Batiste, to first time nominees Colman Domingo, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Sterling K. Brown and Danielle Brooks, to the acclaimed and respected Jeffrey Wright, there was so much Black Excellence we’re definitely having a moment.
After the shock and excitement wore off, many nominees shared their emotions and reactions to the career-defining honor.
Best Supporting Actor nominee Brown (“American Fiction”) posted an Instagram Live video where he explained that his phone died overnight, and when he charged it the next morning, it took him a minute to figure out why he had 126 messages. He also revealed that he loved working on the movie, but didn’t think he’d get much attention for it. Luckily, his publicist had different thoughts.
“I’m happy to do the work, and I will continue to be happy to do the work, but I’d be lying to say that this wasn’t awesome. This is awesome, truly. Truly awesome,” he said.
“I feel blessed. Y’all know I saw a rainbow yesterday…here’s the pot of gold for your boy,” Brown added.
“Rustin” star Domingo shared with AP Entertainment that he and his husband had an emotional, yet hilarious, reaction to the star’s Best Actor nomination, as a slight delay led to him getting the news from his manager before his husband saw the announcement. He also explained how honored he is to be nominated for portraying civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.
“To be amplified for my work for portraying this American Hero is everything to me,” Domingo told CNN. “When my name is called, so is BAYARD RUSTIN’s. What an extraordinary honor. My heart is bursting with joy”
Batiste received a nod for Best Original Song for “It Never Went Away” from his autobiographical documentary “American Symphony.” The personal origins of the song make this honor even more powerful.
“Thank you to the Academy for recognizing ‘It Never Went Away.’ Making music is an act of survival,” he said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “There was a stretch of time during which my wife Suleika was in the hospital and we weren’t sure she’d make it. This song began as a lullaby, so she could have a restful aura in the hospital room.”
Best Actor nominee Wright (“American Fiction”) told “Extra” that when he heard the news, “The first person I acknowledged was my mom.”
“The Color Purple” star Brooks thanked God for her Best Supporting Actress nomination, writing on X, “Look what God has done!! So humbled by this enormous feat of becoming a Oscar Nominated Actress today!! Thank you God and to the @TheAcademy.”
Despite all her awards success, Best Supporting Actress frontrunner Da’Vine Joy Randolph is still grateful for all the recognitions and honors she’s received for her work in “The Holdovers.”
“It’s a really surreal moment,” she told ABC News. “It’s not easy to be an actor and it’s a lot of time and investment put into this craft, and so to have a moment like this, where we’re amongst people who I’ve admired and people who I have looked up to for so many years, to see me in this light is just—is unbelievable, truly. I’m so over the moon. Delirious.”
The 96th Oscars air live Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.