Actress Taraji Henson, right, talks with Bill Conti, musical director for the Oscars, as she rehearses the Oscar-nominated song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the film "Hustle & Flow," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. The song will be the first rap song ever performed on the telecast in the history of the Academy Awards.
Actress Taraji Henson gestures as she rehearses the Oscar-nominated song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the film "Hustle & Flow," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. Henson, the actress who sang in the film, will perform with the group Three 6 Mafia.
Actress and musician Kathleen "Bird" York rehearses her Oscar-nominated song "In the Deep," from the film "Crash," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. York, who has a recurring role on "The West Wing," co-wrote the song with Michael Becker.
Musician Kathleen "Bird" York rehearses her Oscar-nominated best original song "In the Deep," from the film "Crash," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2005 will be presented on Sunday, March 5.
Singer Dolly Parton, left, rehearses her Oscar-nominated best original song, "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," with Bill Conti, musical director for the 78th Academy Awards, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Singer Dolly Parton rehearses her Oscar-nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. Best actress nominee Felicity Huffman stars in the road-trip film about a man undergoing a sex change.
Singer Dolly Parton, left, talks with Bill Conti, musical director for the Oscars, center, and Michael Seligman, associate producer of the Oscars, as Parton rehearses her Oscar-nominated best original song, "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Singer Dolly Parton, left, talks with Oscars producer Gil Cates during a rehearsal of her Oscar-nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2005 will be presented on Sunday, March 5.
Singer Dolly Parton, right, rehearses her Oscar-nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," with musical director for 78th Academy Awards Bill Conti, during a rehearsal for the Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Singer Dolly Parton rehearses the Oscar-nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. This year, only three songs were nominated in the category.
Singer Dolly Parton rehearses the Oscar-nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. Parton recieved an Oscar nomination in 1981 for her title song from the movie "Nine to Five, but did not perform during the telecast.