Queen Latifah hit the stage at the 97th Academy Awards with a live performance, paying tribute to the late Quincy Jones through a performance of “Ease On Down the Road.” Jones died in November, and Latifah’s performance honored the Grammy-winning producer and film composer who collaborated with Michael Jackson.

Quincy Jones was perhaps best known for his work in pop and R&B music, but the composer, producer and arranger also left an indelible mark on film music with innovative and genre-defying scores. Honoring his groundbreaking contributions to cinema and song at the 2025 Oscars were Oprah Winfrey,

Goldberg, who introduced Queen Latifah's moving musical tribute to Jones, previously said she had "no better friend" than the legendary musician, who died in 2024.